Literary History in Pacific Palisades: A Tour of the Thomas Mann House

Join the L.A. Forum for an exclusive glimpse into one of Los Angeles's most significant architectural and literary landmarks. Spared in the Pacific Palisades fire, the Thomas Mann House stands as a remarkable testament to Los Angeles's role as a haven for European intellectuals during World War II. This beautifully preserved California Modernist villa, designed by architect Julius Ralph Davidson in 1941, served as home to Nobel Prize-winning author Thomas Mann and his family from 1942 to 1952.

The house where many of Mann’s masterpieces were written nearly faced demolition in 2016, until an international coalition of writers, politicians, and cultural advocates successfully campaigned for its preservation.

Today, the property is owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, which lovingly restored and reopened it in 2018 as both a residence for international fellows and a hub for transatlantic intellectual exchange.

Tour Details

September 20, 2025

11 am

Address will be shared with ticket holders

Join us for a brief talk with Benno Herz, Program Director at the Thomas Mann House, and Lilian Pfaff, architectural historian and author of J.R. Davidson - A European Contribution to California Modernism. Following the talk, guests will be led on a tour throughout the historic home. This L.A. Forum tour offers a rare opportunity to explore a piece of Los Angeles's rich cultural history that few visitors ever see.

Due to the house's location in a residential area and its active use as a residence, public access is extremely limited. Rideshare is encouraged.

Space is limited for this special tour. RSVP today to secure your spot.

Our speakers

Benno Herz

Benno Herz is the Program Director at the Thomas Mann House Los Angeles, a residency program and space for transatlantic debate in the former exile home of German Nobel-laureate Thomas Mann in Pacific Palisades, California. Prior to this, he worked in the online communication division at the Städel Museum Frankfurt, Germany, before joining the Thomas Mann House in 2019. He studied Theater, Film and Media Studies at the Goethe University Frankfurt and completed his M.A. with a focus on media aesthetics and interface theory. Since 2009, he has been creatively engaged in several music and film projects as a writer and instrumentalist.

Lilian Pfaff

Dr. Lilian Pfaff is an architectural historian and critic based in Los Angeles. She is also the Co-Founder of Modern California House, a real estate company specializing in architecturally significant houses. Her book about J.R. Davidson - A European Contribution to California Modernism was published in connection with an exhibition at UC Santa Barbara in 2019. Her writing has been published extensively in numerous magazine and newspaper articles, catalogs, and books on architecture.

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LITERARY HISTORY IN THE PACIFIC PALISADES

TOUR OF THE THOMAS MANN HOUSE WITH BENNO HERZ & LILIAN PFAFF