Frank Lloyd Wright's Sturges House in L.A. Faces 'Demolition by Neglect'

According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, the Sturges House in Brentwood, Los Angeles, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and finished in 1939, faces the threat of 'demolition by neglect.' This residence, a notable illustration of Wright's Usonian vision for affordable housing, is deteriorating, exhibiting issues such as rotting redwood, a warped carport, and siding gaps. It has been added to the Conservancy's watch list, which, along with the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, has sought to collaborate with the owner, the All Right Now Foundation, but has faced rejection or silence. Commissioned by George and Selma Sturges in 1938 after discovering Wright's Jacobs House, construction, overseen by apprentice John Lautner, cost around $11,000. The house features a cantilevered design with a 21-foot deck and has changed hands several times, including a sale to Hollywood figures James Bridges and Jack Larson, who employed Lautner for repairs. The All Right Now Foundation acquired it in 2016, asserting it is well-maintained and occupied, though neighbors have reported wildlife intrusion. As the sole Usonian in the Los Angeles region, its preservation is vital. Barbara Gordon, executive director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, emphasizes that Usonian homes are predominantly found in the Midwest and East. The Sturges House is recognized as a Historic-Cultural Monument.