Architecture Wednesday: The Natzler Residence

This home, in Upper Nichols Canyon in the Hollywood Hills, tucked at the end of a long private drive, is on the market for the first time in 80 years. Built in 1937 the home served as both sanctuary and working studio for master ceramic artists Gertrud and Otto Natzler, who purchased the property in 1945 and it remains a testament to their creative lives.

Drawn to the site for its privacy, natural light, and detached guest house—which they envisioned as a studio—the Natzlers transformed the property into a center of artistic and musical life.

In sun-filled rooms overlooking treetops and quiet canyons, Gertrud threw delicate ceramic forms on the wheel while Otto developed groundbreaking glazes; together they hosted intimate chamber-music evenings and gathered a circle of artists, musicians, and thinkers to a serene, natural, space removed from the pace of the city .

The original house remains intimate and unconventional—a sequence of cozy, character-rich rooms including a living room with fireplace, dining room, and a kitchen with ceramic tiles, many glazed by Otto Natzler. The main residence includes two bedrooms and two and one-half baths; the second bedroom later became Otto’s office following completion of a 1988 addition.

Their hillside studio eventually proved challenging for photographing ceramics with the precision their archive demanded so in 1988, Otto commissioned a striking two-story addition inspired by his Austrian roots—a nod to an Alpine chalet. Designed for photographer Gail Reynolds Natzler, Otto’s second wife after Gertrud’s passing in 1971, the addition introduced a dedicated studio and darkroom and above that a large primary suite with laundry, bath, vaulted ceilings, and walls of windows; both levels open to wraparound balconies with sweeping canyon views. The original detached Natzler ceramic studio suite, situated above the two-car garage, is preserved in remarkable condition with its own kitchen, small bedroom, and bath.

The property directly abuts the Briar Summit Open Space Reserve, ensuring lasting privacy and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape and for the first time since 1945 it can be yours for $2.5M and you can test your own creativity.

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The Spaces

Architecture Wednesday: The Roundhouse

Set amid open countryside near Old Knebworth in Hertfordshire, this remarkable five-bedroom house was built on the site of a disused above-ground water tank. The circular Roundhouse radiates around a majestic central tree-like core from which its three levels and irregular roofline are suspended. Designed with handcrafted natural materials and sustainability at the forefront, it features over 4,820 square feet, with generously proportioned spaces for living and working.

The façade is defined by a jigsaw of stone, red-brick and Edwardian concrete, interspersed with bee bricks to encourage pollinators to nest. The house is topped by a weathervane and a striking cone-shaped reclaimed tiled roof, while expansive glass panels wrap all around, contributing to a sense of lightness.

The main entrance, on the first floor, is reached via an external staircase where you enter a porch with light washing down from the skylights above. There is plenty of storage space provided by hand-crafted joinery and a wooden staircase leading to an upper mezzanine floor.

The top floor is entirely occupied by the sweeping open plan reception area, where floor-to-ceiling windows remove the boundaries with the surrounding landscape while soaring ceilings and expansive skylights flood the space with natural light. Solid larch floorboards run underfoot, with large glass panels in circular formation offer a glimpse of the landing below. 

The main floor includes the kitchen, dining, and living areas. The focal point of the kitchen is a red electric-wood-fired Thornhill range cooker set into solid wood cabinetry, alongside a generous oak-topped island with seats for casual dining. Above the sink, a porthole window frames leafy views of the garden. Tucked to one side, a secondary kitchen provides additional storage and houses the integrated refrigerator and dishwasher.

There are two distinct lounging areas on this level, each catering to a different mood; one opens onto a balcony with views toward the gardens while the other is nestled in a more secluded part of the open plan and warmed by a wood burning stove. Also on this floor are the playroom and a powder room, while a light-filled mezzanine, perfect for a office, is up a small staircase.

A striking, spiral open-tread steel and ash staircase descends to the levels below. There are five bedrooms on the first floor, all accessible from the landing with the principal bedroom, with an en suite bath, opening directly onto the side garden. There is additional bathroom servicing the other bedrooms while the guest room has its own private bath.

Another staircase leads down to the versatile lower level, where a reclaimed brick archway gives way to a fully functioning oak bar with counter and a generous dining area. From here, doors open into the home gym/studio/theatre, with a wall of built-in cabinetry and cork flooring underfoot, and a separate bathroom. A wine cellar and laundry area round out the lower level.

An enchanting natural landscape wraps around the house, offering ever-changing views across the seasons. Wonderfully private, the landscaped gardens are bordered by hedgerows and established oak and fir trees, interspersed with terraced areas, shingled paths, and grassy lawns. To the rear, a paved terrace is arranged with a generous outdoor dining area looking out toward the country, sheltered from the sunlight by mature oak trees. 

The house can operate almost entirely off-grid, with a clear water septic tank, a wood-fired/electric range cooker, roof-top solar panels and an uneven shape that allows it to collect rainwater from the conical roof. Thermally broken Crittall windows enhance energy efficiency, while lightwells deliver abundant natural light to all floors. The central tree-trunk core, a towering 14-metre reclaimed steel pipe, serves as the main chimney, allowing warm air to circulate from the biomass boiler. The house has underfloor heating on all levels, 10kw of battery storage and is wired for high-speed internet connection.

The home is within easy reach of Cambridge, St Albans and under 30 minutes by train from London King's Cross and can be yours for $3.5M USD.

As always, click to emBIGGERate …

The Modern House