Worth Your Gamble

This afternoon, a girlfriend and I took a one-hour tour of a 102-year-old craftsman home in Pasadena. I've lived in Pasadena for a little more than two years, and was excited to know that I was no longer disregarding my beautiful neighboring landscape that is historic Pasadena. The Gamble House today, remains a manse to be proud of. It was originally commissioned as a winter home for David and Mary Gamble of the manufacturing firm Procter and Gamble (yes, the Ivory Soap one). It's important to remember these structures not only as noted architectural icons of our past, but that they literally stand the test of time. Our docent mentioned that this house was built following the San Francisco 1906 earthquake, it was built like a fort with an adjustable frame and was bolted into the ground. But still, 100 years is a 100 years, not to mention California continued to have earthquakes throughout the 20th century. Aside from a chimney lost, it's incredibly impressive to realize a home constructed in 1908 is as structurally sound as it was when it was first built. 

Even more impressive was that the Gamble House design and construction took just 10 months (one month ahead of schedule) - quite an achievement, but definitely not its architects (Charles Greene and Henry Greene) only one.


I picked up some amazing knowledge about this house, which made me want to learn more about architecture. There's always more than meets the eye when it comes to architecture.


- The owner had an fixation with Tsuba, a sword guard seen in Japanese culture. The frame where the key hold went, as well as tables and other furniture fixtures were designed with that Tsuba shape. In fact, the wood-building of the outside structure has a Japanese flair.


-Los Angeles air used to breathable and healthy. The house includes "sleeping porches," it was believed that sleeping outdoors and breathing in the night air was beneficial. 


-During that period electricity was still in its infancy. Mary Gamble's living room electric lamp had a beautiful moth-shaped design hanging over the lamp shade (made of glass). The reason behind that obstruction was that it was thought to guard against the evil of electricity, or so the docent says. 


An interesting history lesson it seems, but also a nice walk down history lane. High recommend. You can check out the tour here.