1024 Armada Drive
Pasadena, CA, 91103
$4,599,000
MLS: 26896313
Beds
5
Baths
5
Sq Ft
5,307
Lot
0.32 ac
Year Built
1956
MLS #
26896313
Days on Market
13
Listed
Aug 27, 2026
Description
The Gell-Mann Residence: William E. Blurock Architect. Set gently into the tree-lined edge of the Arroyo Seco, this two-story mid-century modern residence was built in 1956 and designed by California modernist architect William E. Blurock, FAIA, whose career shaped landmark civic and educational buildings across the state and around the world. Believed to be one of only a few private homes he ever designed, this striking mid-century residence is quietly tucked behind mature landscaping within Pasadena's storied, National Register-listed Prospect Historic District.The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home is anchored by an aspirational reverse floor plan that lifts the main gathering spaces to the upper level, where soaring living-room ceilings, a copper-clad fireplace, and a bespoke mid-century light fixture stretching the entire length of the living room wash the interiors in a welcoming, warm light. Custom millwork and walls clad in walnut and maple lend a natural richness to the residence. Walls of glass and a second-story balcony frame sweeping views of the Rose Bowl and surrounding canyons. A dramatic open-plan stairway becomes a sculptural centerpiece for the home, animated by inset colored-glass panels and highlighted by an architectural railing wrapped in wood and cork flooring.Below, the floor plan opens around a serene zen-style garden and an expansive pool, with a private pool house/guest studio completing a resort-like retreat built for modern California living. Flagstone, stucco and a subdued facade let the house belong effortlessly among the district's Craftsman and period-revival landmarks.The home carries a remarkable provenance as the longtime residence of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Murray Gell-Mann, who lived here during his most creative years at Caltech. The scientist who named the "quark" and reorganized our understanding of the building blocks of matter found his home in a house designed, quite literally, to lift its inhabitants toward the light and the view.More than a home, this is a rare convergence of California modernism, landscape, craftsmanship and intellectual history. Square footage was measured by PlantLab LA: House only-6006, Garage-454, Studio-153. Buyers to verify all permitted and possibly unpermitted spaces. The residence is ready to write its next chapter.
Location
Pasadena, Los Angeles County, CA 91103
Open on Google Maps ↗Listed by: JB An Fung · Compass
Listing information is provided courtesy of the Greater Antelope Valley Association of Realtors (GAVAR) and California Regional MLS (CRMLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed accurate by the MLS or by Mike Watson. All data, including square footage, lot size, room count, permits, and school assignment, should be independently verified. Properties shown may be listed by brokerages other than Keller Williams Realty. Listings are subject to prior sale, change, or withdrawal without notice.
Payment estimate
$33,551
/ month (est.)
Principal, interest, taxes, and insurance + PMI. Down payment: $459,900 · Loan: $4,139,100
Average 30-yr fixed rate 6.71% as of Sep 3, 2026 (Freddie Mac PMMS). Adjust to your quote.
- Principal & Interest
- $26,736
- Property tax (1.25%)
- $4,791
- Homeowners insurance
- $300
- Mortgage insurance
- $1,725
Login required. The full tool supports FHA / VA / USDA, PMI by credit tier, lender fees, and total cash to close — with your inputs here carried over.
Today's Rates
As of Sep 3, 2026
- 30-year fixed
- 6.71%
- 15-year fixed
- 6.04%
Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS). Updated weekly.
About the area · Mike Watson
About the Antelope Valley
The Antelope Valley spans Lancaster, Palmdale, Quartz Hill, Rosamond, Lake Los Angeles, California City, Edwards AFB, and the Plant 42 aerospace corridor. Mike Watson is a lifelong AV resident and the #1 producing individual Realtor in the region by transaction count. Every active listing on this site is paired with a free market analysis tailored to the specific street, honest financing guidance (FHA, VA, USDA, CalHFA, conventional, and assumable loans where the financing supports it), and side-by-side comparisons against the rest of the active inventory in your target ZIP.
Financing Options
FHA Financing — 3.5% Down＋
First-time and repeat buyers can purchase this Pasadena home with as little as 3.5% down using an FHA loan — roughly $160,965 down. FHA loans feature flexible credit guidelines and government-backed rates, making homeownership accessible for buyers who haven't saved a large down payment. Seller concessions up to 6% of the purchase price are also allowed.
Local Market Stats
See Pasadena, CA 91103 market trends →
Median sold price, days on market, active inventory, price brackets, and 12-month trends — pulled live from the MLS.
★#1 Producing Individual Realtor — Antelope Valley
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