Walking L.A. #5, Mar Vista: a Utopian Vision of Modern Living, 3/4 mi. (extended to 2 mi. for exercise.)

Tucked into a corner of Mar Vista, a Westside community bordered by Culver City and Venice, is the first post-WWII Modern Historic District in Los Angeles. The big deal about one block? The homes are an architectural treasure, designed and built from 1947-48 by architect Gregory Ains (influenced by L.A. architectural legends Neutra and Schindler). EVERY one of the 52 "Modernique Homes" along Meier and Moore Street between Marco Place and Palms Blvd has the exact same floor plan and size (1060 sq. ft.)—rotated in different directions for a sense of variety, and each painted in different interior/exterior color combos. Designed for lower and working class housing, the houses sold for $12,000 (recent listings run from $649K to $1.149M). Ains worked with landscape designer Garrett Eckbo to design the landscaping and streets with a park-like atmosphere. The magnolia trees they planted on Meier and melaleucas planted on Moore in 1948 still arch over the road. A special mention to the local gardener—the yards are gorgeous—and a tip of a witch hat to Mar Vista in general for the Halloween decorations. This little hike is a gift for anyone truly interested in modern architecture.