Introduction

Set on a lush half-acre lot in San Marino, California, the Thompson Moseley Residence (1959) is an exquisite embodiment of mid-century modern design by influential California architects Buff, Straub & Hensman. As this iconic home reenters the real estate market, it does more than change ownership—it invites renewed conversation within the architectural community about residential innovation during one of the most dynamic design periods of the 20th century.

This blog post explores the residence’s historical significance, design principles, structural nuances, and enduring influence, offering insights for architects, builders, and homeowners immersed in, or inspired by, modernist residential design.

Historical Context: The Postwar Origins of a Design Legacy

To understand the Thompson Moseley Residence and its impact, one must first consider the firm behind its design. Established in the 1950s, Buff, Straub & Hensman—originally Buff & Hensman—was led by Conrad Buff III, Calvin Straub, and Donald Hensman, graduates of the University of Southern California (USC) School of Architecture and veterans of World War II. Their wartime experiences and academic backgrounds coalesced in a shared vision: housing solutions for a rapidly urbanizing, postwar America that emphasized light, space, economy, and a harmonious relationship with nature.

At a time when suburban sprawl was reshaping the American landscape, Buff, Straub & Hensman offered an antidote to cookie-cutter developments. Their designs, including the Thompson Moseley Residence, reflected the California Modernist ethos: functional minimalism, local materials, and indoor-outdoor integration. As professors and mentors at USC, these architects influenced generations of designers eager to redefine the American home.

Form and Function: Hallmarks of the Thompson Moseley Design

Completed in 1959, the Thompson Moseley Residence delivers a masterclass in mid-century residential architecture. Several design principles unite to create a home that balances technical innovation with artistic sensibility.

Post-and-Beam Construction

The house employs a post-and-beam structural system, a hallmark of mid-century design that eliminated the need for interior load-bearing walls. This engineering approach allowed expansive glass walls and fluid, open-plan interiors—designs that remain highly sought after in modern renovations and new builds alike.

Floating Rooflines and Deep Eaves

One of the most visually striking features is the residence’s floating rooflines. Cantilevered planes extend beyond the home’s envelope, exaggerating horizontality and creating shaded outdoor spaces. These extensive roof overhangs not only provide passive solar control but contribute to the architectural language of levity and modern elegance.

Walls of Glass and Clerestory Windows

True to the philosophy of opening the home to its surroundings, the design includes floor-to-ceiling glazing and clerestory windows. These elements bring daylight deep into the interior and visually connect the home to its lush San Marino setting, establishing a rich dialogue between structure and site.

Structural and Material Strategies

Natural Materials and Honest Construction

Throughout the Thompson Moseley Residence, Buff, Straub & Hensman showcase their preference for natural materials. Warm hardwoods, exposed wood beams, and glass unify the material palette, emphasizing craft and authenticity. Interior finishes were often left visible—what you see is how the home stands, a vital tenet of modernist thinking.

Factory Fabrication and Prefab Elements

Although the Thompson Moseley Residence was custom-designed, the firm’s broader exploration into prefabrication and modularity influenced many of their contemporaneous projects. Particularly notable in Case Study House #20, they employed factory-produced stressed-skin panels and plywood vaults—elements requiring advanced engineering yet offering construction speed, cost control, and architectural clarity.

Zoned Interior Planning

The architects often organized interiors using a zoning strategy—dividing layouts into private (bedrooms), formal (living/dining), and family (kitchen, den) zones. This subtle sequencing promotes both connection and retreat, allowing homeowners to experience flexibility and flow. In today’s world of hybrid living arrangements, such planning remains highly relevant.

From Prototype to Icon: Comparing Case Studies

Buff, Straub & Hensman’s contribution to the Case Study House program holds deep relevance for architects studying efficient residential frameworks. Case Study Houses #20 and #28 show additional iterations of their techniques seen in the Thompson Moseley Residence, including dramatic clerestory lighting, articulated rooflines, and engineered prefabricated elements.

For instance, House #20 utilized double-cantilevered roof planes to frame interior courtyards and expand light penetration, while House #28 embraced industrial materials in a residential setting—a radical move at the time. These ideas find more subtle but equally impactful expression in the Moseley residence, proving the firm’s ability to scale innovation according to context.

Influence and Legacy

What makes the Thompson Moseley Residence especially significant is its continued resonance with today’s architects and homeowners. Uniting material honesty, environmental sensitivity, and spatial elegance, it serves not only as a case study in mid-century excellence but as an ongoing source of inspiration.

This legacy is partly institutional—thanks to the founders’ academic roles at USC—and partly cultural. The firm’s work helped popularize the notion of integrating indoor and outdoor life in California, a concept now appreciated globally. Whether designing in Melbourne, Montreal, or Madrid, architects continue to draw from the Buff, Straub & Hensman playbook.

Practical Takeaways for Architects and Homeowners

From custom residential commissions to modest remodels, the design strategies employed at the Thompson Moseley Residence offer valuable guidance:

• Light & Site Integration: Prioritize openings and orientation to maximize daylight and connect with the landscape. Use clerestories and floor-to-ceiling panels strategically.
• Open Plan Living: Consider post-and-beam frameworks or engineered equivalents to reduce permit constraints on open layouts.
• Material Expression: Honor structure as finish. Expose authentic materials—unfinished timber, brushed steel, or concrete—for warmth and texture.
• Zoning for Modern Life: Dwellings today support work, life, and leisure simultaneously. Zoning strategies from mid-century homes can be confidently adapted to these multi-use demands.

For homeowners particularly, the Moseley Residence affirms that even decades-old architecture can feel utterly modern—with sustainability and indoor-outdoor living taking center stage.

Conclusion: Preserving and Propagating Mid-Century Excellence

As the Thompson Moseley Residence enters the market, it brings with it more than refined materials or architectural prestige—it gives future owners and practitioners a rare, immersive lesson in residential architecture that responds poetically to climate, site, and human need.

The house stands as a living artifact of Buff, Straub & Hensman’s vision, artistry, and pedagogy—all of which continue to inform international approaches to domestic architecture. Whether you are restoring a mid-century home, designing an expressive modern residence, or rethinking spatial systems for contemporary living, the Moseley Residence offers a timeless blueprint for excellence.