Remarkable Buff, Smith & Hensman Home That Survived the Eaton Fire Hits the Market for $2.5 Million

In December 2024, the owners of a midcentury masterpiece designed by acclaimed architecture firm Buff, Smith & Hensman were busy mapping out their plans for the new year. They had spent what they thought would be their final Christmas at the property, enjoying their sweeping San Gabriel views for one last time.

Come January 2025, they intended to list the property they had enjoyed for more than 20 years, one that is perched on one of of Altadena's premier lots.

Little did they know that early in the New Year, the California wildfires would ravage their city and displace many of its residents. Though their home was somehow spared from damage in the Eaton fire, the blaze devastated their local community—and obliterated their plans to sell.

Rather than list a property in a neighborhood still raw with grief and ash, they made a different choice: to spend the next year giving this architectural treasure the comprehensive rehabilitation it deserved. A new roof, pool, fencing, flooring, walls, and landscaping were added, honoring the home's legacy, while polishing it to a sheen.

Now, almost 16 months after that fateful January, the house is ready. Listed at $2.5 million, it stands as one of the most significant architectural offerings in the Altadena market today.

"Thoughtfully renewed by its current owners, the home has been meticulously restored and refined, honoring its architectural pedigree while embracing the rhythms of modern life," said listing agent Julie Milbrodt, a Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialist affiliated with the La Cañada Flintridge office.

"From the moment you step inside, midcentury design announces itself with quiet confidence: clean lines, warm materials, and rooms that breathe outward toward the landscape."

Made by midcentury modern masters

The home, designed by California midcentury modern architecture icons Buff, Smith & Hensman, would have been irreplaceable. The company is one of the most consequential architectural practices in the history of Southern California modernism.

Its influence on California architecture is momentous. The firm garnered more than 40 American Institute of Architects awards over the decades and designed well over 200 significant residential buildings across Southern California, most notably in Pasadena, Altadena, and Beverly Hills.

Its range extended from modest budget-minded retreats to opulent estates for politicians and celebrities, including a Governor's Mansion designed for Ronald Reagan.

While contemporaries in the midcentury modern movement frequently favored steel and concrete, the architects turned to wood—redwood, cedar, and Douglas fir—as their primary material, crafting post-and-beam structures that feel rooted in the California landscape.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing invited the outdoors in. Open floor plans dissolved the barriers between spaces. Wide overhangs sheltered interiors from harsh sun while maintaining visual connection to the terrain.

Inside the architectural gem

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,596-square-foot home in Altadena contains all these signature Buff, Smith & Henson features and more.

The unique, wide open floor plan is set apart by a step-down living room, approached by slate steps and anchored by a striking rock fireplace and soaring mahogany-paneled vaulted ceilings. Expansive walls of glass frame San Gabriel Valley views.

The sunny, fully renovated kitchen features all-new stainless steel appliances positioned beneath sleek floating shelves and clean-lined maple cabinetry. Pure white quartz countertops gleam crisp and clean against the warmth of the wood. A convenient butler's pantry with a sink expands the sizable kitchen's capabilities even further.

The primary suite also exemplifies the architectural style, with its vaulted mahogany ceilings and walls of glass with floor-to-ceiling sliders that access a patio. All of the bedrooms feature custom built-ins including headboards, nightstands, desks, and cabinetry.

Throughout the home, there are period inspired details including terrazzo flooring, a decorative block wall, Lutron lighting, and skylights that allow for extensive natural lighting.

Modern assets include solar panels, an alarm system with fire sprinklers, and the brand-new roof.

Outdoors, the pool and spa have been fully renovated. In addition, the .4 acre lot was thoughtfully re-landscaped with water-wise and fire-resistant plants and noncombustible hardscaping, including gravel, stone, and pavers.

One of the lucky ones

The wildfire that ignited in Eaton Canyon on Jan. 7, 2025, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, would ultimately burn 14,000 acres over 24 days before being fully contained on Jan 31.

When the smoke finally cleared, the toll was staggering: at least 19 people killed, more than 9,400 structures destroyed, and the community forever changed.

But not every home in the neighborhood of this classic midcentury modern was lost. Milbrodt reports that the immediate neighborhood fared better than many parts of Altadena.

"The neighborhood is in good condition," she said. "There are some empty lots and the houses surrounding the home are either still standing or are being built and/or worked on."

As for the scale of what was spared, she noted, "Probably 45% to 50% of the homes in that immediate neighborhood were spared from the fire."

For the right buyer, the home offers something that cannot be manufactured: a genuine Buff, Smith & Hensman home in move-in condition, on a premium view lot, in a neighborhood that survived the fire and is actively rebuilding.

"This home is a rare convergence of architectural legacy, considered craftsmanship, and breathtaking views," Milbrodt said. "This is Altadena living at its finest."