Open Space | The Garduno-Heiser Home, Raul Garduno, 1961

The home was out of her budget, and the stairs seemed unsuitable for her, but Piper visited during an open house and was instantly captivated by the views. The home was designed by Raúl Garduño, a prominent Mexican architect who grew up in Los Angeles and studied architecture at USC in the late 1950s. Known as the Garduño-Heiser Home, it was designed by Raúl Garduño and his friend Peter Heiser while they were still students at USC.

Garduño and Heiser discovered the empty lots in Silver Lake for a few hundred dollars, as the previous homes had slid down the hill and the lots were deemed unbuildable. Garduño and Heiser built the home as a spec project to demonstrate their ability to construct on problematic sites, and their effort paid off as they were commissioned to build on the adjacent lot for a client. Garduño has a portfolio of a couple dozen residential projects spanning from LA to OC, showcasing his remarkable design for the period, though information about the architect is relatively scarce. Despite the limited information available, his work remains influential, reflecting a unique blend of modernist principles and regional sensitivity. The Garduño-Heiser Home, in particular, stands as a testament to their innovative spirit and architectural vision.