A modernist house built in 1946, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 0.2-acre lot

Arts & Architecture magazine’s Case Study program challenged prominent architects to build affordable, family-friendly homes in the mid 20th century, influencing residential design and the landscape of Southern California, and inspiring many people to design their own versions of the ideal modern home. One such couple was Leslie and Nancy Watts, who worked in arts-related institutions in and around Pasadena, where they built this house with the help of local contractors. It is about a five-minute drive from the Rose Bowl stadium, home of the U.C.L.A. Bruins football team and a hugely popular monthly vintage and antiques market, and about 10 minutes from the dining and shopping district along Colorado Boulevard.