This was a beautiful house with an excellent tour. We had a man in our group that decided to explain to a couple from Spain about why Castillian Spanish is pronounced the way it is. He continued to monopolize the docent's time with a lot of stupid questions. Of course the foundation can't be faulted for his behavior. They did a great job with everything. read more

A fun little discovery can be uncovered in the hills above Santa Monica's beach: The former home of Ray and Charles Eames, prominent mid-century designers of both furniture and architecture. For a $10 entry fee (waived with student i.d.) one gains admission to the grounds on which the Eames' house and studio sit. You're invited to peer into the house and studio, they may even open a slider to enable this, but no photos of the interior are permitted. Although the experience is billed as "self-guided", during my visit a docent opened the slider to the home, allowing a better view inside, and discussed different aspects of the house with us in a very informal manner. The experience is mostly visual but if you have questions, ask away. I've no doubt the docents can answer anything you might wish to know about the Eames house and the Eames themselves. Walk the property and enjoy its natural beauty. Take a look at the map to reveal that the surrounding houses are (or were) case studies for other types of mid-century home designs. A visit to the Eames house (overseen by the Eames Foundation, advance reservations accepted), will likely take up no more than 45 minutes of your time but you'll feel like you've seen something unique and historical and forevermore you'll likely spot images of the immediately recognizable home in books and magazines allowing you to say "I've been there". read more

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He made me sit through so many football games on Sundays & mondays, it's lots of swearing & noise pollution to me, so I return him a favor by scooping him out of his stinky couch and throw him to a quiet surreal, outdoor oceanu place like the Eames House. Follow Google direction, once it announces arriving at the destination, put on your left turning signal and wait to make a left onto Corona del mar side street to park your car. Since it is a timed visitation, you probably meet a few enthusiastic also heading to the Eames HOUSE. Say hello and walk together. First question popped from all of us is "are you doing the exterior or interior?" Lol who got $200 something loose change in the pocket? Turns out, the Eames Foundations really rely on the interior tour proceeds to up keep this historical home. It is sad seeing the white curtains are bleached by the California sun it reminds me of Pringo chips while the exterior wood panels seasoned by the ocean spray like 60 days aged steak. While pacing ourself along the railroad wood passageway, the guide invites us to look into the inside of the kitchen, the living room and spiral stairs. The building is constructed with exposed steels and glasses which fulfilled one of the criteria of the competition- to utilized materials that were invented or used during the WWII. I really appreciate the Eames House is spared from the wild fire. read more

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The Eames House is a landmark of midcentury modern architecture. Built by Charles and Ray Eames (the original design was also worked on by Eero Saarinen), it's pretty stunning and yet designed to be constructed from "off-the-shelf" parts to make it an affordable design that could inspire designs for homes for everyday Americans. The most affordable way to experience the Eames House is to do an exterior self-guided tour. It's $10. That might not sound like much if you're used to interior, guided tours, but we still really enjoyed our visit. You can walk all the way around the house and studio for a 360-degree-view of the house and docents are there to answer any questions you might have. Because the bottom floor of the house and the studio has so much glass, you can see into several rooms of the house quite well. They ask that you don't take pictures into the interior through the glass because interior tours are how they fund-raise. Speaking of, if you're really a buff and willing to pay for the experience, you CAN tour the interior (prices are on their website). It was pricey for us, so we stuck with the exterior tour. Definitely right for us. We made a reservation online, but two guys who came in at the same time as us didn't make reservations and they were able to pay the docent and still do the exterior tour. It's a bit hard to find - definitely follow the instructions on the website. We parked on Corona del Mar and then walked back down the hill and then down a private alleyway (the only way to enter the property). If you enjoy architecture (especially mid-century American architecture), this house is worth a visit! read more

