About

“McTernan Residence”

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1065 (4/2/2014)

David Hyun, architect.

Click here for Los Angeles Department of City Planning Recommendation Report, which has additional details on the property’s architectural and historic significance.

Historical significance for HCM:

John T. McTernan was a highly regarded Los Angles civil rights lawyer who fought many landmark civil liberties and labor cases, include seven before the US Supreme Court.  During his nearly 50 year partnership with the late Ben Margolis, McTernan and the equally esteemed Margolis were recognized for making significant contributions to the protection of civil liberties and constitutional rights.“ McLellan – Staff Writer, LA Times, April 4, 2005 (Source: Los Angeles Department of City Planning HCM Application)

Architectural significance:

The residence for Mr. and Mrs. John T. McTernan is am important example of Mid-Century Modern architecture and meets the Cultural Heritage Ordinance because of the high quality of its design and the retention of its original form, detailing and integrity. (Source: Los Angeles Department of City Planning HCM Application)

History:
Article appeared in Los Angeles Times Home magazine sometime in the ’60s.  Built in 1960, this two-story residence is an excellent example of Mid-Century Modern architecture.

David Hyun was the home’s architect; Hyun was responsible for several Modernist residences in Los Angeles but is perhaps best known for his firm’s design and development of Little Tokyo’s Japanese Village Plaza. The subject home was designed for civil rights attorney John T. McTernan, who defended accused communists and labor leaders during the era of McCarthyism and won several prominent civil rights cases. (Source: Los Angeles Department of City Planning HCM Application).