Spared in the Pacific Palisades fire, the Thomas Mann House stands as a remarkable testament to Los Angeles's role as a haven for European intellectuals during World War II. This beautifully preserved California Modernist villa, designed by architect Julius Ralph Davidson in 1941, served as home to Nobel Prize-winning author Thomas Mann and his family from 1942 to 1952.
The house where many of Mann’s masterpieces were written nearly faced demolition in 2016, until an international coalition of writers, politicians, and cultural advocates successfully campaigned for its preservation.
Today, the property is owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, which lovingly restored and reopened it in 2018 as both a residence for international fellows and a hub for transatlantic intellectual exchange.
Join us for a brief talk with Benno Herz, Program Director at the Thomas Mann House, and Lilian Pfaff, architectural historian and author of J.R. Davidson - A European Contribution to California Modernism. Following the talk, guests will be led on a tour throughout the historic home. This L.A. Forum tour offers a rare opportunity to explore a piece of Los Angeles's rich cultural history that few visitors ever see.
