‘Money cannot buy class’: Internet furious as celebrity couple Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger demolish historic 1950 LA home

BRENTWOOD, CALIFORNIA: Hollywood actor Chris Pratt and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger have sparked outrage among architecture enthusiasts.

The couple has reportedly taken a controversial decision and demolished a historic mid-century modern home to build a massive 15,000-square-foot mansion.

When had Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger purchased the historic LA home? 

The Zimmerman house, a 1950s architectural gem in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood, was purchased by the couple last year for $12.5 million.

The house was designed by renowned architect Craig Ellwood and featured landscaping by modern landscaping pioneer Garrett Eckbo.

It had been previously showcased in Progressive Architecture magazine, too, reports Guardian. 

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger demolished a 'historic property' 

The property was formerly owned by the late Hilda Rolfe, widow of Sam Rolfe, co-creator of the series ‘The Man from Uncle’.

As of December 2022, the property was reportedly a well-preserved, light-filled home with large windows, wood floors, and mid-century furniture.

However, the single-story home, known for its floor-to-ceiling windows, a central brick fireplace, and wood built-ins, has since been cleared by the ‘Marvel’ actor.

Farmhouse in place of historic home 

In its place, Pratt and Schwarzenegger plan to build a sprawling home in the modern farmhouse style, a design that is said to have become increasingly popular in US suburbs.

According to Architectural Digest, architect Ken Ungar, known for his high-end modern farmhouse-style residences, will design the couple’s new home.

The property, located across the street from Schwarzenegger’s mother, Maria Shriver, will also feature a three-car garage and a secondary unit near the pool.

The historic LA home was highly intact 

The demolition of the 1950s 'historic' property, which the Los Angeles Conservancy had warned about in January last and described as “highly intact and a noteworthy example of modernist design from this era, has been met with disappointment and criticism.

 

The Eichler Network, which covers mid-century homes in California, expressed its lament over the destruction.

 "At the same time as architectural homes are being marketed as high-end, collectible art, others are being torn down to build new," Writer Adriene Biondo wrote.

"Perhaps a historic-cultural monument designation could have saved the Zimmerman house, or allowed the necessary time to delay demolition. Tragically, calls for preservation fell on deaf ears," Biondo added.

"Today, what's left of the Zimmerman house is only a memory," concluded the article. 

Internet disappointed with Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger following historic LA home demolition 

The internet has also shared disappointment after Pratt and his wife Schwarzenegger demolished the historic LA home.

"Didn’t like this gorgeous specimen of historic 50s LA architecture, Chris Pratt? Then why not leave it for someone who did!," wrote a user on X.

He added, "Another tragedy for our city, so much of which is being systematically destroyed. Also proof once again that money cannot buy class." 

One more wrote, "Chris Pratt is truly a prat. Look at this incredible piece of architecture he bought to level in order to build a modern mansion. Utter prick." 

"Chris Pratt continues his transition to the darkside," wrote one more. One user added, "That is Chris Pratt for you," as she shard the images of the historic home. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.