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Came to visit Case Study House #8 last Thursday. It's quite interesting to learn about the history of the house, the Eameses and to see the actual architecture. I was slightly disappointed because I had just been to the Stahl House the previous night, and the house and view were just incomparable. Eames is tucked into a hill and doesn't really have much of a view until you go further into the yard. Additionally, since you can't go into the house, you really only need a few minutes to walk around and take photos. I wish I had seen the Eames House before seeing the Stahl as my expectations were just set so high. Parking is on the street right around the corner of the compound and it's an easy walk to the house. They offer interior tours and picnics but IMO, they are not worth it as you can pretty much see most everything in the house by just walking around. read more

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This is a true mid century modern house at its finest. They're definitely has been some upkeep and restoration over the years and is definitely worth visiting. The tour we went on was just rocking around the outside and sticking her head in the doorway as the interior walking tour cost substantially more than $10. If you're in the Pacific Palisades area and are into architecturally amazing homes this is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Twenty plus years after first being introduced to case study house number 8 in a college architecture class at UCLA, I finally had the opportunity to visit and tour the property. Even better was the private tour that was arranged through the Eames Foundation. Our tour guide John was such a pleasure and obviously has a passion for all this Charles and Ray Eames. Even after seeing so many pictures of the property over the years, I was not prepared for the peaceful nature of the site. Situated on a bluff that juts high above the Pacific Coast Highway, with a view of the ocean and coastline that is utterly breathtaking, the private drive that leads to the house can't be parked on so you leave your car on a side street and make the short trek to the property. My friends and I commented along the way how it felt like we were on a pilgrimage of sorts. As the house came into view it couldn't have felt more true. Our tour included just four of us and our docent John. After making our introductions, we removed our shoes and entered the world of Charles and Ray Eames. The house remains exactly as Ray left it when she died 10 years after her husband. The foundation has gone to great pains to keep everything as it was to give you a sense of what their life was like there. John was such a pleasure as a guide. He had so many interesting stories and facts to share plus engaged us in so many questions that the hours flew by. The house and studio are not large by any means and yet our two hours there seemed barely enough time to take it all in. We ended the tour with tea in the studio, discussing Eames creative history. The icing on the cake was using the marbles on the xylophone tower to play a melody. The whole experience is something I will always cherish. read more

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The folks running the place were great. Very patient. Zoe went out of her way to make us feel welcome and answered our questions. And the portable toilet was a high tech marvel read more

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If you live in Los Angeles or are going to visit LA be sure to book a visit. There's no commitment, you pay upon arrival. Parking is free and plentiful. This is a small property, you might spend two hours here at the max, but at least one hour. Unfortunately photographs are not permitted inside the house. However you can photograph outside the house as long as it's about 20 feet or more away. The staff is very nice, they even opened the doors and let us peak inside the house. They were happy to answer all of our questions and they seemed very passionate and knowledgeable about Ray & Charles Eames. Overall a fantastic experience, and for $10 I think it's totally worth it. Expert tips: the earlier the better. It does get pretty busy so if you really want some nice photographs without anyone in the shot then I'd recommend an early appointment. Also they were pretty flexible with the appointments.. our group arrived about 15 minutes after the appointment and it was totally fine. Bring soap, there was no soap in the toilet. Also there is no restaurant or cafe. Parking: There is no parking available on the property, you must park in the neighborhood. Turn left onto Vance and park along the side, it's an easy three minute walk to the house. Be cautious of drivers on Chautaugua Blvd. There is no official left turn lane, you simply slow down signal and turn to make the left. The locals here drive very fast and are kind of bullies on the road driving way over the 30mph speed limit, don't be intimidated just approach with caution... read more

