Los Angeles Stilt Home Featured in “Heat” Is For Sale
As California’s fortunes rose and development boomed following World War II, Los Angeles offered a proving ground for new ideas about architecture and design. Reflecting the optimism of the atomic age, the Mid-Century Modernist school of architecture is known for clean lines, geometric shapes, and functional materials with an emphasis on steel, glass, and concrete. One striking variation of the typical modern aesthetic was the stilt home, designed to take advantage of small, hilly lots otherwise deemed “unbuildable.” Seemingly gravity-defying, these homes are built on supporting stilts over which the home seems to float. About 1,500 of these striking houses were built in California during the 1950s and 60s, but very few are still standing today.
The listing of one of these unique homes for $1.599 million provides an opportunity to own a piece of LA history. Located in the City Terrace neighborhood, the home was constructed as a case study for the engineering program at Cal State University, Los Angeles in 1962. In 1995, it served as a shooting location for Michael Mann’s crime drama Heat, starring Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino – considered one of the most influential films of its genre. The property served as the home of Danny Trejo’s character in the film, which the actor has called the favorite role of his career.
