Eames House
Also known as: Case Study House #8
Why it's listed
Set on a bluff above the Pacific in Pacific Palisades, this residence and studio was completed in 1949 as Case Study House #8. Charles and Ray Eames revised an earlier design by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen, producing two rectangular volumes separated by an open court. A modular steel frame of 20-by-7-foot-4-inch bays is filled with plaster, plywood, asbestos, glass and translucent panels, painted in black, white, beige, red and blue. The residence covers about 1,500 square feet and the studio about 1,000. The property is significant as the most widely published house in the Case Study House program, which promoted Modern domestic architecture after World War II. It is also the place most closely tied to Charles and Ray Eames, who lived and worked there from 1949 until their deaths in 1978 and 1988. The nomination notes that the buildings, interiors and landscape remain remarkably intact, with the setting largely unchanged apart from maturing vegetation.
Significance in brief: It is described as the most recognizable and widely published house of the Case Study House program, which introduced Modern domestic architecture to the public after World War II. It is also the property most closely associated with designers Charles and Ray Eames, who lived and worked there. It is cited as an exceptionally important work of postwar Modern residential design and construction.
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 06000978, listed September 20, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 203 N Chautauqua Blvd., Pacific Palisades |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | September 20, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000978 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1949-1988 |
| Architect / builder | Eames, Charles and Ray (revised as-built); Eames, Charles and Saarinen, Eero (original design) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated September 20, 2006 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains an extraordinarily high degree of integrity and is described as well maintained; current use is single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 34.02970, -118.51933 (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 06000978.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q980011
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.