Introduction

In the affluent enclave of San Marino, California, a rare architectural gem has surfaced on the market —
a meticulously preserved 1984 residential design by the celebrated firm Buff & Hensman.
Listed at $4.65 million, this 1980s-era residence encapsulates the firm’s mature design language: a
transitional interpretation of Modernism that responded directly to shifting energy codes, lifestyle expectations,
and regional aesthetics in the post-mid-century period. For architects, builders, and homeowners alike,
this home delivers valuable insights into adapting timeless principles for evolving technical and cultural demands.

Historical Context and Architectural Significance

Buff & Hensman, originally known as Buff, Straub & Hensman, were leading figures in the evolution of
Southern California Modernism from the 1950s through the 1980s. Their early work was distinguished by
post-and-beam construction, extensive glazing, and floating rooflines — hallmarks of
mid-century Modernism that emphasized harmony with the region’s mild climate and hilly terrain.

By the early 1980s, however, a clear stylistic evolution had emerged. In the San Marino home now offered for
sale, we witness a notable pivot: heftier volumetric massing, solid stucco exteriors, and
planar compositional structure replaced the open skeletal frameworks of previous decades.
This selection of materials and forms signaled a strategic architectural response to:

• Stricter California energy codes post-1970s energy crises
• Shifting client preferences toward privacy and spatial compartmentalization
• Increased interest in thermal performance and maintenance durability

This 1984 residence is not a renunciation of Modernist ideals — rather, it’s a thoughtful elaboration,
proving Buff & Hensman’s agility in adapting to external constraints while preserving core design philosophies.

Design Principles and Technical Specifications

At just over 4,000 square feet (though square footage varies slightly in public records), the San Marino property
embodies many of Buff & Hensman’s enduring principles, tweaked for late 20th-century sensibilities.

Exterior Massing and Materials

Departing from wood-dominated finishes, the home is clad in light sand-colored stucco, offering
both visual weight and durability. The low-slung roofline blends flat and low-pitched sections,
with extended eaves providing solar shading and visual horizontal emphasis.

Structural System and Floor Plan

• Primary structural support is provided by engineered wood framing over a concrete slab foundation,
  ensuring broad spans for open-plan living spaces.
• An open floor plan is maintained throughout, but with more defined zones than in earlier
  Modernist examples, supporting both entertainment and retreat.
• Clerestory windows and strategic glazing preserve daylighting while minimizing
  exposure, aligning with newly mandated energy regulations of the time.

Interior Detailing and Craftsmanship

• Custom millwork in warm wood tones, fabricated to align precisely with wall planes and architectural rhythms
• Built-in seating and display elements, serving both functional needs and visual cohesion
• Contemporary period lighting fixtures integrated during original construction, still intact in this offering

Residential Building Techniques: From Mid-Century to Late Modern

The transition from exposed post-and-beam construction to enclosed, planar massing reflected not only aesthetic
evolution but technical adaptation. In the San Marino home, we see several advancements:

Material Strategy

Moving to stucco cladding over wood framing increased thermal mass — a valuable asset in
California’s climate — and simplified exterior maintenance. Whereas mid-century homes prized visual lightness,
the 1984 residence denotes a bolder, more sculptural expression.

Energy and Environmental Response

• Wide, cantilevered overhangs mitigate solar heat gain in summer while allowing low-angle
  winter sun to penetrate.
• High-performance glazing of the era was employed, typically in aluminum or thermally broken
  wood frames.
• Attention was given to passive solar strategies, executed through building orientation,
  roof design, and thermal envelope development.

Regional and International Comparisons

Notable Buff & Hensman Comparisons

• Thompson Moseley House (San Marino, 1959): One of Buff & Hensman’s classic early homes featuring
  post-and-beam structure and full-height glazing. A pure distillation of mid-century ideals.
• Dorsey House (Playa del Rey, 1983): Slightly earlier than the San Marino listing, it earned
  AIA accolades for site-sensitive composition and daylight orchestration.
• Contemporary European Examples: Renzo Piano’s and Richard Rogers’ late-modern residences moved
  toward heavily insulated forms post-70s, yet with similar commitments to natural light and technical rigor.

Key Features Summary

• Stucco exterior massing, signaling resilience and thermal efficiency
• Flat or low-pitched roof with dynamic overhangs
• Discrete yet generous glazing frameworks to balance privacy and daylight
• Integrated interiors—millwork, built-ins, and lighting—conveying architectural unity
• Passive solar and energy-responsive strategies aligned to 1980s regulatory shifts

Practical Applications for Today’s Residential Designers

The 1984 Buff & Hensman San Marino home provides a well-preserved case study for architects seeking to:

• Incorporate passive solar and energy-responsive principles within a modern aesthetic framework.
• Blend spatial openness with strategic privacy—a challenge increasingly relevant in dense urban or suburban locales.
• Embrace integrated design strategies: built-ins, lighting, and materiality as architectural rather than decorative decisions.
• Transition from Traditional Modernism to Contemporary Massing through careful form-making and thermal tuning.

For homeowners, this property offers a compelling alternative to generic new construction: timeless. practical. uniquely Californian.

Conclusion

The Buff & Hensman 1984 San Marino residence stands as both culmination and evolution — a microcosm of
modernist ideology transitioning into post-energy-crisis architectural reality. Its sculptural proportions,
contextual sensitivity, and integrated craftsmanship culminate in a home that is as relevant today as it
was 40 years ago.

Whether as a source of inspiration for contemporary residential practice or an intelligently preserved
representation of historical technique, this $4.65 million residence remains an instructive landmark at
the intersection of design resiliency and architectural legacy. For those building, renovating, or
studying homes in warm-summer Mediterranean climates, the lessons embedded here are profound.