Bernard, Susana Machado, House and Barn
Why it's listed
Built in 1901-02 at 845 South Lake Street in Los Angeles, this mansion and its carriage house barn were designed by architect John Parkinson for Susana Machado Bernard, a widow from the Machado family, holders of the Rancho La Ballona land grant. The main house rises three stories above a full basement, with a stone base, stucco walls, a tile roof, two circular turrets and decorative dormers. Interiors retain hand-carved birdseye maple and oak fireplaces, an oval dining room with quarter-sawn white oak paneling, and an octagonal den. The barn is a two-story L-shaped building with a circular staircase bay. The property is considered significant as one of three known Art Nouveau Gothic mansions remaining in the Los Angeles area and the only known surviving residence by Parkinson, who also worked on the Coliseum, City Hall and Union Station. Some alterations and losses, including stolen leaded glass, are noted.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of three known Art Nouveau Gothic mansions remaining in the Los Angeles area and the only known remaining residence designed by architect John Parkinson. The house and barn show fine craftsmanship and retain almost all of their original fabric. The original owner came from the Machado family, holders of the Rancho La Ballona land grant.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000482, listed September 4, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 845 S. Lake St., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | September 4, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000482 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | John Parkinson |
| Architectural style | Art Nouveau Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and used as a private residence; the form notes exterior weathering, missing leaded glass and some doors, and past use as a rest home. Preservation grant funding was to be sought. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.05431, -118.27986 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000482.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7648603
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.