Gamble House
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| David B. Gamble House | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena, California |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1908 |
| Architect: | Greene & Greene |
| Architectural style(s): | Bungalow/Craftsman, Other |
| Designated as NHL: | December 22, 1977[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | September 3, 1971[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 71000155 |
| Governing body: | Local |
The Gamble House, also known as David B. Gamble House, (constructed 1908 - 1909) is a National Historic Landmark and museum in Pasadena, California, USA. It was designed by the architectural firm Greene and Greene, brothers Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, as a home for David B. Gamble of the Procter & Gamble company.
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[edit] Overview
Originally intended as a winter residence for David and Mary Gamble, the three-story Gamble House is a residential ark commonly described as America's Arts and Crafts masterpiece, whose style shows influence from traditional Japanese aesthetics and a certain California spaciousness born of available land and a permissive climate. Arts-and-Crafts architecture was focused on the use of natural materials, attention to detail, aesthetics, and craftsmanship.
[edit] The Structure
[edit] Interiors
Rooms in the Gamble House were built using multiple kinds of wood; the teak, maple, oak, Port Orford Cedar, and mahogany surfaces are placed in sequences to bring out contrasts of color, tone and grain. Inlay in the custom furniture designed by the architects matches inlay in the tile mantle surrounds, and the interlocking joinery on the main staircase was left exposed. One of the wooden panels in the entry hall is actually a concealed door leading to the kitchen, and another panel opens to a clothes closet. The Greenes used an experienced team of local contractors who had worked together for them in Pasadena on a several previous homes, including the Hall brothers, Peter and John, who are responsible for the high quality of the woodworking in the house and its furniture.
The sensuous woods, the generously low and horizontal room shapes, and the quality of natural light that filters through the art glass exterior windows, coexist with a relatively traditional plan, in which most rooms are regularly shaped and organized around a central hall. Although the house is not as spatially adventurous as the contemporary works of Frank Lloyd Wright or even of the earlier New England "Shingle Style," its mood is casual and its symmetries tend to be localized - i.e. symmetrically organized spaces and forms in asymmetrical relationships to one another. Ceiling heights are different on the first (8'10") and second floors (8'8") and in the den (9'10") and the forms and scales of the spaces are constantly shifting, especially as one moves from the interior of the house to its second-floor semi-enclosed porches and its free-form terraces, front and rear. The third floor was planned as a billiard room, but was used as an attic by the Gamble family.
[edit] Exteriors
Outdoor space was as important as the interior spaces. Exterior porches are found off three of the second-floor bedrooms and were used for sleeping or entertaining. The main patio in the back of the house has a large koi pond and clinker brick walls. Arroyo stone paths in the lawns are reminiscent of running brooks.
[edit] History
David and Mary Gamble lived in the house during the winter months until their deaths in 1923 and 1929, respectively. Julia (Mary's younger sister) lived in the house until her death in 1943. Cecil Huggins Gamble and his wife Louise Gibbs Gamble lived in the house beginning in 1946 and briefly considered selling it. They soon changed their minds, however, when prospective buyers spoke of painting the interior teak and mahogany woodwork white. The Gambles realized the artistic importance of the house and it remained in the Gamble family until 1966, when it was deeded to the city of Pasadena in a joint agreement with the University of Southern California School of Architecture.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977.[1][3]
[edit] In popular culture
- The house and garage were seen as the residence of Doctor Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future films.
- The exterior of the house was used as the home of a young Simon and River Tam in the episode "Safe" from the cult TV show Firefly.
- The house was featured in the 2005 Jon Favreau movie, Zathura.
[edit] Trivia
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- A Greene and Greene lantern that was stolen from the outside of the house in the 1970s showed up for sale on eBay in 2005.
- Two USC architecture students live in the house full-time. The selected students change yearly.
- David Gamble collected door knockers. Many knockers from his collection can be found hung in the house.
- The Gamble family crest is the crane and trailing rose. The crest or parts of it can be spotted in many locations around the house.
- The California Live Oak tree made in art glass on the front door has ginkgo leaves rather than oak leaves. This was done on purpose to highlight the Asian influence in the house.
[edit] References
- ^ a b David B. Gamble House. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-10-17.
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ Carolyn Pitts (July 13, 1977), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: David Berry Gamble House / The gamble House Greene and Greene LibraryPDF (457 KiB), National Park Service and Accompanying 7 photos, exterior and interior, from 1908 and undated.PDF (930 KiB)
[edit] External links
- www.gamblehouse.org - Official website
- Gamble House Movies List - List of Movies that features the house in it
- Gamble House photos Photos of The Gamble House, 2005, after conservation project
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