Late Modern Architect Martin Gelber’s Landmark 

1978 Brentwood Residence Offered for Sale

California’s First Certified Passive Solar House

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 2026) — An extremely rare Late Modern masterpiece, fully restored and updated, is now on the market in the architecturally significant Crestwood Hills/Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Known as the Gelber Residence, the 3,707 square-foot home was designed in 1976 by esteemed architect Martin Gelber, FAIA, who was mentored by architectural luminaries A. Quincy Jones, Richard Neutra and Gregory Ain. Completed in 1978, the home’s late modern aesthetic is emblematic of Crestwood Hills’ architecture of the 1970s, with clean lines, open plans, and a strong connection to the natural landscape.  The asking price is $3.75M

Set on an exceptionally private site, with sweeping canyon, city, and ocean vistas, Gelber’s personal residence combines striking sculptural form with a focus on environmental sensitivity, drenched by natural light flowing through floor-to-ceiling windows. This layout strikes a balance between intimacy and openness, resulting in a serene yet visually dramatic tableau that makes an immediate impact upon entering the house. 

On the main floor of the four-bedroom/three-bathroom home, a studio/office, den/bedroom, bath, and ensuite primary bedroom with fireplace all enjoy extensive views. An oculus above the ergonomically designed stairway illuminates the way down to the lower level, featuring a guest bedroom with hallway bath, private entrance and deck, as well as the home’s central living spaces.

United beneath a custom 18-foot Clear Heart Redwood ceiling, the main entertaining space comprises a dining room, living room, conversation area, bar, fireplace, and galley kitchen. Custom cabinetry throughout reinforces the home’s refined architectural language, while wraparound decks extend the living spaces outward to embrace the views and accommodate gatherings of any size, from intimate get-togethers to large-scale celebrations. A semi-finished basement allows for personal customization, while the 17,227-square-foot lot provides opportunities for future additions such as a studio, pool or pickleball court.

The home’s exterior is defined by clean angular lines and “fins” that do more than create a dramatic silhouette – as a functional design element, they shield the interior from direct sunlight, aligning with the sun to keep the house cool in summer, warm in winter. The siting of the house on the lot is integral to capturing cross-breezes, enhanced by the use of open doors and windows. Additionally, strategically placed skylights help to funnel warm air up and out. With its pioneering, energy-saving use of solar orientation, shading fins, thermal massing, and natural ventilation, the residence embodies a sustainable design approach well ahead of its time. The Gelber House was the first in California to receive a federal energy tax credit, part of the 1978 National Energy Act, in recognition of its energy-saving passive solar design.  

Indoors and out, four notable hallmarks of 1970s Modernism converge here in perfect balance: rich, unadorned redwood, expanses of glass, powerful linear composition, and bold geometric form of the exterior and interior. 

The result is the Gelber Residence -- a singular home of exceptional architectural pedigree, historic significance, enduring livability and environmental consideration.

Content by Sotheby's International Realty

A commentary on the work of Martin Gelber, FAIA

Core Design Philosophy

Gelber’s architecture is grounded in a Late Modern belief that structure, space, and environment should work together to heighten the experience of daily life. His guiding principles included:

• Expressive structure -- as both visual language and organizational logic
• Humancentered spatial drama -- architecture that elevates ordinary moments
• Environmental responsiveness -- as a design generator, not an afterthought
• Material honesty -- where wood, glass, and steel are celebrated rather than concealed
• Precision and clarity -- reflecting his training under A. Quincy Jones, Gregory Ain and Neutra. His work consistently embodies the idea that architecture should enrich “the joy and drama of living.”

Late Modern Characteristics

Gelber’s homes are exemplary expressions of Late Modernism, a movement defined by sculptural form, structural legibility, and technological optimism.

Key Late Modern traits:

• Bold geometric volumes -- sweeping rooflines, cantilevers, doubleheight spaces
• Exposed structural systems that become part of the aesthetic
• Large expanses of glass -- dissolving boundaries between interior and landscape
• Clean, planar surfaces with minimal ornamentation
• Open, flowing interiors organized around light and movement
• Precision detailing that reveals the craft of construction

These qualities appear throughout his residential portfolio, especially in the Gelber and Goldman Residences.

Environmental Integration

Gelber was an early adopter of environmental design strategies -- decades before sustainability became mainstream.

Environmental Principles:

• Solar orientation to maximize winter heat gain and minimize summer exposure
• Deep overhangs and angled fins for passive shading
• Crossventilation to reduce mechanical cooling
• Thermal massing to stabilize interior temperatures
• Sitespecific massing that responds to topography and climate

Spatial Experience

Gelber’s interiors are defined by a sense of openness, movement, and light.

Spatial Signatures:

• Doubleheight living spaces that create vertical drama
• Mezzanines and bridges that introduce layered circulation
• Long sightlines connecting interior zones
• Indoor–outdoor continuity through sliding glass walls and terraces
• Warm natural materials—especially redwood—balancing the structural boldness

These qualities are especially visible in the Fisher and Morris Residences.

Select Signature Works:

• Gelber Residence (Crestwood Hills, 1978) -- Gelber’s most celebrated project exemplifies his Late Modern sensibility. The home’s soaring 18foot redwood ceiling, twostory glass window-walls, and sculptural massing create a sense of openness and drama. Its carefully calibrated solar orientation, natural cross-ventilation and shading fins earned it recognition as the first home in California to receive a federal energy tax credit -- part of the 1978 National Energy Act.
• Goldman Residence (Brentwood, 1969) -- A refined modernist home emphasizing horizontal lines, expansive glazing and a seamless indoor–outdoor relationship.
• Fisher Residence (Ventura) -- A coastal residence known for its sculptural wood framing, natural materials and integration with ocean views.
• Morris Residence (Bell Canyon, 1995) -- A contemporary hillside home designed around light, landscape, and spatial flow.
• La Ronda Apartments (West Hollywood, 1985 renovation) -- 1928 Spanish Colonial Revival complex, now landmarked in the National Register of Historic Places. 
• Cassandre Salon (1974) -- A minimalist commercial space with a distinctive curved façade and modern interior detailing.

Content by Sotheby's International Realty