‘CASA PERFECT’
IN A LOS ANGELES ICON BY ARCHITECT REX LOTERY

Designed in 1958 by architect Rex Lotery and renovated in the mid-1960s, the Elvis House is a unique mash-up of classic California modernism and Hollywood Regency. It is quite normal that houses from this period do not have an official name. But often they get a kind of nickname, which then becomes an official label for the property – usually referring to a client or resident. In this case it is Elvis Presley. For six years, beginning in 1967, it belonged to Presley who lived there with wife Priscilla and daughter Lisa Marie.

The architectural highlight is located in Trousdale Estates, an exclusive residential area in Beverly Hills and one of Los Angeles’ architecturally most significant neighborhoods. A district above Sunset Boulevard that also Dean Martin, Richard Nixon and Frank Sinatra once called home. The four-bedroom property features floor-to-ceiling windows which merge almost seamlessly from the interior to the outside. It directs the view out into the garden with a Hockney-esque poolside and a backdrop of subtropical vegetation which characterizes the entire cityscape of Los Angeles.

The architectural highlight is located in Trousdale Estates, an exclusive residential area in Beverly Hills and one of Los Angeles’ architecturally most significant neighborhoods.

In 2019, the property was home to The Future Perfect‘s gallery concept Casa Perfect. “Nomadic by design, Casa changes locations to experiment in different architectural settings overlaid with cultural or historical significance,” reads a statement from The Future Perfect. No wonder that the gallery chose the most extraordinary houses of the city to present their objects and design – Casa Perfect Los Angeles 1.0 opened in January 2017 in a modernist Hollywood Hills home by architect David Hyun and currently moved in 2020 to a property designed by Raul F. Garduno in 1971 for Casa Perfect Los Angeles 3.0. But back to the second version of the concept: located behind a winding private driveway, the residence is a symbolic representation of the luxury Californian way of life.

The Casa Perfect maintained the existing floor plan of the Elvis House and many of the original details from the Presley era, like his walk-in shoe cabinet, the flooring in the entrance area and the restored marble fireplace. The right combination of the view, light, pool and house fits perfectly into the concept of the Casa. Cream-colored walls and mirrored surfaces make the interior a bright space – perfect for displaying objects and furniture. Work by the gallery’s regular portfolio of designers – which includes Lindsey Adelman, Piet Hein Eek and Dimore Studio – is interspersed with exclusive pieces by local artists. The objects, the furniture and also the art is thoughtfully chosen to underline the aesthetic and sophistication of the property. All of them are bespoke or of strictly limited edition.

The Future Perfect is a contemporary design gallery founded in 2003 which sets itself apart through its focus on creative curation. Casa Perfect was born as an idea to present a gallery-like space in a residential setting so that the clients and collectors can have a more intimate and personal experience. “Casa Perfect is a roving gallery space with a uniquely curated collection, inspired by the home it resides in. Curated with selected works from our roster of American and International artists, Casa Perfect offers collectors the time and space to explore the studio-crafted pieces that define The Future Perfect aesthetic.” explains a statement from the gallery.

Los Angeles architect Rex Lotery executed numerous residential designs in the 1950s and 1960s. After graduation, Rex moved to Los Angeles, where throughout his career he was honored for his environmentally aware and socio-politically centered planning and design. Lotery’s more notable projects include: the Schacker House, the Lotery Houses in Brentwood and Santa Barbara, the Kritzer House, the Freedman House, the Trousdale Development Company model house, the Santa Monica Bus Administration Facility, and several projects with the SRO Housing Corporation to rehabilitate hotels such as the Courtland Hotel in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles.