MAnnheim Studio
The Mannheim Studio, a Pasadena cultural landmark, was the humble workspace of Arroyo Guild painter Jean Mannheim. We were charged to restore and transform this 1912 structure into an age-in-place dwelling on the 1st floor for its owners and a caregiver’s unit on the 2nd floor.
Aside from strict preservation guidelines to adhere to, the project required a significant structural overhauling. The work include reframing the roof, introducing wall framing (there was none) behind the existing wall sheathing and underpinning the arroyo stone foundation — in essence, inserting a new building into an existing shell.
PASADENA CA
2026
SFD—1083 SF
ADU—700 SF
Photo:
FUNG + BLATT
At the interior, we introduced an endoskeleton of cabinetry along the length of the load-bearing walls.
This structural thickness allowed us to reset the perceived width of the section to deliver a more balanced sense of proportion.
