A Pasadena couple built a glass-walled house for about $45,000 in 1965 and kept it in the family for nearly six decades; after a careful restoration, the 2,156-square-foot property is now listed for $3.25 million

Some houses are built to make a statement, others are built to blend in with their surroundings. One midcentury modern residence in Pasadena, California pulls off both. The glass-and-wood home was built in 1965 for about $45,000 by a couple who kept it in the family for almost six decades. The celebrated architect Craig Ellwood designed the property, which has undergone a painstaking restoration and is now back on the real estate market and priced at $3.25 million. And it's not just the architecture that appeals. It's also the story of a home living through generations, without losing its original character. Scroll down to read the details.A modernist design with a different takeAccording to Archinect, the Kubly House, designed by Craig Ellwood Associates, was created for Don and Sally Kubly. The 1965-built property sits on a roughly 0.6-acre site at 215 La Vereda Road in Pasadena. The elevated single storey timber structure with large glass walls gives the impression of a pavilion suspended within the surrounding landscape.Unlike many of Ellwood’s celebrated buildings, which were heavily dependent on steel and glass, the house is built with a post-and-beam wooden framework. According to reports, the couple’s budget for construction was under $45,000, which factored into their decision. The result was a more economical interpretation of modernist architecture that did not sacrifice the clean lines and openness that were synonymous with the architect’s work.The house is inspired by the glass house tradition of architects like Philip Johnson and Mies van der Rohe, but with a warmer material palette, says Robb Report. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to penetrate the interiors, with views of surrounding eucalyptus and oak trees. The property boasts an outdoor swimming pool and spa in the lush greenery.A link to Pasadena’s architectural heritageThere is more to the house than just what it looks like. Don Kubly, closely associated with ArtCenter College of Design, served as the school’s second president. He and his wife were both graduates of the institution and their relationship with Ellwood continued after the completion of the residence.After that, Kubly hired Ellwood’s firm to design the Pasadena campus of ArtCenter College of Design, Homes says. The family’s relationship with one of Southern California’s leading modernist architects would only intensify as that architect’s firm went on to design the institution’s celebrated Hillside Campus, which was completed in 1976, states the Archinect report.Ellwood was among the leading architects in the region’s movement. He designed three houses for the Case Study House program, a project that explored new and affordable solutions for postwar housing. According to available records, the only home Greene designed in Pasadena seems to be the Kubly House, notes Robb Report.A restoration faithful to the original visionThe property remained with the Kubly family until 2022, when it changed hands for the first time in roughly 57 years. The new owners then undertook a restoration that aimed to retain the architect’s original vision, rather than turn the house into a contemporary luxury home.The renovation was carried out in collaboration with Carl Bronson of Bronstruction and adheres to the principle of conserving the existing architecture, reports Archinect. The work included upgrading building systems, repairing surfaces and a remodel of the primary suite that removed an interior partition to create a larger space. The distinctive timber framing, large glazing, and original material palette have been preserved.The restoration also included practical necessities like a new roof, updated electrical systems and air conditioning. Homes said it took about five months to get the property ready for its most recent listing, including fixing a deck that had been damaged by a fallen tree. The replacement timber was custom milled and sourced from a lumber yard in northern Washington, adds Robb Report.The interiors were also carefully laid out with original and period-inspired furniture selected with reference to Ellwood’s interior plans. Landscaping also received similar attention, with overgrown vegetation and non-native trees cleared to reveal the relationship between the house and its natural surroundings, claims the online report as well.A $3.25m listingAccording to Homes, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, now around 2,156 square feet, is on the market for $3.25 million with Chris Suarez and Kimberly Benz of Suarez + Benz at Compass.And Pasadena has also identified the property as eligible for individual listing in the National Register of Historic Places, adding another layer to its architectural appeal, Robb Report said.The Kubly House, owned by the same family for nearly six decades, is about to embark on another chapter with its restoration carefully preserving its defining features. Only the third owner in the property’s history, the next owner will inherit a distinctive piece of Pasadena’s midcentury architectural legacy.Image Courtesy: Cameron CarothersReady to Make a Smarter Property Decision? 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