CARL MASTON · CALIFORNIA MODERNISM
The Addison Residence
Ventura, California
01 / THE STORY
Some homes are defined by their rooms. This one is defined by the relationship between them—and the landscape beyond.
Designed by Los Angeles architect Carl Maston in 1958, for Robert and Janet Addison, the Addison Residence is a distinctive expression of Southern California midcentury modernism. A strong horizontal roofline, open structural framework, and broad expanses of glass connect everyday life to the outdoors on its elevated Ventura site.
The original design brief describes a desire for informal living, with the kitchen connected to living and dining spaces and a sheltered outdoor area protected from the wind. Those human concerns give the architecture its enduring appeal.
2897 Grove Street · The Robert and Janet Addison Residence02 / THE ARCHITECTURE
Structure, light, and landscape.
Each part belongs to the whole.
The original brief placed outdoor living on the leeward side of the house. Today, a sheltered courtyard creates an intimate place to gather, with overhead beams and skylights giving the space its distinctive rhythm.
Maston’s design used a regular system of posts and beams to unite interior rooms, the garage, and outdoor terraces. The framework extends toward the landscape, making the structure itself a defining feature of the home.
THE SETTING
Pacific Ocean. Channel Islands. Ventura hills.
Views that bring the wider landscape into daily life.
03 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Original records offer a closer look
at the ideas behind the home.
THE DESIGN BRIEF
A descriptive sheet headed “1958 Honor Awards Program” records the owners’ priorities: convenience, informal living, connected spaces, and outdoor shelter. It also identifies Douglas fir posts and beams in the original construction.
Read the original document ↗
MAY 1961
A June 15, 1961 letter to Maston confirms that the Addison House appeared in the magazine’s May issue. The letter accompanied 25 sets of tear sheets sent to the architect.
Read the publisher’s letter ↗
THE ORIGINAL PLAN
The archival drawing places the residence within the contours of its site. It reveals how rooms, terraces, and circulation were considered together as a single architectural composition.
Explore the archival plan ↗
THE ARCHITECT
Carl Maston was a Los Angeles architect whose work expressed the optimism and informality of Southern California modernism. His designs made structure visible, used glass to extend daily life outdoors, and treated the courtyard, terrace, and garden as part of the architecture—not as afterthoughts.
The Addison Residence is a particularly clear example of that approach. Its regular beam system unites the home, garage, and outdoor terraces, while the hillside setting becomes part of the experience of every room.
Explore Carl Maston’s USC archive ↗Historic photographs by Julius Shulman document the residence’s early appearance—from its projecting structural frame to its courtyard and interiors. The photographic record offers a valuable companion to Maston’s drawings and written design brief.
Explore the USC archival collection ↗04 / THE RESIDENCE TODAY
Explore the architecture, gardens, and gathering spaces. Select any photograph to view it in full.
LIVING AT 2897 GROVE STREET
This single-level residence pairs expansive walls of glass and exposed structural beams with inviting spaces for everyday living. A sheltered, skylit courtyard leads into interiors that open naturally to outdoor decks and gardens.
The open kitchen features a generous island with seating, streamlined cabinetry, and an adjoining dining area wrapped in windows. A covered deck, sculptural succulents, and terraced gardens connect the home to its hillside setting and views of the Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands, and surrounding hills.
THE ADDISON RESIDENCE
Experience the light, the spaces, and the coastal setting
of 2897 Grove Street, Ventura.
Historical sources: owner-supplied archival records UC1632613, UC1632616 and UC1632741; Julius Shulman photographic record; City of Ventura historic resources survey.
Archival materials describe the original design; the residence has evolved over time. The City survey lists 1959 construction, while the supplied design sheet carries a 1958 program heading. Historical plan shown for context, not as a current floor plan.
2897 GROVE STREET · VENTURA, CALIFORNIA