Mid-century modern ranch by Richard Wheeler

Built in 1953, this mid-century modern ranch boasts classic SoCal indoor-outdoor living within walking distance of San Diego’s trendy Liberty Station district.

Everyone loves a California Modern home. This mid-century residential style—popularized and mass-produced by Joseph Eichler for returning G.I.s in the late 1940s—has reached a fever pitch in popularity today, thanks to the preservation efforts of thoughtful homeowners and the reach of glossy design magazines that fawn over these houses. A modest property that sold for $19,000 in the 1950s can be worth millions of dollars today.

What’s driving the desire for these humble homes? Space and light. Through the use of post-and-beam construction, ample floor-to-ceiling windows, and generous outdoor living space, California Modern homes often feel bigger than their square footage may suggest on paper. The bulk of these sales happen in Los Angeles and San Francisco, but San Diego is no stranger to the craze either. Case in point, 3020 Seville Street in the city’s Point Loma neighborhood.

Designed in 1953 by Richard Wheeler, a prominent San Diego architect with over 400 local buildings attributed to his firm, this 1,037-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath residence sits on a gently sloping hill, oriented east-west for maximum exposure to daylight. Not only does this evenly illuminate the house, but it also supplies plenty of energy for the home’s solar power system.

The main entry opens into the open-concept living and dining area. Across the room, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and a sliding glass door, capped by transoms, look out over an expansive, fenced-in patio with mature vegetation providing an additional layer of privacy. Many homebuyers today appreciate the open floor plans of the California Modern style, which is flexible enough to accommodate any lifestyle, taste in furniture, or traffic flow — though many owners find these homes encourage a clean, minimalist aesthetic.

A functional fireplace sits at the north end of the living/dining room. The kitchen—boasting granite countertops, a tile backsplash, and stainless steel appliances—sits opposite the fireplace. True to the California Modern style, the walls, ceilings, and window sills are painted a crisp white and paired with lightly stained hardwood flooring.

Along an easterly hallway sits the home’s three bedrooms — providing enough space to raise a family or work from home. One of these rooms is currently being used as a home office and includes built-in shelving with a small desk. The primary bedroom, at the end of the hall, offers access to the patio via French doors. All three bedrooms receive ample natural sunlight through operable picture windows and transoms that stretch the length of the hall.

Having easy access to the outdoors is known to improve mental and physical health. Here, the convenient patio offers substantial square footage for extra living or dining space. Gray pavers, arranged in a herringbone pattern, provide a neutral foundation for a variety of possible furnishings. A small set of stairs towards the rear leads down to the home’s garage, where the laundry, solar, and other mechanical appliances are located.

The value of the home’s authentic mid-century credentials is rivaled only by its location — just a short walk from San Diego’s newest megaproject, Liberty Station. Built from the bones of a World War II–era Navy training facility, Liberty Station is a mixed-use development with a special landmark status on the National Register of Historic Places. Several of its Spanish Colonial Revival buildings have been adaptively repurposed into restaurants, food halls, art galleries, schools, hotels, museums, workplaces, and military and civilian residences. A lively new community, Liberty Station is poised to be San Diego’s new town square, and a desirable amenity for the surrounding Point Loma neighborhood.