Bailey House, also known as Case Study House No. 21, was designed by master architect Pierre Koenig and constructed in 1958-1959 as part of Arts and Architecture magazine’s Case Study House Program. In order to preserve the house’s iconic experimental design and revolutionary steel-frame construction, structural retrofitting and comprehensive rehabilitation and restoration were completed on the building. The project received a 2024 California Preservation Foundation Design Award in the Preservation or Restoration category and a 2024 Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award. The building is a designated City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is separately listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Case Study House Program multiple property submission.

While honoring the original building, the project found balance making functional improvements. Using Koenig’s original drawings and Julius Shulman’s historic photographs for reference, Chattel worked alongside the project team—designer and owner representative Mark Haddawy, construction documents architect Corsini Stark Architects, and structural engineer Labib Funk + Associates—to structurally retrofit, install new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and restore and reconstruct character-defining features. A subcommittee of the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission and Office of Historic Resources staff regularly participated in monitoring of the work during periodic site visits. Despite the construction being innovative for its time, the building was at risk of further impairment due to improper original installation of the grade beam foundation system on a hillside lot graded with a flat pad, and ground settlement over time that damaged the as built grade beam foundation system over time. The key character-defining features of the building is its steel frame, sheet metal combination interior ceiling and roof diaphragm, and wide steel sash fixed and sliding windows. Additionally, deteriorated historic features were repaired where possible or meticulously replaced based on historic documentation. Through careful restoration, the building was returned to its original appearance while also improving living conditions for modern use.

The image above shows helical anchor components, on the left are the anchor sections and on the right are extensions

The video link above is of a rig installing helical anchors in sections shown in the image on the left

Due to its revolutionary steel construction, the Bailey House remains one of the most prominent and recognizable prototypes of the Case Study House Program. Taking over three years to complete, the rehabilitation and restoration was a monumental endeavor that allows this piece of California architectural history to reflect its original splendor for generations to come.