Property Description

An impossibly rare post-and-beam masterpiece: The Portage Residence, 1976 | Ladd & Kelsey, AIA. Alums of the famed USC School of Architecture. Architects of the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, Walt Disney's CalArts campus, and numerous cultural landmarks of California Modernism. Mills Act eligible, the house on Portage Circle is a brilliant realization of their modernist principles. Down a private road and sited on its own promontory - spread over nearly an acre - with panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains. The interior world blends classic midcentury references - warm wood paneling, tongue-and-groove ceilings, and walls of glass - with sumptuous updates. No stone has been left unturned with new floors, bathrooms, upgraded electrical and plumbing, A/C, Fleetwood sliders, and Milgard windows. The shared spaces flow brilliantly, with kitchen, living, and dining existing in one low-slung geometric form. A stunning, wood-clad renovated kitchen is a highlight, along with a bespoke circular fireplace that feels quintessentially 1970s. Your ample primary suite lives beautifully with soaring ceilings, a private balcony, an en-suite bath, and soaking tub. Pass back through the living spaces and into your first guest suite. A terrazzo-clad bathroom is moody and stunning, while the bedroom shines with walls of glass on two of four sides. Descend to your second guest suite that shares the same tongue-and-groove ceilings, a private deck, and serene bathroom, within grasping distance of the natural world beyond. All roads lead to your exterior spaces, which have been extensively updated. Meandering succulent pathways, a flat grassy pad, cedar tub & 700 square foot deck are reinforced by new retaining walls and drainage. Notably, a recently paved driveway provides a significant amount of parking that is uncommonly rare for the canyon - four cars can fit comfortably for daily living, and many more for the inevitable gatherings this dwelling beckons. Adjacent to these spaces lies a detached barn-like studio with ADU potential; a haven for the multi-hyphenate creative. Take a lap back around at twilight and savor the views once more - an awe-inspiring, unobstructed living canvas. The Portage Residence enjoys a front-row seat to the wilds of Topanga, while remaining just 15 minutes from the beach and an easy drive to LA at large. You're moments from blissful hiking trails and the many wonders this community has to offer, such as Endless Color Pizza, Theatricum Botanicum, and Inn of the Seventh Ray. A pedigreed architectural gem for a canyon-dweller of the new age.

Property Features