When planning my trip to LA, I came across the Eames Foundation. I had no idea the house was open to the public and I was very excited about the opportunity to see it. I called and made a reservation. The cost is $10 per person and there is no parking, you have to find street parking. The house is a little hard to find because it's tucked in an alley. When you enter the grounds, it's really impressive to see. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable, I talked to 2 of the girls that worked there for ever, they were super nice and helpful. I enjoyed my experience because I did research before I visited, I made sure I knew how it works, and what you will be allowed and not allowed to do, so there were no surprises when I was told not we are not allowed to go inside the house. To me it makes perfect sense in order to preserve the integrity of the building and furnishings. The house is in 2 parts. One part is the studio and the other the actual house, there is a cute courtyard in the middle. The studio is the Eames Foundation's offices and the house remains almost intact since the 80's. The grounds are beautiful and they also have a desk with the renderings for you to look at. I am highly impressed with the architecture, very ahead of the times. It looks more like a building from the 1960's but it was designed and constructed in 1949. If you are an Eames fan, it's a must. read more

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What a depressing visit. No tours of the interior, self guided tour of the grounds which would have taken 5 minutes at best, no pictures allowed in interior areas, kids can't play on the only piece of playground equipment. I love the Eames', I love their house. I had been looking forward to a visit here for years. It was SO disappointing. The staff seemed more like security guards rather than docents. The worst architectural visit I've ever experienced in Los Angeles... never again. read more

Eames Foundation - Eames House, mid-century modern - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

The history of modern American design has many of it's roots firmly planted here. This monument Case Study House #8 has shown itself to be a work of love and art fused into a function that is surrounded by its own natural environment. The Eames have shown the durability and genius of its design as it had been proven to uphold minor rearrangements and has been lived in by the Eames entire lifetime since its completion in 1949. Undergoing a transitional state to prepare its survival for another quarter millennia. As my little family saw it we were unable to view much of the main house. Yet the office was still visible in its mostly preserved state. You are allowed to roam the field and go up and around the upper side of the house around their garden. To see it in person shows the human craftsmanship to the house. A side that is hidden from the photographs and brings a genuine approach to its outstanding image. If you don't know much about the "Eames Era" chances are you already have a prerequisite. Especially if you went to school, worked in an office or sat in an airport in America from the 1940's up until the end of the century. The designers have contributed timeless designs that were meant to be beautiful and minimal while providing the basic function that it is created for. Much like the Case Study House #8 itself. In more ways than can be described I feel that the house is the epicenter of the Eames era. read more

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Whether you know it or not, all of our lives have been touched by Charles and Ray Eames, the respected architect/designer couple who reigned during the mid-century Modernism era. If, like me, you frequented public libraries in the early 80s or ever sat in tandem row seating while waiting at the airport for a flight, your behind has certainly been touched by the Eames: they are famous for the form as function, molded plywood and plastic chairs. I'll know I've made it when I finally own an Eames lounge chair. The Eames House was one of 25 "case study" projects overseen by the then publisher of an arts and architecture magazine. "The magazine announced that it would be a the client for a series of architect-design homes to be built and furnished using techniques and materials derived from the experiences of the second World War and best suited to express man's life in the modern world (taken from the the Eames House pamphlet). " I believe that it is the Eames' committment to art, creativity, and social relativity that has continued to make the Eames' designs and objects part of our collective consciousness. You still see their actual designs and influences everywhere! The house is yet another example of this: form, function, and art. They used pre-fab materials ordered off-the-shelf to create their beloved abode. The couple wanted to extend the house out into the meadow, but decided against it in the end because they loved the meadow out front too much and felt that building upon it would destroy the nature surrounding them: a far cry from some SoCal residents who want to tear down historic Neutra houses to build their garish gold mansions. Although you are not allowed into the actual house, they leave some of the doors open and entire sides of the house consists of windows so you are certainly welcome to peek in; you just sort of feel like a voyeur. You can also walk out onto the meadow and behold the gorgeous spectacle of a view that the Eames had. It doesn't take too much of your time to explore the outer edges of this sanctuary, but the inspiration and thoughtfulness behind the creation of this domicile will leave an impression on you. Other info: - call the above number to make a reservation - $5 suggested donation - you park on Corona del Mar (the next street up), directions are on their website read more

