A Rare Slice of Midcentury Modernism: Clifton Jones Jr.’s Cerritos Circle Duplex Hits the Market in Long Beach for $1.45 Million

For architecture aficionados and midcentury modern enthusiasts, the name Julius Shulman is synonymous with the visual democratization of California’s golden era of design. Through his iconic, crisp photography, Shulman beamed the clean lines, expansive glass walls, and seamless indoor-outdoor living of Southern California homes into global living rooms. Among the gems he immortalized is a distinct, low-slung architectural property in Long Beach, California.

Today, that very piece of architectural history—captured by Shulman in 1964—has officially landed on the real estate market. Listed at $1,450,000 via Modern California House, a specialized estate agency dedicated to the preservation of significant design, the four-bedroom garden home located at 4175 / 4177 Del Mar Avenue offers a rare opportunity to own a preserved slice of Long Beach’s modernist legacy.

Nestled within the prestigious and historically rich Los Cerritos / Virginia Country Club neighborhood, this single-level post-and-beam residence is one of 42 exclusive residential units originally designed by architect Clifton Jones Jr. in 1963. After remaining in the hands of the architect’s family for more than six decades, the property is poised to enter a new chapter, inviting a fresh custodian to steward its enduring design ethos.

Main Facts: The Anatomy of a Modernist Masterpiece

Spanning a generous 2,768 square feet of interior living space, the property is thoughtfully configured as two mirroring, side-by-side apartments. Each unit functions as a self-contained private sanctuary, featuring two well-proportioned bedrooms complemented by their own private ensuite bathrooms.

At the heart of each floor plan lies a minimalist, open-plan kitchen that anchors the living experience. The spatial orientation was masterminded with solar rhythms in mind: east-facing dining areas are positioned to welcome the crisp, golden rays of morning light, while west-facing family rooms are bathed in the warm, amber glow of the Southern California afternoon sun.

Architecturally, the home is defined by signatures of the midcentury modern movement:

• Lofty Proportions: Soaring 10-foot ceilings elevate the sense of volume throughout the single-story footprint.
• Transparency: Expansive, monumental glass walls and sliding glass doors dissolve the boundary between interior rooms and the natural environment.
• Outdoor Integration: Living spaces effortlessly flow outward into welcoming entry courtyards and private, fenced back patios, championing the quintessential Southern California lifestyle.

Priced at $1,450,000, the duplex configuration presents a flexible financial and lifestyle proposition. As Nate Cold of Modern California House notes, the side-by-side units feel remarkably like standalone single-family homes, offering a configuration where an owner can comfortably reside in one side while generating rental income from the other.

Chronology: From Racehorse Training Grounds to Architectural Vanguard

To understand the cultural and historical significance of the Del Mar Avenue property, one must trace the evolution of the land it occupies and the educational pedigree of its creator.

The Pre-Development Era

Before it became a canvas for modernist experimentation, the land comprising the Cerritos Circle development had deep roots in the local community. The property originally belonged to the Jones family, who utilized the acreage for a very different kind of daily rhythm: racehorse training.

Educational Foundations (1940s–1950s)

Clifton Jones Jr. was shaped by a golden era of architectural pedagogy. He attended the University of Southern California (USC) School of Architecture, an institution that served as a crucible for modern design theory in the mid-20th century. During his studies, Jones was directly influenced by luminaries such as Edward Killingsworth and Calvin Straub—masters who championed clarity of structure, structural honesty, and regional adaptation.

The Case Study House Influence

Concurrently, Southern California was playing host to the legendary Arts & Architecture Case Study House program (1945–1966). Spearheaded by John Entenza, the program challenged visionary architects to design and build inexpensive, efficient model homes using wartime industrial materials and modern construction techniques. This experimental spirit deeply inspired Jones Jr., instilling in him a desire to translate high-design modernist concepts into accessible, functional housing for everyday families.

