Avenel Cooperative Housing Project
historic place
The Avenel Cooperative Housing Project, in Los Angeles's Silver Lake neighborhood, is a significant historic place. Built in 1947, this ten-unit complex was designed by master architect Gregory Ain. Originally called Avenel Homes, it was an experimental, post-World War II communal housing project. Ten families pooled resources for affordable, modern, and cooperatively owned homes. Ain's design, in the International architectural style, featured innovative sliding walls to transform living spaces, maximizing their 1,000-square-foot size. This reflected Ain's belief in accessible, quality design. The Avenel Cooperative Housing Project is an important early example of a housing cooperative in Los Angeles. It showcases Gregory Ain's notable work and his vision for modern architecture to address housing needs. The project was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and became a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2021. Its innovative design and cooperative model mark a distinct contribution to the city's architectural and social history.