A 1928 Spanish Revival built to sell a neighborhood, and still standing as proof it worked.
What is the Durex Model Home?
The Durex Model Home at 3410 Amesbury Drive is a 1928 Spanish Colonial Revival home in the Los Feliz hills, designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1025 on February 5, 2013. Originally built to showcase the elegance of Spanish-style living, it features stucco walls, red-tiled roofs, and arched doorways.
The Durex Model Home, located at 3410 Amesbury Drive, stands as a testament to the enduring beauty of Spanish-style architecture in Los Angeles. Built in 1928 and designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM #1025) on February 5, 2013, this home exemplifies the charm and craftsmanship of early 20th-century residential design.
At a glance
A snapshot of 1920s Spanish-style architecture
During the late 1920s, Los Angeles experienced a boom in Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, a style inspired by the region's early Spanish heritage. The Durex Model Home is a shining example of this movement, showcasing the stucco walls, red-tiled roofs, and arched doorways that are hallmarks of the style. These homes were designed not only to reflect the area's history but also to blend seamlessly with Southern California's warm, Mediterranean-like climate.
A home that sold an idea
"The Durex Model Home was built to show buyers what The Oaks could be. A century later, it still does."
Historical Significance
The Durex Model Home was originally constructed as part of a development effort to highlight the craftsmanship and elegance of Spanish-style homes in burgeoning Los Angeles neighborhoods like Los Feliz. These homes were marketed to upwardly mobile residents seeking a stylish and modern alternative to the traditional American home of the time. Today, homes like this one are celebrated for their architectural integrity and historical value, particularly as the city's architectural landscape continues to evolve.
Historic-Cultural Monument designation
On February 5, 2013, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission officially recognized the Durex Model Home for its architectural and cultural significance, granting it Historic-Cultural Monument status #1025. This designation ensures the home's preservation, safeguarding its unique character and historical relevance for future generations. Spanish-style homes like the Durex Model continue to draw attention from architecture lovers and real estate enthusiasts alike, symbolizing a time when Los Angeles was just beginning to establish itself as a city of architectural innovation.
Why the Durex Model Home matters
The Durex Model Home at 3410 Amesbury Drive stands out as a beautiful representation of Los Angeles' rich architectural history. For those interested in Spanish Colonial Revival homes, this historic property is a prime example of the intricate craftsmanship and timeless style that defined the era. Its designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument ensures that its legacy will remain a part of Los Angeles' architectural narrative for years to come, and like other designated landmarks it may qualify for the Mills Act, the program that reduces property taxes for owners who commit to preservation. Just up Amesbury Drive sits another designated landmark, the Sherwood House, a mid-century counterpoint to the Durex Model's Spanish Revival.
Buying or selling a historic home in Los Feliz?
Historic-Cultural Monuments reward representation that understands the architecture, the Mills Act math, and the specific buyer pool. If you are buying a home in Los Feliz or selling a Mills Act or HCM property, it pays to work with a Los Feliz architectural homes specialist. You can start with a no-pressure valuation or get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Durex Model Home?
The Durex Model Home at 3410 Amesbury Drive was built in 1928 as a model home, constructed to showcase Spanish Colonial Revival design to prospective buyers in the developing Los Feliz hills.
Is the Durex Model Home a designated landmark?
Yes. It is designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1025.
Where is the Durex Model Home located?
The home is at 3410 Amesbury Drive in The Oaks, a hillside neighborhood within Los Feliz.
The Los Feliz Historic-Cultural Monument series
An ongoing series documenting every Historic-Cultural Monument in Los Feliz. You can also explore the full HCM guide or the architectural map.
- Ennis House: Frank Lloyd Wright's Mayan Revival Masterpiece | HCM #149
- Lovell Health House: Richard Neutra's 1929 Masterpiece | HCM #123
- Derby House: Lloyd Wright's Mayan Revival
- Midtown School: John Lautner's Organic Architecture | HCM #553
- The Jacobson House: Edward Fickett, Mid-Century Modern | HCM #674
- Sherwood House: Mid-Century Modern in The Oaks | HCM #1026
- The Shakespeare Bridge: Glendower Place | HCM #111
- Blackburn Residence: Paul R. Williams Spanish Colonial Revival | HCM #913
- Abraham Gore Residence: Spanish Colonial Revival | HCM #1061
- Durex Model Home: Spanish Revival in The Oaks | HCM #1025
- Paul Lauritz House: California's Plein Air Master | HCM #784
- Los Feliz Heights Steps: Hidden Historic Stairway | HCM #657
- Avocado Trees: Los Feliz's Natural Monument | HCM #343
About the author
Debbie Pisaro is a Los Feliz real estate specialist with 24 years of experience and founder of Coastline 840, an independent California real estate brokerage. She specializes in architectural and historic homes across Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and the Eastside, and lives in a 1907 Craftsman in Silver Lake with her Doberman, Lennon.
California DRE #01369110
The Durex Model Home is one of the Spanish-era monuments in The Oaks. It is one of more than fifty Historic-Cultural Monuments in Los Feliz. For the full overview, see the Los Feliz HCM guide, browse the complete collection of Los Feliz monuments, and if you are weighing designation for your own home, here is how to get a home designated.