A Canyon Refuge for
Two Masters
of Modern Ceramics

Origins of the Property

Nestled in Upper Nichols Canyon, the 1937 residence became the creative and personal sanctuary of Gertrud and Otto Natzler in 1945. Surrounded by trees, filtered canyon light, and uninterrupted natural views, the setting provided the quiet they sought to live, work, and host their artistic circle.

Life & Work at Home

Inside the original house, cozy, character-rich rooms framed treetop vistas. Gertrud threw delicate forms on the Austrian wheel they transported to Los Angeles; Otto refined glazes in the soft canyon light, adjusting formulas in notebooks that now reside in museum archives.

Evenings often brought friends and collaborators for chamber music — the living room becoming a vibrant hub of artistic exchange.

Growth of the Creative Compound

A detached ceramic studio above the garage offered dedicated workspace. By the 1980s, documenting their extensive oeuvre became a priority, prompting Otto to commission a new wing.

In 1988, architect Alfred T. Wilkes, AIA, designed a two-story Alpine-inspired addition for photographer Gail Reynolds Natzler. It introduced:
• Lower-level photographic studio and darkroom
• Upper-level vaulted primary suite with canyon-view balconies
• A bold yet sympathetic architectural dialogue with the 1937 structure

A Rare Surviving Artist’s Environment

The property remains one of the most intact artist residences of its era — a living archive of how the Natzlers’ creative lives unfolded day by day for nearly half a century.