Featured image credit: Grueslayer
We’re long overdue for a Home Spotlight, and we can say with confidence that today’s is worth the wait. After all, it’s one of the finest examples of mid-century modern architecture in the U.S., and it comes from a familiar talent, John Lautner, who built the previous Home Spotlight features, the Elrod House, the Bob Hope house, and the always-popular Chemosphere. Moving away from volcanoes and… errr… flying saucers(?), today’s home found the brilliant Lautner turning his attention to making a cave of sorts nestled in the luxurious hills of Beverly Crest. And if we consider how much a cave exemplifies Lautner’s love of indoor-outdoor living, the Sheats-Goldstein residence doesn’t seem like much of a departure.
A Home That Seems To Grow More Than Sit
The Sheats-Goldstein residence began construction earlier in Lautner’s career than his other designs that we’ve covered (with the exception of the ambitious Chemosphere, which broke “hillside” in 1960). It was 1961 when Lautner’s crew started doing work on the sandstone ledge that would support the cave-like structure.
Compared to projects like the Bob Hope house (which took nearly a decade to complete), Beverly Glen’s Sheats-Goldstein residence was a rather quick project for Lautner, with construction completed in 1963. By leaning into the strengths of the beautiful Beverly Crest hillside site, Lautner positioned the home for jaw-dropping views of Benedict Canyon and Beverly Hills. Most would agree that the home doesn’t so much sit on this hillside as grow forth from it.
A Familiar Partnership
Helen and Paul Sheats sought Lautner to build their family home after working with the architect in 1948 on the Sheats Apartments in Westwood. They envisioned the home as a place to raise their three children. Helen was an architectural designer herself, not to mention a Neo-Fauvist painter, so she had a clear eye for eccentric designs. Paul worked as the Dean of University Extension and as a Professor in the UCLA Graduate School of Education. It kept him close to the unusual multifamily apartments Lautner had designed for the couple. These are still often regarded for their distinct “treehouse” appearance.
When Lautner set his mind to designing the Sheats-Goldstein residence in Beverly Crest, he made the unusual decision to start from the inside and work outward. Arguably, the home’s most distinctive feature is the living room’s coffered ceiling, punctuated with over 750 cast-drinking glass skylights. Even in the ‘60s, Lautner was considering the eco-consciousness so en vogue today. For example, the home is entirely cooled using a design that promotes cross-ventilation. Meanwhile, its floors and swimming pool rely on warm copper-piped radiant heating. To create a coherent atmosphere, Lautner invested himself in designing not just the home, but also the interiors, including windows, lighting, and furnishings.
The Goldstein Era and Lautner’s Return
The Sheats didn’t reside in the masterpiece for long. In 1972, eccentric businessman James Goldstein (perhaps best recognized sitting courtside at countless Lakers and Clippers games) purchased the Beverly Crest property from its third owner. Goldstein reached out directly to Lautner with a plan to renovate the home through a series of improvements. It’s a project that would carry through the final two decades of Lautner’s life. One such improvement was the addition of a nightclub beneath the home, referred to simply as Club James. The home was also crowned with a tennis court and an infinity pool.
Possibly the most ambitious and striking renovation made during the two-decade partnership was the addition of Above Horizon, an elaborate light installation created by renowned American artist James Turrell. Completed in 2004, a decade after Lautner’s death, Lautner wasn’t involved much beyond the initial design concept. Utilizing the same materials used in the Sheats-Goldstein residence’s construction, the room that houses Above Horizon was built on a steep slope beneath the main home, incorporating two folding carbon-fiber portals and a concrete lounge area where private guests can watch as thousands of obscured LEDs light up the space in the evenings.
Why Does It Look So Familiar?
Unsurprisingly, a property as visually intriguing as the Sheats-Goldstein residence has attracted a fair number of filmmakers, musicians, and photographers to the quiet neighborhood of Beverly Crest. You may recognize it from films and TV shows such as The Big Lebowski, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, and Southland, or in music videos by the likes of Doja Cat, Snoop Dogg with Pharrell, and Nelly. It’s also appeared in multiple notable publications, including Architectural Digest, Town & Country, and The New York Times Magazine.
A Protected Future for the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
In 2016, Goldstein entrusted the one-of-a-kind Beverly Crest home as a gift to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for future preservation. Included in the gift was Golstein’s extensive art collection, Lautner’s original architectural models of the home, and Goldstein’s 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. LACMA has expressed its intent to maintain and preserve the property while allowing students, scholars, and the public access.
The Gem of Beverly Crest
For now, we’ll have to continue to admire the property from afar or in the countless beautiful photographs accumulated over the years. A true gem of Beverly Crest, and that’s saying something, the Sheats-Goldstein residence found Lautner showing us what was possible with Mid-Century Modern architecture. And under Goldstein’s stewardship, this vision has been updated to include several features that wouldn’t have been possible then. It’s the best of both worlds, under one massive roof.
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
