Beastie Boys’ Ad-Rock Raps Into Pasadena Midcentury Modern

This quintessential midcentury modern house sits in one of Pasadena’s best neighborhood pockets, behind gates on a quiet side street. Designed by local architect Robert E. Bennett — a son of J. Cyril Bennett, architect of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium — it was built in 1960 as Bennett’s own personal home, and remained in the family for over 60 years. Earlier this month, the low-slung structure was sold for the very first time ever to Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, best known as a member of iconic, pioneering hip-hop group Beastie Boys.

Because the house was never on the market, recent photos aren’t available. But tax records show Horovitz, 54, paid exactly $3.5 million for the roughly 3,500-square-foot structure, and dated photos from previous rental listings provide a glimpse inside.

The older photos show the house received some rather unfortunate cosmetic upgrades over the past six decades, including a rather ’90s kitchen and some decidedly un-midcentury decor. But the home’s pristine bones always remained intact, with its very livable indoor/outdoor floorplan, and many other midcentury hallmarks remain — terrazzo and polished concrete floors, walls paneled in lustrous hardwood, and even a “hidden” bar in the living room.