541 Fremont Dr
Pasadena, CA 91103, USA

Clarence Mello and Mary House(The Mello House) - National Register of Historic Places

Statement of Significance

A single-family house in the Modem style, designed by a master architect, of exceptionally high design quality, and retaining an outstanding degree of integrity, the Mello House meets the registration requirements outlined in the MPS. In a sense, the architecture so intimately reflects the evolution of the Mello family over time and is such a thoughtful response to individual client needs, met with a “generic” construction technology, that the description of the house is also a portrait of the family. The Mello House is particularly significant in that it demonstrates the flexibility of the modular post-and-beam construction technique developed by Buff, Straub and Hensman in addressing different sites, programs and budgets; the full integration with and transitions among site and structure, the full repertoire of character-defining features for post-and-beam houses. It is also significant as demonstrating innovation in residential Modernism within the period of significance, 1948 - 1968; indeed, it continues to convey lessons in how to live cheaply but well, and surrounded by nature, certainly the hope of many a returning G.I. For these reasons, the Mello House is eligible to qualify for listing under Criterion C, Architecture and Design, at the local level of significance, with a period of significance of 1957.

Of particular note in the Mello House is the early and unstinting organization on behalf of future liberation and casual, informal living, a planning approach that is a constant in Buff, Straub and Hensman houses and very evident here. The expected children’s needs and behavior were presciently analyzed by their parents and easily incorporated into the thinking of the architects. ^ Bedrooms were rotated among the children, so each could enjoy the different spaces; children’s drinking glasses were put at a low height in the custom-built, clear Douglas fir kitchen cabinets; terraces and secondary entrances on the south side of the children’s wing permit unseen egress and indicate a high level outmost. The two Ls were also zoned separately with two different water heaters and furnaces at Mary Mello’s request, so that “when all the kids were gone, they could close off one wing, which they did, because they knew they would live here their whole lives,” said Aime Mello.

Like many of their other houses, additions and renovations were designed by the firm. Permits and invoices track the changes in the firm’s identity, reinforcing the varying authorships; the house was designed and signed by Cal Straub, who wrote to the Mellos on USC stationery dated 23 April 1956 that the drawings were “well along;” the letterhead was “Straub + (Boris V.) Jocoubowsky.” The two adult children interviewed said they had no recollection of their parents ever mentioning that person’s name, although Straub was a well-known figure to the family.

Significance—Conclusion
Argument under Criterion C- Eligible
As demonstrated above, the Mello House designed by master architects Buff, Straub and Hensman meets the registration requirements as outlined in the MPS. It has retained the respective required aspects of integrity. It is an excellent example of the firm’s body of work, as well as embodying the larger architectural concerns and expressions of Pasadena’s “Recent Past” as described in this Multiple Property Submission, Cultural Resources of the Recent Past, City of Pasadena. It is significant as demonstrating innovation in residential Modernism within the MPS period of significance, 1948 - 1968. Therefore, it is eligible to qualify for listing under Criterion C, Architecture and Design, at the local level of significance, with a period of significance of 1957.