Original featureArchitect Craig Ellwood’s Only Pasadena Home Can Be Yours for $3.25 MillionRobb Report Homes for Sale · 3 November 2026 →

The Architectural Blueprint

Completed in 1965, the Kubly House is a quintessential example of Southern California post-and-beam modernism. Craig Ellwood, renowned for his steel-framed Case Study houses, applied his rigorous industrial aesthetic to a residential site in Pasadena. The structure relies on a precise skeletal grid, utilizing exposed steel framing combined with expansive sheets of glass that dissolve the barrier between interior living spaces and the surrounding landscape.

The floor plan prioritises spatial clarity and proportion, hallmarks of Ellwood’s adherence to Miesian principles. Rather than relying on ornate detailing, the architectural integrity stems from the structural honesty of its components. Steel columns, flat rooflines, and teak-framed sliding glass doors establish a rhythmic cadence that defines both the exterior elevations and the interior circulation.

Provenance and Commission

The residence was originally commissioned by George Kubly, who served as president of Los Angeles’s influential Art Center College of Design. Given the client’s professional background, the home naturally reflects a refined design sensibility, serving as an intellectual retreat tailored to the Southern California climate.

While Ellwood built numerous notable residences throughout Los Angeles and Orange County—including several famous Case Study prototypes—the Kubly House remains his only completed architectural work in Pasadena. This exclusivity gives the property distinct weight among collectors of mid-century design, separating it geographically and contextually from his more widely publicized coastal and canyon projects.

Market Context and Preservation

Pasadena possesses a dense concentration of architectural heritage, ranging from Greene and Greene Craftsman masterpieces to mid-century experiments by Buff, Straub & Hensman. However, authentic Ellwood properties remain scarce inventory. At an asking price of $3.25 million, reported across real estate channels in November 2026, the listing tests the upper tier of the city’s architectural preservation market.

Over subsequent decades, the house has retained its essential spatial organization, avoiding the unsympathetic alterations that frequently compromise mid-century stock. Buyers operating in this sector increasingly value original fabric, structural purity, and documented provenance over expanded square footage.

Related reads

• Architect Craig Ellwood’s Only Pasadena Home Can Be Yours for $3.25 Million (Robb Report, 3 Nov 2026)
• Craig Ellwood–designed Kubly House for sale (The Architect’s Newspaper, 3 Nov 2026)
• Craig Ellwood’s Kubly House is for sale, a prime slice of mid-century modern in Pasadena (Wallpaper*, 31 Oct 2026)
• Only Pasadena home by Case Study modernist Craig Ellwood seeks $3.25M (Pasadena Star News, 2 Nov 2026)
• Louvre, Picasso Museum, Musée d’Orsay Will Close Saturday In Anticipation of Hard-Left Groups Targeting Public Buildings, Says Interior Minister (ARTnews.com, 23 Oct 2026)

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