" This makes me so sad . Architecture is artistic creation . "
If you’re in the mood for some extremely specific internet drama, look no further thanChris Prattand Katherine Schwarzenegger demolishing a historic Brentwood home.
The home in question was designed by the famed architect Craig Ellwood and was locally known as the Zimmerman House, after its original owners. It wascommissionedin 1949 and originallystoodas a single-story, five-bedroom, 2,770-square-foot, midcentury-modern home worth $12.5 million.
The Los Angeles Conservancywarnedof the home’s demolition in January 2023, writing on Instagram that the house “appears to be highly intact and a noteworthy example of Modernist design from this era.” They continued, “The City’s SurveyLA program identified it as potentially historic, yet no protections are currently afforded.” They further urged for “viable alternatives to demolition” and the house to be designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument.
Earlier this month,reportsemerged that Chris and Katherine were behind the home’s demolitionlast year. It’s worth noting that the property is apparently across the street from Maria Shriver, Katherine’s mother.
According toArchitectural Digest, a 5,000-square-foot-per-floor “sprawling two-story home” will be in its place, with a three-car garage and pool house. It will be designed by architect Ken Ungar, known for his farmhouse style.
In response to the news, Craig’s daughter Erin Ellwood told theLos Angeles Times, “I think it would have been really cool to keep it and do something…add to it in a really interesting, innovative way. But you know, maybe this just isn’t their style. I mean, it clearly isn’t if they’re building a farmhouse.”
One viraltweeton the platform formerly known as Twitter read, “This makes me so sad. Architecture is art. I guess if someone sells it to you, you can do whatever with it, but it’s historic and you’re rich. Maybe buy a different house?”
