Excellence / 2011 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal / 2013 Ray Bradbury house A controversy developed in January 2015 after Mayne bought in June 2014 for $1.765 million. The Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles house that noted writer Ray Bradbury had lived in for 50 years. According to Mayne, who did not know when he found that house that it was Bradbury's, the Bradbury family – which has not commented on the situation – had no interest in preserving the house, and Mayne bought it from a foundation. A demolition permit was issued on December 30, and in January 2015 it was reported that the house was being torn down. Materials from Bradbury's home office were donated to the Indiana-based Center for Ray Bradbury studies, which intended to raise money to recreate it as it was in the mid-1960s. When queried, the Morphosis office reported that the house was not being razed, but "deconstructed" so that some of the materials could be recycled – including into 451 sets of bookends – a process which takes more time than simply tearing it down. It was reported at the time that a contractor said that the house Mayne intended to build would have three underground levels, including a swimming pool, and two stories above ground – although Mayne himself said that plans for the house were not finished. "Our house will not be ordinary – our house is going to be a garden", Mayne said, and expects it to be a "prototype that is landscape-neutral and water friendly", an example of a new vision for houses in Los Angeles. Mayne also plans to pay tribute to Bradbury with a wall in which the titles of Bradbury's books are inscribed. Construction on the new house is scheduled to finish 2017. See also Morphosis Architects References Notes Bibliography Ayyuce, Orhan ""Thom Mayne in Coffee Break" - Archinect (July, 2007) Orlandoni, Alessandra ""Interview with Thom Mayne" - The Plan 014 (May 2006) External links Morphosis.com - Official Website Metropolis article on Mayne TED Talks.com: Thom Mayne on architecture as connection" — at 2005 TED (conference). Postmodern architects Pritzker Architecture Prize winners 1944 births Living people Architects from Los Angeles Southern California Institute of Architecture faculty California State Polytechnic University, Pomona faculty Columbia University faculty Educators from Greater Los Angeles Harvard Graduate School of Design alumni USC School of Architecture alumni Architects from Waterbury, Connecticut People