Miller House

Architect:

Donald Arris Peart

Original Client:

Maurice “Maury” and Cecelia Miller

Why is it on the Trail?

An exuberant Midcentury Space Age Modern masterpiece with more circles in its plan than there are bubbles in a glass of champagne, this house is a distillation of Trousdale’s 1964 swank with its Jetsons-meets-Eva-Gabor vibe intact.

BEST VIEWING

Easily visible from the street.

THEME SONG

Get The Party Started by Shirley Bassey

Year Built

1964

MATERIALS EMPLOYED

Wood frame with stucco.

COST TO BUILD

$91,000 structure + $3,636 pool

Architectural Style

Mid-century Modern

Mid-century Modernism emerged from the International Style and became popular in the United States beginning in the mid-1940s, with Los Angeles being home to many of its most iconic structures. The style was characterized by an emphasis on minimalism, clean lines, flat planes and the use of simple geometries. New construction methods allowed for the creation of open floor plans and uninterrupted interiors, with large windows further expanding the space by blurring the boundary between inside and outside.

BIOGRAPHY OF ARCHITECT:

Donald Aris Peart was born on October 20, 1933 to John Aris Peart and Evelyn
C. Peart. His known works include the Miller House in Trousdale Estates, Casa Bea in Beverly Hills (designed with Peter Kamnitzer) and several apartments at 1721 Selby Avenue, in Westwood. He died on October 22, 1995 in Los Angeles.

ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE THAT ARE TYPICAL OF ARCHITECT'S WORK:

The Miller House is similar to Peart’s other known single-family residence— Casa Bea, at 9445 Eden Drive, which was once owned by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek—in its seamless indoor-outdoor fluidity, horizontal thrust, and full-height front doors. Both homes also frame the outdoor swimming pool as a focal point visible from many of their glass-walled rooms. Deviating from Mid-century Modern’s emphasis on right angles, the Miller House’s playful floor plan features curvilinear shapes, a dramatic all-glass circular dining room, and a round conversation pit.

MORE INFO

“Donald Aris Peart.” Pacific Coast Architecture Database.

OWNER BIOGRAPHY:

Maurice “Maury” and Cecelia Miller (1962-2009), Douglas and Mary Kottler (2010 - Present)

Cecelia Miller was born in Ohio on November 17, 1913. She and her husband, Maury, were married for 55 years. She died of natural causes on February 6th, 2009, and was survived by a brother, four children, and nine grandchildren.

RELEVANT/INTERESTING PRIMARY SOURCE

“Cecelia Miller.” Obituary. Los Angeles Times, February 7, 2009.

TALES AND TIMELINES:

February 13, 1962
A permit is filed to build a residence, retaining wall and pool for for Maurice Miller.

May 5, 1988
A permit is filed to repair the roof.

January 23, 1996
A permit is filed to repair the roof.

January 22, 2002
A permit is filed to change the rooftop heater and air conditioning.

2012
Architect Malgosia Migdal updates the residence with a new kitchen and master bathrooms while retaining original design elements such as the large, embossed bronze front doors and the master bedroom’s bamboo-inspired door handles.