The Controversy Surrounding Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger's Decision to Demolish a Historic L.A. Home
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger are under fire for their choice to demolish a historic residence in Los Angeles, sparking a wave of criticism and debate.
Why Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Are Being Criticized for Demolishing Historic LA Home
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Cleobella x Katherine Schwarzenegger
Fans are not happy about Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger tearing down their historic Los Angeles home. Last year, the couple bought the Zimmerman house in Brentwood for $12.5 million. They wanted to be near Schwarzenegger's mom, Maria Shriver, who lives nearby.
The home, originally designed in 1953, is famous for its modernist design, as reported by the Robb Report. The previous owners of the house were Sam and Hilda Rolfe, known for creating The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and the series Have Gun - Will Travel in the 1960s.
After buying the property, the couple started tearing down the old house to make way for a new one, to be designed by Ken Ungar, according to the Robb Report.
Several architecture enthusiasts and preservationists were disappointed to hear about the demolition of the Zimmerman House.
DC Hillier expressed his sadness and frustration in an Instagram post on Saturday, April 20, stating, "I was saddened (and frankly angered) to hear about the demolition of the Zimmerman House."
Many people in the comments section agreed with his statement and also criticized Pratt and Schwarzenegger. One user expressed, "Money can't buy taste, a prime example. Very sad indeed." Another user directly addressed Pratt, suggesting, "Why not build a new mega mansion in the Palisades and leave the historic MCMs for those who appreciate architecture?"
In January 2023, there were concerns raised about the demolition of a house before it became widely known.
The Los Angeles Conservancy highlighted the Zimmerman house in an Instagram post, mentioning that it was designed by Emiel Becksy and was a significant example of Modernist design. The one-story residence, spanning nearly 3,000 sq. ft., was created within architect Craig Ellwood's office. Despite being identified as potentially historic by the City's SurveyLA program, the house currently lacks any protective measures in place.
Pratt and Schwarzenegger have not responded to the criticism. They got married in June 2019 and have daughters Lyla, 3, and Eloise, 23 months. In February 2019, the couple gained attention for moving into a new house and sharing their funny moving experiences on social media. Pratt also has a son, Jack, 11, with his ex-wife Anna Faris.
Pratt shared on Instagram a funny moment when they needed to measure their new place but couldn't find a tape measure. Schwarzenegger was pictured stretching out her arms and lying on the hardwood floors to estimate the room sizes.