Conception and Construction (1963)

Armed with his USC education and a passion for spatial innovation, Jones Jr. turned his family’s former racehorse training grounds into a residential development. In 1963, he designed the 42 post-and-beam residential units that would come to define the Cerritos Circle enclave.

The Shulman Immortalization (1964)

Just a year after its completion, the architectural importance of the development caught the attention of Julius Shulman. His 1964 photographic session of the Del Mar Avenue property cemented its status in the architectural canon, capturing the interplay of shadow, light, and structure that defined the era.

Six Decades of Family Stewardship (1963–Present)

Uniquely, the specific unit now on the market has never left the orbit of its creator. Maintained by the family of Clifton Jones Jr. as a long-term rental property since its inception, the home has avoided the unsympathetic renovations that often befall midcentury properties, preserving its authentic character for over 60 years.

Supporting Data & Architectural Integrity

The enduring appeal of the Cerritos Circle duplex is rooted in structural honesty and material restraint. The post-and-beam construction method—a hallmark of midcentury West Coast architecture—allowed for skeleton frames that liberated walls from load-bearing duties. This structural freedom is what enabled Jones Jr. to incorporate the floor-to-ceiling glass panels that define the residence.

The neighborhood itself, Los Cerritos / Virginia Country Club, is widely recognized as one of Long Beach’s architectural crown jewels. Characterized by tree-lined streets, historic estates, and a strong community commitment to historic preservation, it provides an ideal backdrop for a midcentury architectural artifact.

Official Responses and Expert Perspectives

The rarity of a pristine, architect-held midcentury property coming to market has generated significant buzz within preservationist and real estate circles.

Nate Cold of Modern California House, the agency handling the sale, emphasizes the unique lineage and functional versatility of the duplex.

“This particular unit is being sold by the family of the original architect and developer Clifton Jones Jr.,” Cold explains. “They have held onto it as a rental property since it was built. The side-by-side units feel more like single-family homes, which works well for an owner to live in one and rent the other.”

Architectural historians have similarly praised the listing as an uncompromised time capsule. Unlike properties that have undergone successive modernizations, stripping away their original intent, the Del Mar Avenue duplex retains the spatial flow and material palette envisioned by Jones Jr. at the height of his creative powers. The preservation of the original framework offers modern buyers a rare blank canvas that requires no de-influencing from later architectural fads.

Implications: The Market for Architectural Preservation

The listing of the Cerritos Circle duplex arrives at a critical juncture for California’s architectural heritage. As suburban densification and modern real estate pressures threaten midcentury developments across Los Angeles and Orange County, properties like the one on Del Mar Avenue serve as flashpoints for the preservation movement.

1. A Shift Toward Multifunctional Ownership

The duplex model—long viewed purely through an investment lens—is undergoing a cultural reassessment among design-conscious buyers. Properties like Jones Jr.’s creation demonstrate that high design and multifamily density are not mutually exclusive. By offering separate, mirroring living quarters that mimic detached single-family homes, the property addresses contemporary economic realities (such as the need for supplemental rental income or multi-generational living) without compromising aesthetic integrity.

2. The Premium on Provenance

In an era of generic luxury builds, homes with documented provenance—especially those captured by master photographers like Julius Shulman—command a distinct market advantage. Buyers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for authenticity, viewing themselves not merely as homeowners, but as curators of cultural artifacts.

3. Safeguarding Local Landmarks

The sale underscores the importance of local historic neighborhoods like Los Cerritos. By maintaining architectural coherence, these pockets act as open-source museums, educating the public on how midcentury designers successfully harmonized human habitation with the natural landscape.

Conclusion

More than six decades after its construction, the Cerritos Circle duplex stands as a compelling testament to the enduring power of modernist ideals. Its simple structural forms, flexible open-plan layouts, and unwavering commitment to indoor-outdoor harmony feel just as revolutionary today as they did in 1963.

For a buyer with an appreciation for architectural history, 4175 / 4177 Del Mar Avenue offers more than just square footage and investment potential—it offers an invitation to inhabit a living photograph, preserved across generations by the very family that brought it to life.