A historic Los Angeles home designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright is falling into disrepair, prompting concerns of "demolition by neglect." The 1939 Sturges Home, located in Brentwood Heights, is the sole Usonian-style building in the city and is now vacant and deteriorating.
Neighbors have reported observing decay in the original redwood structures and warped, rotting carport pillars. The Los Angeles Conservancy has noted that "demolition by neglect" occurs when historic properties deteriorate through deferred maintenance to the point of permanent damage or structural unsafety.
Reports from the community also indicate that wild animals have been seen roaming inside the crumbling residence. The deteriorating condition of the house has raised alarms about the future of this significant creation by Wright, once a landmark in Los Angeles' architectural history.
The Sturges Home, a 1,200-square-foot structure, features a living-dining area, two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a kitchen. It also includes a 21-foot deck that extends over a canyon. Wright's Usonian homes, designed during the economic challenges of the Great Depression, emphasized affordable and efficient design for middle-class families.
The original owners, George and Selma Sturges, commissioned the home after being inspired by a January 1938 issue of "Architectural Forum" dedicated to Wright's work. The house was completed the following year.
After the Sturges family sold the property in 1951, it passed through three subsequent owners before being acquired by actor Jack Larson and film director James Bridges in 1967. Bridges died in 1993, and Larson continued to reside in the home until his death in September 2015. The property is currently owned by a non-profit organization called the All Right Now Foundation and has been designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument.