The 96-year-old Henry Dart Greene House in Altadena, longtime home of noted architect Henry Mather Greene, who designed the residence, was designated a Los Angeles County landmark Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.
“Declaring this special house as a county landmark is a way to celebrate and preserve the rich architectural history that makes Altadena unique,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who introduced the motion calling for the designation, said in a statement. “I want to ensure future generations see and appreciate Altadena’s history and diversity, which is also reflected in the homes that fill its neighborhoods. The Greene home is a local jewel that deserves to be protected.”
Completed in 1926, the house has had no alterations that have impacted its historical integrity, according to Barger’s office, which noted the house is “designed in a Mediterranean Revival Style, which is based on the design elements of historic architecture from Spain and Italy as well as the California missions.”
“Common features of this style include white plastered walls, red clay tiled roofs, arches, and enclosed patios,” according to Barger’s office.
The architect, Henry Mather Greene, lived in the residence at 1405 La Solana Drive until his death in the 1954.
According to Barger’s office, Greene achieved international acclaim in 1952 when he received special recognition from the American Institute of Architects for his work. He was the co-founder of the Greene and Greene architecture firm in Pasadena, which he established alongside his brother, Charles Sumner Greene, in 1894.
The Ohio-born brothers attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Architecture and left without graduating, later joining their parents in Pasadena, where they started the partnership.
The architecture firm was known for its Craftsman bungalows, alongside their woodwork and furniture designs.
An official county landmark designation will guarantee the protection and preservation of the Henry Dart Greene House.