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A Craig Ellwood Glass House Hidden Among Pasadena's Trees

Designed for ArtCenter alumni, this glass-and-wood pavilion pairs midcentury architecture with a remarkable family story

By Olivia Vergunst | November 9, 2026 | Category interiors/house-tours

Among the eucalyptus and oak trees of Pasadena, California, a glass-and-wood pavilion holds a fascinating place in the history of midcentury modern architecture. Completed in 1965, the Kubly House was designed by Craig Ellwood Associates for Don and Sally Kubly, both alumni of ArtCenter College of Design. Their relationship with the architect would eventually extend well beyond the family home, connecting the residence to one of Pasadena's most recognisable architectural landmarks.

Surrounded by established trees, the Kubly House reflects Craig Ellwood’s vision of architecture in harmony with nature

Don Kubly later became ArtCenter's second president and played a role in selecting Ellwood's practice to design the institution's Hillside Campus, completed in 1976. The elongated steel-and-glass structure spans a canyon, with associate James Tyler recognised as its principal designer. The connection gives the Kubly House an unusual place in Ellwood's story: according to available architectural records, it appears to be his only documented residential project in Pasadena.

Timber post-and-beam construction gives the Kubly House a distinctive character, departing from Ellwood’s signature steel structures

A Glass Pavilion Among the Trees

Ellwood, one of Southern California's influential postwar modernists, became known for a disciplined architectural language shaped by steel, glass, precise geometry and structural clarity. His practice also produced Case Study Houses Nos. 16, 17 and 18 for the influential Arts & Architecture programme. The Kubly House, however, represents a departure from his more familiar steel-framed work.

The Kubly House’s living spaces celebrate midcentury modernism, with clean lines, natural materials and expansive glazing

Designed for the Kublys and their growing family, the single-storey residence takes the form of a long, low pavilion elevated above its gently sloping site. Its post-and-beam structure is made from wood, with expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing allowing the surrounding landscape to become part of the interior. Sheltered beneath mature eucalyptus and oak trees, the house appears to float within its setting.

Raised above its gently sloping site, the Kubly House appears to float among the trees that surround the property

The choice of timber was partly practical. The original construction cost less than $45,000, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy, making the project an exercise in architectural clarity within a considered budget. Inside, a centrally positioned kitchen separates the main living areas from the private bedroom wing. Glass doors open towards landscaped grounds, where a swimming pool and spa extend the home's relationship with the outdoors.

Floor-to-ceiling glass dissolves the boundary between the Kubly House’s interior and its leafy Pasadena setting

A Family Home With a Story to Tell

The Kublys were closely connected to Southern California's creative and educational community, and their commission reflected a relationship built on shared interests. According to architectural archive USModernist, Sally Kubly told Ellwood's daughter that the architect had sketched the house on a napkin during lunch – an appealing detail that offers a glimpse into the origins of the project.

Centrally positioned, the kitchen connects the main living areas with the more private bedroom wing of the Kubly House

The family retained the property for nearly six decades before it changed hands in 2022. Its subsequent owners approached the restoration with a clear guiding principle: “Do No Harm”. Working with Carl Bronson of Bronstruction, they focused on preserving the home's defining architectural character rather than reinventing it.

A preservation-minded restoration has renewed the Kubly House while respecting its original architectural character and materials

The work included updating major systems, addressing surface finishes and removing an interior partition to create a more spacious primary suite. Throughout, the post-and-beam structure, extensive glazing, original material sensibilities and restrained colour palette remained central to the approach.

Carefully restored interiors preserve the understated material palette and modernist sensibility of Craig Ellwood’s design

Preserving a Midcentury Modern Landmark

Measuring approximately 2,277 square feet, the residence sits on a 0.6-acre property. Its combination of transparent walls, carefully considered proportions and mature planting makes the landscape as integral to the design as the architecture itself. The City of Pasadena has identified the house as eligible for individual listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

A swimming pool, spa and mature trees extend the Kubly House’s living spaces into its tranquil outdoor setting

Now returning to the market, the Kubly House is set to welcome only its third owner. More than a striking example of Craig Ellwood's work, it represents a remarkable intersection of architecture, family history and design education – a home whose significance reaches beyond its glass walls and into the story of modern Pasadena.

Credits

Images: Cameron Carothers