It isn’t often an estate like 1100 Paso Alto Road comes to market. One of the most architecturally and culturally significant properties in Pasadena history, the estate features not one, but two homes by two of Southern California’s most iconic architects. Situated atop the Linda Vista hills, 1100 Paso Alto Road offers the rare opportunity to own dual, custom-designed residential masterpieces by modernist pioneer A. Quincy Jones and midcentury visionary Thornton Ladd. Represented by Gus Ruelas, Anthony Guthmiller and Mauricio Umansky, both residences on the ultra-private estate capture unparalleled views that encompass the Rose Bowl, San Gabriel Valley, Downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean.
Steeped in Pasadena history, the Thornton Ladd-designed residence was the home of Adelaide Hixon, the late philanthropist and vocal champion of education, health and the arts, who called Pasadena home for more than 100 years. The Hixons purchased the additional three lots surrounding their home to create a four-lot estate property and commissioned A. Quincy Jones to build an avant-garde residence for entertaining. In the Jones-designed home, they hosted lavish parties and guests from around the world for decades. The home has never before been available for sale.
Enter along the tree-lined private drive to the estate’s circular motor court, centered around a majestic bonsai tree. Encompassing approximately 6,500 square feet, the A. Quincy Jones-designed residence showcases soaring, angular, double-height ceilings and glass walls that rise above the interior living and entertaining spaces.
A fireplace stands at the center of the living room, while an indoor-outdoor koi pond creates a seamless transition to the outdoors. The dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooks views of the Rose Bowl and mountains beyond. The Jones house features three bedrooms, five baths, a spacious kitchen and breakfast room. Interiors are centered around multiple open-air courtyards, atriums, Zen-style gardens and a Luis Barragán-influenced cascading waterfall. Deeply connected to the surrounding nature and boasting rich midcentury modernist details, the home is a true one-of-a-kind in architectural vision and pedigree.
Encompassing approximately 2,500 square feet, the Thornton Ladd house is a tranquil, single-story residence designed to harmonize with nature. Glass-walled corridors and floor-to-ceiling windows look out to courtyards, a reflecting pool and tall leafy trees. Living areas and spacious terraces capture panoramic views across the valley, while the spacious swimming pool is surrounded by a Japanese garden and leafy bonsai trees. Well ahead of their time, the owners hired NASA engineers to install solar panels on the carport roof, one of the residence’s many unique features. Original terrazzo floors, custom floor-to-ceiling built-ins and period details bring Ladd’s midcentury-inspired style and vision to this modest, yet whimsical residence.
Though the estate feels worlds away from city life, it is within moments from the heart of Old Town Pasadena and within 15 to 30 minutes from the major studios, entertainment hubs and financial centers of Los Angeles.
View more photos of 1100 Paso Alto Road below, and contact Gus Ruelas, Anthony Guthmiller and Mauricio Umansky for more information.
