Hip Midcentury Home By Harold B. Zook Hits The Market In Los Angeles

The Harold B. Zook-designed home in Studio City is a throwback to the casual Southern California style of the 1950s (HILTON & HYLAND)

If you’re looking for a slice of Palm Springs in Los Angeles, the newly listed Lynch Residence in Studio City checks all the boxes. The midcentury gem was designed and built in 1955 by Harold B. Zook, and remains a stellar example of the architect’s mastery of form that follows function. It’s for sale at $2.6 million, according to a listing with luxury real estate specialist Donovan Healey of Hilton & Hyland.

harold b zook designed studio city home 10881 Willowcrest Pl midcentury architecture

The single-story home at 10881 Willowcrest Place in Studio City is listed for sale at $2.6 million (HILTON & HYLAND).

The son of prominent Chicago architect R. Harold Zook, Harold B. Zook began his career working with celebrated architect Albert Frey, who was a founding father of modernism in Palm Springs. In addition to residential projects (some captured by photography great Julius Shulman), Zook’s works also include the Pasadena’s Saga Motor Hotel and the since-demolished Gwinn’s Drive-In Restaurant.

brick fireplace living room harold b zook designed house 10881 willowcrest studio city

Zook-designed homes are known for their distinctive fireplaces. At 10881 Willowcrest Place, the fireplace brickwork is repeated on the front exterior (HILTON & HYLAND).

According to Healey, over the years, Zook-designed homes have developed a significant following among midcentury enthusiasts and are generally beloved by their owners. Celebrities have also caught the Zook craze; a few years ago, actress Mandy Moore purchased and renovated another of the architect’s homes in Pasadena.

harold b zook studio city midcentury house in the living room with floor to ceiling glass

Walls of windows frame views of the swimming pool and landscaping (HILTON & HYLAND).

“Harold B. Zook’s homes are coveted for their classic brick fireplaces, which are a traditional Mid-Century Modern feature. This home has been curated beautifully by the current owners, who are immensely prideful of the property,” Healey says.

harold b zook living room coffee table studio city house

Gold accents and character pieces further the home’s midcentury vibe (HILTON & HYLAND).

Like many decades-old homes in Los Angeles, the home on Willowcrest has been updated but still retains its character details. Updates include several energy-efficient upgrades including a full-solar panel system and dual-pain, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. “Preserved with an incredible eye for detail, this home is both period correct and meticulously updated,” the agent says.

harold b zook living room in studio city 10881 willowcrest windows look onto pool

Updates include several energy-efficient upgrades including a full-solar panel system and dual-pain, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors (HILTON & HYLAND).

Consider its location on a quiet cul-de-sac, among Mellenthin-designed and other character homes, and it all adds up to being a slice of Mayberry in an urban metropolis, Healey says. “You get the big city feel but you also have lots of space, lots of parking, a cul-de-sac for kids to run around, and a view of Universal Studios in the distance.”

dining area inside harold b zook designed house at 10881 willowcrest in studio city

A cozy dining area sits off the living room (HILTON & HYLAND).

A red-hot Los Angeles housing market in 2021

The Los Angeles housing market is currently operating at a record-breaking clip that is showing no signs of slowing down. Last month, The Los Angeles Times reported that Southern California home prices soared to an all-time high median price of $655,000, a 20.2% increase year-over-year. The median home price in Los Angeles County, specifically, now hovers above $750,000.

harold b zook studio city home inside the kitchen

The kitchen has been updated and incorporates period-adjacent fixtures and hardware (HILTON & HYLAND).

Healey says that available inventory has become an epidemic in itself. “There are way more buyers who have decided their home is the most important thing. Now, that’s driving the market. If you’re an agent, the buyers are coming to you,” he explains.

harold b zook studio city house inside the media room

The home has more than 2,000 square feet of space and plenty of flexible living areas (HILTON & HYLAND).

Among the big winners of the current home-buying craze: cash buyers. “Cash buyers are winning bids because, in some markets, the comps (comparable sales) don’t support the bids, making cash buyers even more appealing,” Healey says.

10881 willowcrest in studio city for sale at $2.6 million with a swimming pool

Large agave plants frame a deep swimmer’s pool in the backyard (HILTON & HYLAND).

Healey believes the market has become so incredible in some segments that Westside Los Angeles prices, traditionally among the highest in Los Angeles, have started leaking over into the San Fernando Valley. “It’s an incredible time to sell if you have the right representation,” he adds.

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Author

Neal is the Chief Content Officer at Forbes Global Properties. A content strategist with more than a decade of experience in the sports, entertainment and real estate spaces he previously launched a sports real estate column and chronicled L.A.’s biggest home sales for the Los Angeles Times' award-winning “Hot Property” section.

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