Developer ordered to rebuild famous modernist house he demolished

A developer who demolished a historic house has been ordered to build a replica and put up a plaque explaining what he had done.

Largent House in San Francisco was built in 1936 and designed by one of the most important modern architects, Richard Neutra. Among the unique features of the 1,300-square-foot house was an indoor swimming pool. Picture: Google Maps

A property developer who demolished a historic modernist house in San Francisco without permission has been ordered to build a replica and put up a plaque explaining what he had done.

Largent House, in Twin Peaks, was built in 1936 by the Austrian architect Richard Neutra. He is considered one of the most eminent modernist developers of his time and built only five homes in San Francisco.

The concrete and redwood building, which had an indoor swimming pool, was thought to be a radical design in the middle of the Great Depression.

A man who illegally demolished the San Francisco house designed by the modernist architect Richard Neutra was ordered this week to rebuild it exactly as it was. Picture: Santiago Mejia//San Francisco Chronicle via AP

The 1,300 sq ft property was bought for $US1.7 million in January last year by Ross Johnston who obtained permission to renovate the top half of the house.

Cheryl Traverce, a neighbour, said that she filed a complaint in October last year after she came home to find that nothing but the garage door was left. “I went to New York for about a week and a half and came back — the house was gone, totally gone,” she said.

The city Planning Commission ordered Ross Johnston to build a replica of the house he destroyed and also to add a sidewalk plaque telling the entire saga of the house's origins in the 1930s, its demolition and replication. Picture: Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP

Fines for illegal demolition in San Francisco are usually a few hundred thousand dollars, which can do little to deter developers when a new house can sell for up to $US5 million. Mr Johnston, however, has been ordered to rebuild the house brick by brick by the city’s planning commission after a unanimous vote.

Dennis Richards, the planning commissioner, said that the ruling should send a message to speculators who were used to ignoring the city’s planning laws with few repercussions. He told the San Francisco Chronicle: “We are tired of seeing this happen in the city and are drawing a line in the sand.”

— The Times