Beginner Barbara Bestor Up for Grabs in Echo Park

Though the well-heeled are well-represented in architect Barbara Bestor‘s project portfolio — a sampling of the bold-faced names on her client list includes Beastie Boy Mike D, designer Trina Turk, actor Donald Glover, and director Barry Jenkins — like two of her modernist heroes, R.M. Schindler and Gregory Ain, the Silver Lake-based architect is nevertheless still a firm believer in the notion that good design should not be available only to the rich.

This idealistic outlook, along with the ongoing housing shortage, motivated Bestor to partner up a decade ago with developers on the small-lot subdivision in Echo Park known as Blackbirds. Completed in 2015, the 0.8-acre development is a mini-village of 18 Scandinavian-influenced townhouses organized around a “living street;” i.e., a central landscaped courtyard the function of which can change diurnally and seasonally, from parking to basic recreation to organized community events such as a farmers market or movie screenings.

Fresh to the market is one of Blackbirds’ larger residences, which fits three bedrooms and 2.5 baths within 1,920 square feet. On the home’s entry level is its open-plan living room, dining area and kitchen, which has been appointed with marble countertops and a sizable center island with Bosch cooktop and copious cabinet space. Blonde wood floors and built-in bookcases are found throughout.

The home’s three bedrooms are located on the top floor. All are compact but feature lofty ceilings and sizable windows that keep them flooded with natural light. The townhouse also contains a small office with concrete floors, a laundry room, and a two-car garage with EV charger.

Last sold in 2015 for just under $1 million, it’s now asking $1.475 million. Tracy Do of Coldwell Banker Realty holds the listing.