Designed by John Lautner in 1951, this inviting mid-century modern features vaulted, exposed beam ceilings, brick/concrete floors, and extensive natural hardwoods. Large windows and glass doors create a seamless connection to the secluded, resort-like backyard, which has a large saltwater pool and spa. 

Cathedral ceilings with integrated skylights and a strategic use of frosted glass bring sunlight inside without sacrificing privacy. Wide overhanging eaves shade expansive patio areas, including a walk-behind wet bar with concrete counters, allowing for the ultimate in poolside entertaining. 

Other unique features include an interior garden with river stone, a towering brick fireplace, and mullioned corner windows. Many of the rooms are oriented around the back and side yards, virtually eliminating the need for window treatments. 

John Lautner studied under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin in the 1930s before launching one of the most distinctive careers in American residential architecture. Where Wright pursued organic harmony with the landscape, Lautner pushed further into structural experimentation -- designing homes that seem to defy gravity, dissolve the boundary between indoors and outdoors, and resist any single period or style. 

His most recognized works -- the flying saucer-shaped Chemosphere, the canyon-hugging Silvertop, and the Wolff House -- are concentrated in the Los Angeles area and remain some of the most photographed private residences in the world. The John Lautner Foundation continues to catalog and preserve his legacy. 

The Long Beach home featured here -- known as the Alexander House -- represents an earlier, more residential period of Lautner's work. Built in 1951, it predates his most iconic commissions but already shows the hallmarks: the seamless indoor-outdoor flow, the structural honesty of exposed materials, and the sense that the house was designed for the specific site and the specific light. 

"Many of Lautner's homes are now considered landmarks. The Alexander House is one of only a handful of his designs in Long Beach." 

The text above originated as a pitch summary I wrote for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, which hires me to write pitch summaries for unique estates and homes with architectural significance.

 That summary caught the attention of the Robb Report, leading to a feature on one of the most architecturally significant listings to hit the Southern California market in recent years. You can read the full Robb Report feature here. 

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also like my feature on the landmark Ray Kappe house, another rare piece of California architectural history, and my breakdown of stocks vs. real estate for anyone thinking about where to put their money. 

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