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This is a living museum, and exploring the grounds is worth it if you're already a fan of Charles & Ray Eames. You can look, but you can't photograph or go inside the building. I left extremely disappointed with my visit here or I would've given this place five stars. Five stars for the actual home and its historical significance... Two stars for the two people who work here (as I have experience better visiting the Gamble House) as I found these people here to be useless in helping understand more about this home and the architects. They more so are there to size you up to find out if you're worth speaking to and not a good representation of the foundation that supports the preservation of this building. It seems they pry and try to get information from you to find out if you're worth chatting with or offering your docent-lead tour or if they should just let you roam free to explore the grounds on your own. It was more so to tell me what I can and cannot do. It was a bit of let down that didn't tell me that I had the option to have a docent-lead tour which I expected, especially when I saw the docent spend more time with a group that arrived later. That group got the red carpet treatment and more attention from Dan, the docent there. When I arrived, they pretty much told me to go free and walk around the grounds not even telling much of anything, but only what I shouldn't do. They were only available to me if they had any questions after roaming the grounds. I originally saw the actual living space furniture on display at the LACMA so iI felt I revisited what I saw at the museum, but this time the interior inside the actual Eames home. I was told that the furniture was moved out for the first time for that exhibition I saw. After the my walk, I was more intrigued by Ray & Charles Eames that since I didn't get any info from the "docent", I bought an Eames book on Amazon to learn more about them. $10 to enter the grounds. If you're a fan of mid-century modern architecture or design, I highly recommend visiting. Go with low expectations of possibly not getting "chosen" or "screened" as good enough for the docent-lead tour and you'll leave happy. My experience felt like a trendy Hollywood club and for the first time, I felt like I was getting snubbed and not getting in on any of the action. You must call in advance to visit the grounds and park around the corner on Coronado del Mar. You can't go inside of the building but more so walk around it and if you're one of the chosen ones, you can get more information from their "docent". read more

Eames Foundation - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Lovely visit to the Foundation today - we visited in the rain but it was still very beautiful. One can see the exterior of the Eames House and also a peek into the interiors. Students enter for free which is super cool. read more

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This is one if the most uniquely beautiful places in Los Angeles. The Eames' were a beautiful, brilliant couple of artists, architects, environmentalists and lovers of beauty. The houses slope down to a meadow overlooking an unforgettable panorama of the Pacific Ocean. The space is tranquil and yet exciting. Don't miss the little secrets in the meadow. It makes you dream of the way this remarkable place must have looked in 1945 when Charles and Ray started their splendid journey. read more

Gosh. What an amazing time. I loved it in books and loved it even more in person. Everyone is friendly and accommodating. I purchased the cutest pin that looks like a portion of the exterior facade. Would go back in a heartbeat! read more

You can't go into the house, but I thought the tour was great and it was neat to see where and how the Eames (tour guide pronounced it Ames?) lived. The tour guide (I am so sorry I didn't catch his name) was really informative and helpful as was the young woman working there (Catherine?). He really knew his stuff and was open to any questions. If you saw the Eames living room at LACMA last year at the Pacific Standard Time exhibit, it's especially cool to see where it really lives and the actual dimensions of the house, etc. There were also some people picnicking on the grounds while we were there. Great stop for a mid-century modern design fan, for sure. Also, after reading the other reviews just now, I'd like to add that I got an email response with a time almost immediately, AND someone extremely gracious returned my call the very next day just to make sure. read more

This house is simply amazing. I can't believe I didn't know about this sooner. First of all, don't forget to call to make an appointment because there is a small guided tour. It's open Monday-Saturday 10am to 4pm. You can find parking on the street of Corona Del Mar. Ward, our docent, was so kind enough to tell us the history of Ray and Charles and show us a bit around the exterior/sneak peeks of the interior, which was awesome. I spent over an hour there, even though the place is really small. There's a lot of beauty in the architecture and the elements that created this beautiful place. There's a wonderful view of the beach. I couldn't stop taking pictures of the place! The house is so simple, but definitely worth taking a ride to the beach and enjoying a bit of history! read more

