Behold the Egasse-Braasch House. This isn’t just another pretty building. It’s a portal to a whimsical past and a testament to creative collaboration. It is also known as the Good Will Hunting House.
The Egasse-Braasch House stands as a protected historic-cultural monument. The City of Los Angeles protects it. The reason is not the Good Will Hunting connection. Its fanciful architecture earned it the distinction.
Picture this house in 1923. French architect Jean-Louis Egasse collaborated with owners Albert and Constance Braasch. Together, they built this storybook-style house in Eagle Rock California. The trio drew inspiration from French and Nordic architectural traditions. Their imaginations ran wild.
Consider the eccentric flourishes they added. There is an 11-foot-tall stained glass window. The house includes tons of rough-carved woodwork. A Norman village outdoor balcony exists. A wall-ceiling-wall relief mural features seagulls. Built-in floral wall sconces also feature. Viking ships and odd asymmetrical entrance arches complete the picture.
Albert and Constance Braasch moved to Eagle Rock in 1914. They had lost their San Francisco furnace and radiator business. The loss occurred either in the 1906 earthquake or a 1909 fire. The family acquired land with an 1800s farmhouse in the late 1910s or early 1920s. They hired Jean-Louis Egasse to design their new home. It was his first independent project.
Constance Braasch was a talented artist and piano teacher. She hosted piano concerts even before the house was finished. This tradition continued into the 1950s. Constance added murals floral wall patterns and stained glass windows. She also added detailed wood carvings. The Braasch spouses lived there until 1978.
Now fast forward to 1993. Two aspiring screenwriters moved in. They were Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. They famously penned their breakthrough Good Will Hunting screenplay here. Affleck knew the area. He had studied at nearby Occidental College.
The singular home was sold in 1979. It began being rented out to aspiring actors and screenwriters.
Today the Egasse-Braasch House is a private residence. It also serves as a popular TV and film location. The pop-horror film Ouija House was filmed here. The house received title billing.
In 2013 the City of Los Angeles gave it historic-cultural monument status. They claimed the status had nothing to do with the Good Will Hunting connection.
Take a good look. You can see much of the exterior from the street. Remember this is a private residence. The owners might give you a quick tour if they are home and you ask nicely.
The Egasse-Braasch House stands as a testament to imagination collaboration and the enduring allure of a well-told story. The house is both bizarre and exquisite. It’s a surreal fairytale abode. It embodies a unique blend of architectural styles. It is a place where Hollywood history was written. It is a landmark worth cherishing.