Norton, John, House
Why it's listed
Set below street grade at the corner of Burleigh Drive and Laguna Road in southwest Pasadena, this 1955 house was designed by the architectural firm Buff, Straub and Hensman. It is a one-story post-and-beam rectangle of wood and glass, with a few volumes cantilevered from the main box and a structural span of ten feet. Terraces, stepping stones and broad staircases connect the house to its steep, tree-covered lot. Interior details include a concrete block fireplace, Formica countertops, built-in seating and a glass-walled bathroom with plastic panels that recall Japanese screens; the bathroom appeared in Sunset magazine in 1956. The house was listed for its architecture. The nomination presents it as a distinctive solution to a difficult site and as an example of Pasadena's mid-century residential Modernism. A 1983 addition by the same firm and later material replacements are judged not to have harmed its integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of the firm's work and of residential Modernism in Pasadena's Recent Past. It responds to a steep, narrow site with terracing, stepping stones and broad staircases rather than stepping down the slope in volumes. It retains an outstanding degree of integrity and is significant locally under Criterion C for architecture and design.
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 09000179, listed April 10, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 820 Burleigh Dr., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | April 10, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000179 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1955 |
| Architect / builder | Buff, Straub and Hensman |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; a 1983 addition to the master bedroom was designed by the original firm and is described as in character with the house. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.12859, -118.17406 (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 09000179.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14682525
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.