Architects: Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen and Associates
Area: 1,600 ft²
Year: 1949
Photography: Julius Shulman
Client: John Entenza
City: Los Angeles
Country: United States
The Entenza House, a landmark residential project in Pacific Palisades, California, was designed by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen as part of the Case Study House Program (1945-1962). Completed in 1949 for editor John Entenza, the 1,600 ft² home embodies Modernist principles with its steel-framed modular construction, an open-plan layout, and seamless integration with its natural surroundings. Its design features include expansive floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, creating a continuous dialogue between the interior and the lush, coastal landscape. The collaboration between Eames and Saarinen produced a distinctive architectural expression that stands in thoughtful contrast to the nearby Eames House.
Emphasizing functionality alongside openness, the Entenza House carefully balances communal and private spaces. Its expansive living room is marked by transparency and spatial fluidity, while a windowless, private study provides a secluded retreat. The thoughtful use of materials and deliberate positioning on the site foster a strong connection to the environment, exemplifying the Modernist ethos of blending architecture and nature.
The Case Study Program, initiated by John Entenza, editor of the magazine Arts & Architecture, aimed to demonstrate affordable housing solutions for post-war America. The Entenza House serves as a pivotal example, highlighting steel construction, open planning, and minimalist design to reflect a modern lifestyle shaped by the automotive era.
Eames and Saarinen shared the same 1½-acre site for two projects: the Entenza House (#9) and the adjacent Eames House (#8). Both utilized a structural system of four-inch H-columns and twelve-inch open-web joists, allowing for expansive spaces within minimal framing.
The Entenza House features a concrete roof slab, birch-clad soffits, and steel columns, with only four visible internally, emphasizing space and views over the structural exhibition.
A defining feature of the design is the 36-foot-wide living room, occupying nearly half the house. This space was intended to accommodate both large gatherings and smaller social events, reflecting Entenza’s professional needs.
The open-plan layout is divided by a prominent fireplace, creating both an expansive and an intimate atmosphere. A glazed rear façade connects the interior to an outdoor patio, framing ocean views through slender mullions.
In addition to the living room, the house includes a dining room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a study. The study, by Entenza’s request, is windowless to ensure focus without external distractions.
The neighboring Eames House, while sharing structural components, diverges in approach. Unlike the Entenza House’s focus on space and views, the Eames House celebrates its exposed steel frame, showcasing structure as an aesthetic feature.
Saarinen’s influence on the Entenza House likely guided its subtle concealment of structural elements, creating a more architectural design.
Entenza resided in the house for five years after its 1949 completion. Subsequent owners have modified the design over the decades, contrasting with the Eames House, which now serves as the headquarters for the Eames Foundation. The Entenza House remains a private residence.
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Project Location
Address: 205 Chautauca Boulevard, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, United States
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
