Found this gem of a Video on-line , thank you so much, Brian Linder & Mark H. Mendez, also see comments and credits below.
I’m deeply touched by this beautiful tribute to my father’s work. It means a great deal to see his architecture appreciated after so many decades.
“Perched above Moon Canyon in Mt. Washington, this remarkable residence was designed in 1966 by architect Egon F. J. Winkens, a German architect who worked under Richard Neutra before establishing his own practice.
In this episode, architecture broker Brian Linder, AIA (The Value Of Architecture) and architectural realtor Mark H. Mendez explore the house alongside original owner Dr. Don Gaspard, who shares the extraordinary story behind its creation.
What makes this home particularly fascinating is the design process itself. Before construction began, Winkens and Dr. Gaspard reportedly spent months studying the vacant hillside, observing the movement of the sun and considering how architecture could respond to the landscape.
The result is a highly personal interpretation of California Modernism featuring:
- A dramatic cantilevered entry trellis
- The famous “Dragon’s Tooth” gallery hallway
- A double-height living room with Pacific Ocean views
- Exposed post-and-beam construction
- Clerestory windows and folded roof planes
- A monumental Hawaiian lava rock fireplace
- A preserved sunken conversation pit wrapped in lime-green shag carpet
- Original architectural details throughout
Though Winkens worked in Richard Neutra’s office, the house often feels closer in spirit to the experimental work of R.M. Schindler, embracing irregular geometries, playful spatial sequences, and a deeper connection to landscape.
Photographed by Julius Shulman shortly after its completion, the Gaspard House remains one of the most fascinating examples of Southern California Modernism.
We are also incredibly grateful to filmmaker and documentarian Luis Flores (@luis__f), whose thoughtful storytelling and craftsmanship brought this project to life, and to Cody Boone (@cody.boone) for the stunning aerial cinematography that helps reveal the home’s extraordinary relationship to its hillside site.
Projects like this are only possible through the generosity, passion, and collaboration of everyone involved.
Project: Gaspard House Mt. Washington, Los Angeles 1966
Architect: Egon F. J. Winkens
Featuring: Don Gaspard Owner
Brian Linder, AIA Architecture Broker The Value Of Architecture Compass
Mark H. Mendez Architectural Realtor Compass
Follow Mark: Instagram: @markhmendez
Follow Brian: Instagram: @thevalueofarchitecture
Subscribe for more architect-designed homes, modernist architecture, and hidden Los Angeles design stories.
Video by the talented Luis Flores, luis@rolmexstudios.com.
#MidCenturyModern #Architecture #LosAngelesArchitecture #Modernism #ConversationPit“
