By JOHN HARLOW | Editor-in-Chief
The Eames House has long been one of Pacific Palisades’ most secret delights.
It attracts architects and devotees of mid-20th century design from around the world, but a recent straw poll of Palisadians revealed that few knew about the jewel in their midst.
The house, more formerly known as Case Study Number Eight, was designed by the extraordinary husband-and-wife team of Charles and Ray Eames in 1949.
Of all their architectural triumphs and industrial furniture designs—the Eames lounge chair remains a constant seller in many versions—this was their favorite and where they lived and worked until their deaths. Charles passed in 1978 and Ray, to the very day, 10 years later in 1988.
As Charles said: “Anything I can do, Ray can do better.”
The home, made up of living and working spaces, has been recreated in museums around the world—the contents were recently turned into an exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art—but the original is tucked away off Chautauqua.
It has been opened for special occasions, such as small weddings, and there are tours, but now it’s gone digital: The Eames Foundation has created a website laying out its plans to repair the home. They are in no hurry and determined to get it right—it’s called the 250 Year Project.
For more information, check out the updated website at eamesfoundation.org.
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