INSPIRING SPOT

Gamble House was finished in 1910 by architect brothers Greene & Greene.

©Alexander Vertikoff | Vertikoff Archive

INSPIRINGSpot

GAMBLE HOUSE MARRIES CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH NATURE

BY CARRIE SNIDER

The historic home at 4 Westmoreland Place in Pasadena fits so well into the landscape, it’s as if the house sprung up there naturally. In some ways, it’s true.

The house was constructed to not only fit the needs of its owners, but it was built to include so much more. It is a beautiful marriage of craftsmanship and nature.

In 1907, David Gamble — of Proctor & Gamble fame — along with his wife, Mary, asked architect brothers Greene & Greene to design their winter home on their beautiful plot of Pasadena land. David and Mary had ideas for the design of the three-story home but were open to the architects’ experience and creativity.

Mary, for example, was sensitive to harsh light, so she requested softer light throughout the house. The Greene brothers answered with soft, unique light fixtures, as well as breathtaking stained glass on the main entrance and windows.

The stained-glass tree was inspired by Japanese design and was the Gambles’ favorite part of the house.

©Alexander Vertikoff | Vertikoff Archive

The Gamble House features a “Symphony in Wood” using maple, sugar pine, Douglas fir, California redwood, Burnese teak and Honduras mahogany.

©Alexander Vertikoff | Vertikoff Archive

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To many who have visited the home, the stained-glass tree inspired by Japanese design in the entrance is their favorite part of the Gamble House.

“The way the light comes in throughout the day is magnificent,” says Jennifer Trotoux, director of collections and interpretation for the Gamble House Conservancy.

Bringing the outside in

The architects took great care in which way the house faced and how it was situated on the natural landscape to take advantage of cross winds. Even today, their attention to detail makes the house that much more special.

“The way the house feels when you open the windows and doors — we really enjoy it,” explains Trotoux, who grew up in the area and has been working with the conservancy since 2004.

Bringing the outside in was intentional. Practically anywhere in the house, a visitor can look out a window and door and see a gorgeous view. The theme of “outside in” continues, as the house includes a vast amount of wood. That’s probably one of the first things people notice, Trotoux adds.

Called by some as a “Symphony in Wood,” the Gamble House features maple, sugar pine, Douglas fir, California redwood, Burmese teak and Honduras mahogany. Finishes were minimal to accentuate the natural wood features.

“Every surface has a reason why the particular wood or finish was used,” Trotoux says.

From the exposed beams and the columns to the walls and the floors, the woodwork is a highlight at the Gamble House. What makes the craftsmanship of the wood really unique is twofold: All of the edges are rounded, which creates a softer feel, and the joints are shown.

The Greenes worked closely with Peter and John Hall, who completed the woodwork and built the custom furniture for the home. Nowhere in the house is the wood more on display than the one-ofa-kind staircase. Peter Hall, a master stair builder, took great care in every curve and joint designed by the Greenes. “There is no staircase like it anywhere,” Trotoux explains. The railing, rather than being straight, exactly follows each stair angle and shows off the intricate, rounded joints.

Preserving history

The house was finished in 1910, and David, Mary and their youngest son, Clarence, moved in. Mary’s sister Julia also lived with them. David and Mary remained in the house until their deaths in the 1920s, and Julia until her death in 1944.

The house stayed in the Gamble family until 1966, when it was deeded to the city of Pasadena and the University of Southern California School of Architecture. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and opened for tours and events. Today, the Gamble House is the most intact building of the Greenes’ unique style and design.

In 1985, the Gamble House hit the big screen, as the exterior of the Gamble House was Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown’s 1955 house in “Back to the Future.” Fans of the movie have enjoyed special events at the Gamble House over the years.

Now the historic home can be enjoyed by everyone, from locals in Pasadena to many visitors from all over the world. Pre-COVID-19, Trotoux says that about 25,000 people visited the house every year. In the early 2000s, the house was showing signs of wear, so organizers began restoration work. Until COVID-19, it offered in-person, interior and exterior tours six days a week.

Currently, visitors are welcome to tour the extensive grounds and view the home from the outside, which includes many covered porch areas. Recently, a quick visit inside the entrance hall was added to the tour so visitors can enjoy a small portion of the interior of the house in person. Virtual tours are available— see gamblehouse.org for more information.

“The historic Gamble House is important to preserve, so we understand that moment in history; but also it sparks our creativity today,” Trotoux says. “The architects and craftsmen showed us how to make the environment beautiful. Many visitors are inspired by it.”

Gamble House 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena 626-793-3334, gamblehouse.org