GREGORY AIN

One can argue that Gregory Ain was born to be a progressive. His father’s politics would set the tone for Gregory’s early life. This influence would manifest in his attitude for creating and constructing buildings for low- and middle-income people. Ain was an early disciple of Richard Neutra. And, while their relationship was said to be somewhat estranged at times, Ain would credit Neutra with being an effective teacher and distilling important ideas that he would use throughout his career.

Gregory Ain would be commissioned by Philip Johnson, the director for the Museum of Modern Art, to build an exhibition house for the institution; an honor bestowed upon Marcel Breuer the year before. Unfortunately, do to his perceived socialist beliefs and ties, he would lose out on the opportunity to participate in the famed Case Study House program. And, Ain would be labeled the “most dangerous architect in America” by J Edger Hoover. Some of Ain’s notable projects include the Avenal Homes in Silver Lake and Mar Vista Housing tract.

Los Angeles The Galka Scheyer House by Richard Neutra
LOS ANGELES THE GALKA SCHEYER HOUSE BY RICHARD NEUTRA

Today we’re showcasing The Galka Scheyer House by Richard Neutra with a 1936 second-story addition by Gregory Ain (who’d actually worked under Neutra on the original structure a few years before).  Scheyer was a German American painter and art dealer. She was probably most notable for representing the Bauhausian artists she coined “ the blue four”: Jawlensky, Feininger, Kandinsky and Klee,

Modern Home-Silver Lake, Mid Century Modern-Silver Lake, Modern Real Estate-Silver Lake, Modernist Architecture-Silver Lake, Mid Century House-Silver Lake, Modern Architectural-Silver Lake, Mid Century Home-Silver Lake,
SILVER LAKE GREGORY AIN CONDO, 1947

The Avenel Homes, a Silver Lake Gregory Ain condo building. Rare opportunity to own one of the best units in this landmark Silver Lake complex that represents the best of mid-century modern design and thinking. Ain worked with the 10 original owners to create an innovative plan that offered each owner privacy and flexible floor plans for amazing indoor/outdoor living. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.