Electric Bowery’s renovation of a historic Pasadena, California residence began not with demolition or dramatic gestures, but with careful attention to what already existed. The challenge was determining how to respect its American Craftsman roots while shaping spaces that could coexist with contemporary life. The solution emerged through a dialogue between eras, where new additions spoke to original structures without mimicking their accent. This conversation manifested most clearly in the subtle material shifts that marked transitions between old and new, creating what amounted to a three-dimensional timeline of the home’s evolution.
The influence of Greene and Greene, masters of the Craftsman movement, permeated the project, yet Electric Bowery resisted the temptation of mere homage. Instead, they channeled the spirit of the architects’ approach to materiality and craftsmanship while infusing the palette with modern life. Where traditional Craftsman interiors relied on the dignity of earth tones, this renovation embraced the chromatic gestures of textile pioneers Anni Albers and Sheila Hicks.
As for the custom fireplace screen, rather than sourcing a period-appropriate piece, Electric Bowery crafted something entirely new that nonetheless felt inevitable within the context. The screen embodied the Craftsman ideal of functional beauty while incorporating contemporary manufacturing techniques and proportional sensibilities – tradition and innovation existing in the same breath.
This approach extended beyond individual elements to encompass the entire spatial experience. The intricate millwork details created a rhythm that flowed seamlessly from restored original sections to newly constructed spaces. Terremoto’s landscape collaboration reinforced this inside-outside dialogue that defines Craftsman architecture at its best. The preservation of existing mature trees was not merely environmental stewardship but an act of design continuity, ensuring that the home’s relationship to its “City of Trees” context remained intact.
To learn more about Electric Bowery, visit electricbowery.com.
Photography by Laure Joliet.
