Chris Pratt Vs. Craig Ellwood

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Welcome to this week’s installment of The Midmod Corner.

Imagine your favorite movie star taking a wrecking ball to a beloved mid-century landmark. Shocking, right? This week, we're diving into the drama of how Chris Pratt demolished a Craig Ellwood architectural gem to build his McMansion.

Let's explore this week's headline-grabbing story!

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The Story 🗞️

Chris Pratt and the Craig Ellwood Landmark

If you're a fan of midcentury modern architecture, you know that Craig Ellwood's designs are iconic. His work embodied the spirit of the 1950s and 60s, focusing on simplicity, utility, and style. So, when news broke that actor Chris Pratt bought and razed one of Ellwood's architectural landmarks to make way for his new home, it sent shockwaves through the community.

Ellwood's sleek designs possessed a mystique that mirrored the man himself. Born Jon Nelson Burke in 1922, he moved from Texas to Los Angeles and reinvented himself as the suave Craig Ellwood, borrowing his new surname from a liquor store. Despite lacking formal training in architecture, Ellwood joined Entenza’s Case Study Program early in his career, creating Case Study House No. 16 in 1952. This was the first of three homes he designed for Arts & Architecture magazine, with House #16 being the only one still standing today.

The demolished structure, known as the Zimmerman house, was an early Ellwood design built in 1950 for Martin and Eva Zimmerman. It was featured in Progressive Architecture magazine and photographed by Julius Shulman. According to US Modernist, the 2,770-square-foot home changed ownership in 1968 and 2004 before being sold off-market to Pratt and his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger.

Pratt and Schwarzenegger purchased the property in 2020 with plans to build a “15,000-square-foot farmhouse-style mansion”. Despite the historical significance of the Ellwood house, they opted for demolition, citing the need for more space and modern amenities. The decision was met with immediate backlash from preservationists and architecture lovers, who saw the demolition as a significant loss for mid-century modern heritage.

The decision to tear down such an important architectural work has raised concerns about preserving historic designs and the responsibilities of homeowners in maintaining architectural heritage. While some defend the right of property owners to alter their homes as they wish, others mourn the loss of a rare Ellwood piece. This situation underscores the ongoing debate about balancing development with the preservation of historical architecture.

Pratt's planned residence, reportedly designed by acclaimed architect Robert A.M. Stern, may offer modern comforts but marks the end of an era for fans of Ellwood’s work. This incident highlights the delicate balance between development and conservation, prompting reflection on the importance of architectural heritage in a changing world.

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