Kappe - Triangle Modernist Houses - America's Largest Archive of Residential Modernist Design

Enjoy browsing, but unless otherwise noted, these houses are private property and closed to the public -- so don't go tromping around uninvited.

RAYMOND L. KAPPE, FAIA

Kappe graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1951. Starting in 1954, he completed fifty custom post-and-beam houses over ten years. After serving as Founding Chairman of the Department of Architecture at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, Kappe resigned and started the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) which encourages learning through creative discourse and supports diversity of opinion within the framework of a common vision. Today the school has over 3000 graduates and is considered one of the top architecture schools in the country.

Kappe received many awards including the Richard Neutra International Medal for Design Excellence, the California Council/AIA Bernard Maybeck Award for Design, and the Topaz Medal, the highest award in architectural education. His own residence (bottom of page) was designated a Cultural Heritage Monument by the City of Los Angeles in 1996.

1957 - The Eric Lowens House, Kappe's 13th project, Sunset Plaza area of Los Angeles CA. This house was originally a Kappe-designed 1,900 sq.ft. post-and-beam residence, built of redwood and glass. Sold to Ghassemieh. Renovated by Kappe in 2007, the result is a 2,368-square foot residence. The master bedroom was expanded with a bath and dressing room, and a new bedroom was added. The existing swimming pool was replaced with a lap pool. Photos by David Lena.

1967 - Kappe's own house in 715 Brooktree Road, Pacific Palisades CA. As of 2011 still owned by the Kappe family. Bottom two photos by Julius Shulman.

1968 - The Gould-LeFetra House, 12256 Canna Road, Los Angeles CA. Commissioned 1966. The five-bedroom, 3 1/2 -bathroom building is a house of glass that appears to float among the trees. Sold in 2003 to Michael LeFetra. Sold in 2010 to Wallace Cheng. As of 2011 owner listed as Alison C. Leston, Trustee.

1974- The Katzenstein House, 739 Brooktree Road, Pacific Palisades CA. As of 2011 owned by Northern and Max E. Wheeler Trust.

1976 - The Sultan/Price House, Los Angeles CA.

1976 - The Penn/Crowell House, 218 Rivo Alto Canal , Long Beach CA.
As of 2011 owned by the Robinson family.

1985 - The Scheimer Residence, 1600 The Strand, Manhattan Beach CA. Commissioned 1983. As of 2011 still owned by the Scheimers.

1987 - The Benton Residence, Brentwood area of Los Angeles CA. 5000 sf. Part of an episode of the TV show Californication was shot there.

1999 - The Daniel and Gusti Frankel Residence, 2012 Tory Drive, Yadkinville NC. As of 2011 still owned by the Frankels.

1988 - House in Malibu CA.

2004 - The Shapiro Residence, Los Angeles CA.

2006 - The Steve Glenn House, 2914 Highland Avenue, Santa Monica. As of 2011 still owned by Mr. Glenn. Glenn developed the idea for the LivingHome, a steel-framed, LEED Platinum, 2,500-square-foot prototype prefab and got Kappe to do the design. The prototype in the top four photos, named Z6, was built over a period of 13 hours. The remaining photos are Kappe's other LivingHome designs.

2007 - The LivingHome House, aka the Rochedale House, 12321 Rochedale Lane, Brentwood area of Los Angeles CA. As of 2011 owned by Adam F. Streisand. This is Kappe's second house for LivingHome.

Year unknown - The Roven Residence, Malibu CA.