Iconic Richard Neutra Case Study House With a Celebrity Pedigree Hits the Market for $10.5 Million in Pacific Palisades

The only Case Study home ever created by iconic architect Richard Neutra, the Bailey House in Pacific Palisades, was designed in 1948 as a modest, affordable starter home.

Now, having passed through the hands of the co-creator of "The Simpsons" and a famous fashion designer, the three-bedroom, two-bath midcentury modern dwelling has been listed for $10.5 million.

The 1,849-square-foot period perfect home, known as Case Study House #20, is tucked away in a leafy canyon untouched by the recent fires, on a street with quick and convenient beach access.

It comes with appropriate midcentury modern furnishings and consists of two pavilions, connected by a covered breezeway. Both sides open to grassy lawns and lush gardens, accessed by sliding glass doors.

The signature red kitchen counters and cabinets, the built-in seating, the distinctive wood paneling, and almost every square inch of the home have been meticulously restored by renowned architectural firm Marmol Radziner to ensure that Neutra's original vision remains intact.

Surprisingly enough, the list price is less than the current owners paid for the midcentury modern masterpiece in 2021, when the Wise Family Trust, connected with John Wise, chairman and CEO of Invest Cloud, purchased it for $11.25 million.

The verdant .66 acre property has both a fascinating and complicated history.

Dr. Stuart J. Bailey and his wife, June, acquired the lot in 1948, and commissioned Neutra, innovator of the "Four-Courter House" concept that involved articulated wings around courtyards to maximize an indoor-outdoor lifestyle, to build it. It was part of the Arts & Architecture Case Study House program, which aimed to explore affordable, elegant, modern postwar living.

Other famous architects of the day, including Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, and Rodney Walker also built Case Study homes in the area.

The Baileys raised their family there, and, as part of the Case Study program, they were required to open the property to the public. Thousands of visitors passed through in the late 1940s. Once they had it all to themselves again, they worked with Neutra to add additions in 1950 and 1958. The Baileys enjoyed their famous residence privately until 2004.

At that point Sam Simon, co-creator of "The Simpsons," picked up the property. It was much larger then, spanning 1.5 acres. Simon was an architecture aficionado and immediately hired Marmol Radziner to restore the aging house, bringing it back to its 1948 glory, but adding modern amenities.

Simon also built a large, new 7,526-square-foot mansion on the property, while using the Bailey House to accommodate guests and as his personal office. Homer Simpson never had such luxe digs in Springfield!

Simon died in early 2015, and his estate put the 1.5-acre compound, which included both houses, on the market for $18 million. The proceeds went to Simon's favorite charities.

Lorna Jane Clarkson and her husband Bill Clarkson, founders of the Australian global activewear fashion brand Lorna Jane, got quite the deal on the property, paying $12,500,000 for it in 2016.

The preservation-minded Clarksons undertook another round of restoration on the Bailey House, also with Marmol Radziner, to ensure it reflected Neutra’s vision while also accommodating their own needs. They received a Santa Monica Conservancy Award for their efforts.

The Clarksons used the Bailey House as a “relaxed and inspiring space” for work and small events related to the brand. They also furnished the home with period-appropriate midcentury modern pieces.

After four years, the Brisbane-based couple decided to sell the posh property.

"We are spending less time in the U.S.A." Lorna Jane tells Realtor.com. They put the entire compound on the market, fully furnished, for $20 million in 2020.

But they eventually decided to break up the property into two separate parcels. One measured almost an acre, and included the modern mansion and pool—it sold for about $6 million. The smaller parcel, measuring .66 of an acre and including Neutra's Bailey House, went for the aforementioned $11.25 million.

The Wise Family Trust ended up picking up both properties, meticulously maintaining them for four years, then returning them to market, again as separate but adjacent properties.

The larger parcel with the modern mansion will soon be listed for $16.5 million.