Long Beach’s love affair with modernism takes center stage this Sunday, Sept. 14, as a collection of the city’s finest mid-century modern homes open their doors for an intimate, one-day tour.
It’s more than just a showcase of glass walls, flat planes, and clean geometry. The event is a testament to the homeowners who see themselves not simply as residents but as stewards of architectural legacy. Their willingness to share these spaces is matched by the dedication of the tour’s organizers. It will be led by interior designer and heritage conservation consultant Sarah Locke, alongside Cheryl Perry of Long Beach Heritage and Brian Trimble of Cal State Long Beach’s School of Art. Together, they have woven a program rooted in passion, preservation, and design expertise.
What makes this tour unique is its collaborative spirit. Homeowners are offering up their private residences. Organizers bring both scholarship and enthusiasm. And attendees are invited to step inside some of the city’s most significant modernist gems. It’s not just about viewing homes—it’s about understanding Long Beach’s place in the broader story of Southern California modernism.
What to expect from Long Beach Heritage’s Summer of Architecture tour
Two Long Beach crown jewels on this year’s tour capture the spirit of modernism at its most iconic.
The first is the city’s lone residence by Raphael Soriano, a pioneer of the International Style. His early experiments with steel and glass laid the groundwork for the postwar modernist boom. Renovated by none other than Studio One Eleven principal Alan Pullman back in 2013, Soriano’s Long Beach commission embodies his signature clarity: light-filled interiors, clean structural lines, and a seamless connection to the outdoors that continues to feel both radical and serene decades after it was built.
Equally significant is The Frank House, better known as Case Study House #25, designed by Edward A. Killingsworth in 1962. As part of Arts & Architecture magazine’s influential Case Study program, Killingsworth’s design distilled the ideals of Southern California modernism into a livable blueprint for the American future. With its airy volumes, expansive use of glass, and thoughtful integration of landscape, The Frank House reflects the architect’s gift for balancing innovation with elegance—a hallmark that would define much of Long Beach’s modernist landscape.
Exploring a bit more of the lesser known but just as important architects that contributed to the Long Beach landscape.
The tour doesn’t stop at these architectural icons. It also brings forward the often-overlooked contributions of other modernists who helped shape the city’s mid-century identity.
Paul Tay, whose work bridged functionalism with graceful detail, left behind a portfolio that underscores the everyday livability of modern design. Wayne P. Frederick contributed projects that highlighted a sensitivity to site and scale, offering homes that still resonate with warmth and proportion.
And Eugene Kinn Choy, a trailblazing figure as only the second Chinese-American admitted to the American Institute of Architects, expanded both the inclusivity and reach of modernist practice. His presence in Long Beach stands as a reminder that the city’s architectural story is as much about cultural progress as it is about design innovation.
Together, these homes and their creators remind us that modernism was never meant to be a museum piece—it was meant to be lived in. The Great Homes Tour offers not just a glimpse into extraordinary design, but into a legacy of stewardship and community that continues to define Long Beach today.
Long Beach Heritage’s Summer of Architecture Tour takes place on Sunday, Sept. 14. For tickets, click here.
