A Modernist Pedigree Preserved by OSKLO in Trousdale Home

"Trousdale Estates remains one of Southern California's most intact concentrations of Mid-Century Modern architecture. Developed beginning in 1954 by Paul Trousdale, the neighborhood quickly drew Hollywood's elite and the architects shaping postwar California modernism. Homes here were conceived as horizontal compositions: single-story structures stretching across the hillsides, their flat roofs, glass expanses, and restrained geometries framing expansive views rather than competing with them."

"Upon first seeing the house, we were obsessed. It was one of the most pedigree specimens of mid-century architecture we had seen in our work or travels. For the couple-collectors, designers, and longtime advocates of design history-the goal was never reinvention. Instead, the project became an act of stewardship: preserving the architectural pedigree of the original structure while introducing a contemporary layer reflective of their evolving work."

"Spanning roughly 6,000 square feet on a single level, the house unfolds through a sequence of courtyards and long sightlines. Its plan resembles two inverted U-shapes: one framing the entry courtyard and Japanese-inspired atrium, the other wrapping around an angular pool and garden oriented toward the Santa Monica Mountains and the distant glow of Century City."

Trousdale Estates, developed in 1954 in the hills above Beverly Hills, represents one of Southern California's most significant concentrations of Mid-Century Modern architecture. The neighborhood attracted Hollywood's elite and pioneering modernist architects who designed single-story homes with horizontal compositions, flat roofs, expansive glass, and restrained geometry that framed views rather than competed with them. Studio OSKLO founders Arya and Alex Nazarian acquired a 1966 post-and-beam residence designed by Benton & Parks, recognizing it as an exceptional architectural specimen. Rather than reinventing the home, they approached the project as stewardship, preserving the original structure's architectural pedigree while introducing contemporary layers reflecting their design philosophy. The 6,000-square-foot single-level residence unfolds through courtyards and sightlines, with a plan resembling inverted U-shapes framing entry courtyards and an angular pool oriented toward mountain views.

Read at Design Milk