Charmer in Manhattan Beach - Page 2
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"It was a terrific place for me and my three brothers to grow up," Sean says. "Having a patio outside each of our bedrooms was great, and my dad designed the house to fit the size of the lot perfectly."
Born in 1932, architect John O'Donnell, who also went by the name 'Joe,' grew up in Los Angeles, graduating from the University of California, School of Architecture. Not long after graduation, the young architect was drafted into the Army and served with the 2nd Engineer Group, helping to rebuild Korea after the conflict ended. Once he returned to the states, O'Donnell embarked on an architectural career that would span over half a century.
The O'Donnell house was originally a one-bedroom/one-bath structure, and "my dad designed [the expansion of] our family home in 1964," says Sean. The architect added bedrooms, bathrooms, and many outdoor patios giving the house almost an Asian feel with all the dark wood accents.
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O'Donnell passed in 2014, leaving a portfolio that includes high-profile projects, such as the 858-foot-tall Aon Center, a slender skyscraper touted as the tallest building in L.A. when it was built in 1973; the Aloha Stadium; the Forum; the Los Angeles International Airport's Theme Building; and the Los Angeles Zoo.
Focusing on projects in the western U.S., O'Donnell designed projects with the L.A.-based architectural firms of AC Martin, the Charles Luckman Partnership, and DG Curran Associates.
An important part of the unrestored charm of the O'Donnell residence is its authenticity and organic simplicity. Natural wood walls offer a slate for art and expression. A fireplace lends warmth to the living room.
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Floor-to-ceiling windows pivot out to garden areas welcoming sea breezes that incorporate the indoor-outdoor flow that MCM homes are known for. With TLC and a keen design eye, this charming architectural beach home is poised to welcome a new owner and a renewed mid-century modern life.
For more information and photos about the O'Donnell house, and its trust and probate sale, click here.
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