I watched the PBS series on Ray and Charles Eames, and so when I came to LA, I knew I wanted to come check out their house. The view is incredible, and the house is so neat. I came with a friend, and we both kept saying how much we wanted to move in. You park a couple of blocks from the house and have to walk the rest of the way, but there are directions on the website and it's pretty easy to get there. The living room is undergoing restorations, so you won't see any living room furniture, but I think the furniture will be back this summer. It costs ten dollars to tour the grounds, and you have to make an appointment. I think ten is a little steep, and making an appointment is annoying, but it was still a great experience! read more

My time thus far in Los Angeles has been clouded by grad school living (or lack thereof): 90+ hour weeks really take their toll after a while. At least the weather's nice. So when one of my classes assigned us famous houses to analyze and a classmate announced she was going to visit the Eames House as part of her assignment, I jumped at the chance to ride along. After all, I had barely set foot on the west side, and in terms of modern architecture, this is one of the most iconic ones out there. The trip didn't disappoint. The weather was perfect (when isn't it?), the admission was free with a student ID, and the docents were immensely friendly and helpful in giving out information about the history of the house, as well as the Eameses as architects and as people. They were ready and excited to share their knowledge, and were both respectful and encouraging of pictures taken on site. The viewing hours are limited, and you have to call and reserve a place to see it in advance (typically two days). The tours are self-guided, but the docents are there to answer questions (useful for the non-architect set out there). Go take an hour or two out of your day, bring $10 or a student ID with you, and go see the house. Los Angeles, you are fortunate to have such great architecture in your region. Go see it! read more

Had a great time at this architectural jewel, hidden just a few feet from the crazy PCH driving mayhem. I think I could move in to this home and be at peace. Ann was the docent and was very informative and helpful to visitors asking questions and purchasing souvenirs. My highpoint was resting/sitting in one of the two powder blue Eames Fiberglass Shell chairs, placed casually outside. The chair design was revolutionary in 1948, but it sure proves its relevance and functionality to this day. read more

So much more powerful than any photograph or rendering. With its openness and transparency, the house is welcoming even though visitors can't go inside. The docents make you feel welcome in this remarkable machine in a garden--and everything is just as Rae Eames left it. Accessible by bus from Santa Monica, but the stop mentioned on the web site is no longer in use. read more

Eames Foundation - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

These are the kinds of cool experiences that I love. Ray and Charles Eames are up there with FLW in my book. Disclaimer - I visited the Eames House about 10 years ago. Sounds like they are no longer offering the docent-led tours, which is a bummer. Still worth a visit nonetheless, and I'd definitely return if I were ever forced to go back to Los Angeles. read more

I love Mid century modern and the Eames' are royalty in the American scene, so when I got a reservation to see their house, I was thrilled. My problem is more with the tall, thin, twenty something year old snob who gave us a curt, hostile welcome.... He actually ruined the experience for me. First, he asked how much we knew of Eames. I mentioned I was more familiar with their furniture than the houses and that I owned an Eames Lounge chair. He wasn't impressed, rolled his eyes and said, "well, I'll have to tell you the whole story then, since you obviously don't know anything about the Eames" ok, ok sorry,,,feeling a little embarrassed and inferior he pontificated about all sorts of very obvious things, "you'll notice there is a gold leaf panel over the door, that's so you know where the door is" (oh...we pretended to be impressed, as if without the gold panel, one would attempt to walk through any piece of wall assuming it was a door...). Any casual mention or question I raised was met with annoyance and dismissal, as if I were a Philistine. me:"oh, I hadn't realized that the Eames and the Saarinen's were close friends. I always thought of them to be contemporaries and rivals" Tour Guide: "rolls eyes, squints at me in contempt and boredom and says {annoyed} "what?!" no, of course "Duh! they were friends "HELLO!!???.or at least that's how it seemed... Ok, Now I'm afraid to say ANYTHING for fear of humiliation, but, I cannot resist. I say :"How did Eames feel about so many knock offs of their designs?" This question seems to have offended our dear tour guide and confirmed in him his suspicion that I was suffering from a brain injury. He claimed there were no Eames knock offs until very recently, and they had been dead for many years before anyone knocked them off....hmmm...apparently the tour guide has never been on eBay or to the Rose Bowl Flea MKT and seen all of the items made in the 60's and 70's..... That dude, who is probably a volunteer, should be payed to go away and the Eames foundation would do better to hire people with less obvious contempt for general public....What a DICK!!! oh well, me and my friend had a great afternoon making fun of his bitchiness...."don't touch that!" read more

