Visiting The Gamble House

I made a point to visit the Gamble House in Pasadena, CA today. All I can say is "Wow!" Built in 1908 by brothers Charles and Henry Greene, the Gamble House is affectionately referred to as "The Ultimate Bungalow." Inspired by Asian art and the philosophy of the Arts and Crafts Movement, this house is a marvel of architectural beauty. The entire building has unifying Asian "cloud lift" motifs (the little rise to the chairs, window mullions, sconces, etc.) that gives it a sense of visual completeness and harmony wherever you move within it. The house was put together by the finest craftsmen in California at the turn of the century and as such it is still solid as a rock today. The honesty of construction and materials can be found in all the exposed joints in walls, trim, etc and also in all the unpainted wood and brick. The quality of home's construction lead our docent to state that the only documented exchange they have between Frank Lloyd Wright and the Greene Brothers was Wright asking them "how do you build your buildings so well?" They don't know the Greene's actual response, but we can suggest that it was by using the best craftspeople available. (This point was underscored by driving past the Millard House, Wright's first "Textile House" design a few blocks away from the Gamble House, which had a tarp over it and seemed to be undergoing extensive renovations.)

The home is a remarkable gem and if you are in the L.A. area, we would highly suggest you visit it and take in the grandeur yourself. We promise, the experience is no "gamble!"

Images courtesy of the gamblehouse.org