Ellwood-Designed Kubly House Lists for $3.25M

Pasadena buyers can now bid on one of the architect's few houses outside the Los Angeles area, with a restored interior and a history of family ownership.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Home Renovation

Low mid-century house with exposed wood post-and-beam frame and large glass panels on a green lawn under afternoon sun, with palms and a jacaranda behind. — Craig Ellwood's 1965 Kubly House in Pasadena is listed for $3.25 million, the architect's only built work in the city and a candidate for National Register listing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should historic midcentury homes in your community be preserved rather than demolished?

The Kubly House, a 1965 Pasadena home designed by architect Craig Ellwood, is listed for sale at $3.25 million. It is Ellwood's only built work in Pasadena and is eligible for individual listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Why it matters

For Pasadena homebuyers and owners of mid-century houses, the listing shows how a well-documented architect-designed home can carry a seven-figure price well beyond its original cost. Its history of a family owner until 2022 and a restoration that reworked the interior also signals what preservation-minded buyers are paying for right now in Pasadena's market.

The Kubly House was finished for under $45,000 in 1965 and is listed at $3.25 million. Adjusted to 2026 dollars, its original cost would be about $460,000.

The players

Craig Ellwood

Mid-century modern architect known for steel-and-glass residences in Southern California, including Case Study House No. 16 in Bel Air.

Carl Bronson of Bronstruction

Restoration contractor who led the renovation of the Kubly House, including the reconfiguration of its primary suite.

Ken Ungar

Architect designing a new home on the site of the demolished Zimmerman House in Brentwood.

The details

Craig Ellwood chose wood instead of steel for the frame, which lowered construction cost. The restoration kept the house's post-and-beam frame and glazing, and Carl Bronson of Bronstruction removed an interior partition to create a larger primary suite. The Kubly family owned the house until 2022, when it was sold to a new owner.

1953-58: Ellwood designed Case Study Houses Numbers 16, 17, and 18.
1965: The Kubly House was built for Don and Sally Kubly.
1976: The hillside campus of Art Center College was completed.
2022: The Kubly House was sold to a new owner after Kubly family ownership.

The Home Front

The 2024 demolition of Craig Ellwood's Zimmerman House in Brentwood is the closest precedent for this listing, and it shows how Ellwood's residential work is still changing hands. Pasadena's Kubly House is now being marketed as a rare, National Register-eligible example of his work.

If you own a mid-century home, check whether it has original architectural features and documentation before planning any changes. Before starting a renovation, consult a licensed architect or contractor familiar with historic preservation rules.

The takeaway

Architect-designed houses from the mid-century era can hold their value and historic interest when their original design is kept intact during renovation. Keep original plans, photos, and permit records on file if you own one, and ask a licensed professional about preservation options before altering key structural features.