bliss. this place is perfect and inspiring to anyone who has an appreciation for history, art, and/or relaxation. it is off the beaten path a bit and i thought i was lost when i was walking towards it, since it is, in fact, a HOUSE in a residential area... but the atmosphere is perfect. there is a view of malibu beach. the house itself is wondrous. the lines, colors, and history is fantastic. watching the eames movie on netflix instant video is a MUST before you go, to really appreciate what you are seeing. the rigidity of the house is complimented by the natural setting, and soft and round decorations inside the home. you can walk up around the back yard area by taking the mud-piled steps to the back part of the house to get a different view... you can also trek in the front yard and head over to where the "easels" are, which gives a good amount of history, quotes from the eames' and really sweet photography of them living in the very house you are visiting. pros: atmosphere reflexion on life history you'd be doing something unique in LA FREE if you show your student ID cons: you can't actually go INSIDE the house... its a "self guided tour" of the exterior of the house. but the house is made up of windows... so it's okay. you have to call at least 48 hours to make a reservation. and when you call, you have to leave a message, and i had to call at least 7 times and leave 7 messages before i got anyone to call back. it was stupid. all in all, i reccommend going. its amazing. read more

Our out-of-town guests interested in architecture suggested a visit to the Eames House. Frankly my only vague knowledge of the Eames name up to that point was the iconic lounge chair. We followed the instructions on the Eames Foundation website, made reservation and found our way to Pacific Palisades on MLK Day. Parking on Corona del Mar Street was easy and after a short walk down a slope, we reached the grounds of this simple living museum where Charles and Randy, pioneer creative design geniuses, lived and worked over half a century ago. We paid $10 for a self-directed exterior tour. The friendly staff made a brief, informative introduction and we were on our own. Though we could not go inside the house/studio we were able to see the somewhat cluttered interior and various collections through the windows. We walked up behind the houses but were disappointed that we couldn't see the interior of the loft as we had hoped. The meadow (garden) in front of the house looks out to the Pacific Ocean. There are several permanent display stands that provide historical background and photos to enhance the experience. The quiet atmosphere was calming - not many visitors. Looking at the house, one can't help but realize that while its design concept may seem somewhat commonplace now, it must have been a very novel innovation and bold statement when first introduced in the late 1940's. As we walked away after an hour or so, we felt grateful to have the opportunity to actually see in person this unique boxy architectural treasure, a national landmark, in our own city. read more

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Just go. It's situated in an amazing spot, surrounded by other Case Study Houses. You cannot go inside, but you can see almost everything in there. The docent was very interesting and answered all our questions. It's one of those "cathedral-like" places for modern design buffs like us. Well worth the trip. read more

Joan was an amazing tour guide. Her hospitality was warm, relaxed and inviting. Her knowledge was deep and she exhibited passion for the life and legacy of Ray and Charles Eames. We.highly recommend this tour. read more

This is a sacred spot, the meadow where Charles and Ray stood so many times is worth the trip itself.

i haven't actually been here, though i mean to. i ordered a poster from their store as a gift for my nephew. when the ups driver was unable to deliver the package, the office called me immediately--it was very close to christmas--to see if they had the right address and to remedy the situation. it seems that i have been accidentally sending items to my nephew's neighbors all along, and since they are all friendly, the package made it to its destination just fine. but i appreciated the call very much. read more