John Preston House

• Designed by: William B. Wiener Sr.
• Design year: 1935
• Original location: 222 Jordan Street

In 1935, William B. Wiener Sr. designed a small single-story house in the South Highlands neighborhood for automotive repair shop owner John S. “Johnnie” Preston and his wife, Gladys “Gag” Preston. John and Gladys were of modest means so William B. Wiener made construction decisions with that in mind. For instance, steel casement sashes were used only on the front of the house facing Jordan and much less expensive wood sashes at the remainder of the perimeter. Horizontal wood siding was used instead of cement plaster and the siding was attached directly to the studs without the benefit of sheathing or a moisture barrier. As originally designed, the house had only 942 SF of enclosed usable space and a 164 SF screened sitting porch. It appears that William B. Wiener was probably involved with the enclosure of the sitting porch in the late 1940s, based on the detailing of the steel casement sashes.

Los Angeles architect and Wiener scholar Christopher Coe purchased the Preston house in 2011 and relocated it to College Street in early 2018 where it was extensively modified and expanded for use as his personal residence.