Cordelia A. Culbertson House

Cordelia A. Culbertson House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The house in 1917
Location	1188 Hillcrest Ave., Pasadena, California
Coordinates	34°7′40″N 118°7′56″W
Area	0.7 acres (0.28 ha)
Built	1911 (1911)
Architect	Greene & Greene
Architectural style	Craftsman, Oriental
NRHP reference No.	85002198
Added to NRHP	September 12, 1985

The Cordelia A. Culbertson House is a historic house located at 1188 Hillcrest Ave. in Pasadena, California. Built in 1911, the house was designed by prominent Pasadena architects Charles and Henry Greene. The Greenes designed the house in the Craftsman style; the design also features Chinese elements throughout, particularly on the south side of the home. Both styles frequently appeared in Greene and Greene's designs, and the house's U-shaped floor plan can also be seen in the brothers' other houses. However, the home features gunite exterior walls and a tile roof, a unique combination among the Greenes' works. An Italian garden is situated at the center of the home. The house was built for Cordelia, Kate, and Margaret Culbertson, three unmarried sisters; Cordelia, the eldest sister, officially commissioned the house. In 1917 the house was purchased by the wealthy widow Mrs. Dudley P. Allen of Cleveland, Ohio. She purchased it as a summer home that she enjoyed with her second husband Francis F. Prentiss, who later died there in 1937.

The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1985.

Breakdown: The Cordelia A. Culbertson House by Greene and Greene

The Cordelia A. Culbertson House has been an example of innovation and the American Craftsman architectural style. since its construction in 1913. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house was designed by prominent Pasadena architects Charles and Henry Greene and was the last major house they designed as a duo. Priced at $150,000 at the time, it was their largest commission to date. The house features Chinese-inspired elements throughout, particularly on the south side of the home. It features a unique combination compared to other Greene and Greene works that make the house stand out among them. The house was built for the three Culbertson sisters; while Cordelia, the eldest, officially commissioned the house, they only resided in the house for four years.

Greene and Greene

Architects Charles and Henry Greene became famous in the architectural sphere due to their expertise in craftsmanship. They are responsible for many great works, perhaps their most memorable being the Gamble house. In their career they designed and developed more than 100 homes and a total of 150 projects. The Greenes became successful off of their organic style and adaptation to natural landscapes with staple designs such as courtyards, U-shaped forms, earth tones, and scaffold-like exteriors. Most Greene and Greene houses are situated in suburban sites of limited area

History

The Cordelia house is situated across the street from the famous Robert R. Blacker house. The house was commissioned by Cordelia Culbertson in 1911 and was completed in 1913. It was occupied by three sisters, Cordelia, Kate, and Margaret Culbertson for just four years before being sold due to the price of upkeep. Mrs. Dudley P. Allen of Cleveland, Ohio, (remarried as Mrs. Francis Fleury Prentiss)[1] bought the house in 1917, as a summer home with her second husband Francis F. Prentiss, who later died there in 1937. After purchasing she continued to commission the Greenes for more than 20 projects over the next two decades including furniture for the home and minor alterations and repairs. While the Cordelia house was the last of the pairs commissioned house as a duo they continued designing individually and each developed their own style.

Exterior design

The Cordelia A. Culbertson House features many design elements that stray from Greene and Greene's traditional aesthetic. Notably could be the light-colored gunite finish when most Greene homes feature earth-toned shingles. Gunite is a mixture of concrete and sand that is sprayed on a surface, it almost acts as a stucco or plaster finish. The house differs from other commissions as it is a single-story home contrasting with its seemingly massive neighbors such as the Blacker house. The single-story silhouette was chosen by the Culbertson sisters who all wanted bedrooms on the upper level. The Greene's returned to their signature courtyard plan, wrapping rooms around a central garden. The home features a notable Asian influence with a rustic green-tiled roof that is reminiscent of a Chinese pagoda.

Interior

The interior of the house features many Chinese and classical motifs. The house has seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, the house itself is 8,559 square feet while the property spans more than 30,000 square feet. The formal entry hall has a luxurious feeling with plaster wall finishes, velour fabric, and rather exotic marble. This is brought together by custom dark wood furniture by Charles Greene that are angular and sharp in form. The new owner, Mrs. Dudley P. Allen, commissioned Charles for five scenic painted panels in the entry all which add to the overall elegance of the space.

Historical landmark

The Cordelia A. Culbertson House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior in 1985. Generally, properties that are eligible to be placed on the list must be at least 50 years old and noted to be incredibly influential or important.