Michael Govan, the visionary director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and his wife Katherine Ross, a prominent communications adviser, have found their perfect home in a stunning 1958 architectural marvel designed by renowned mid-century California architect Ray Kappe. The couple's new residence sits dramatically perched on a hillside in the Baldwin Hills section of Los Angeles, offering breathtaking panoramic views that stretch from the Getty Center to the iconic Hollywood sign and the soon-to-open Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
The couple, who have been central figures in LA's cultural scene for two decades, spent five years transforming this architectural gem into their dream home. Govan discovered the property while scrolling through Zillow during a flight back from Mexico, and both he and Ross knew instantly it was meant to be theirs when they first visited at sunset, arriving straight from the airport. The one-story, one-bedroom home exemplifies their philosophy of "small house, big view," which they've maintained across all their residences, including properties in Amagansett overlooking the dunes and a mobile home in Malibu's Point Dume area with ocean and mountain vistas.
The restoration process proved to be an extraordinary challenge that nearly derailed the project entirely. Before any renovations could begin, the couple faced the daunting task of preventing the house from sliding down the unstable hillside. Oil and gas mining in the 1920s had left the terrain so compromised that initial estimates for repairing the hillside exceeded one million dollars, leading many to advise them to abandon the project. However, working with a soil engineer from the LACMA building project, they discovered a more cost-effective solution involving replacing the contaminated earth. The mountain-moving project took nearly two years to complete but ultimately proved successful.
The home's most striking feature is undoubtedly the extraordinary floor designed by renowned artist Jorge Pardo, whom Govan had previously collaborated with during his tenure as director of the Dia Art Foundation. The floor consists of an astounding 237,000 individual tiles, each one a different size and shape, creating a 1,900-square-foot canvas in colors ranging from pale to dark blue with touches of green and orange-red. Ross describes the experience of walking on it as feeling "happiness and color and uplifting joy," calling it "a floor of endless possibilities." Pardo himself describes his creation as being "like the city, sort of bubbling with energy," perfectly reflecting the complexity of Los Angeles visible through the home's floor-to-ceiling windows.
Architectural expert Barbara Bestor, who had known Kappe personally, managed the restoration and interior design process, while Ana Saavedra from Planted LA handled the landscape design. The couple was particularly drawn to this property because, unlike many of Kappe's works, the interior hadn't been designed by the architect himself - the original owners had done it themselves to save money, leaving what Govan describes as "a shell, like a canvas." The result is a space that feels like "a big New York City loft but with a garden and a carport." The garden design seamlessly flows in and out of the house, creating what Saavedra calls "a finely curated architectural plant collection" that celebrates silhouettes, textures, plant character, and color while maintaining intimate scale and openness to the grand city views.
Both Govan and Ross have established themselves as major cultural influencers in Los Angeles. Ross, who spent 16 years at Sotheby's, currently serves as a communications adviser on art and culture for Prada and Miu Miu, consults for the South Korean skincare line Poiret in its U.S. launch, and sits on the board of governors at Otis College of Art and Design. She has worked closely with Govan on every aspect of LACMA's new building and chairs two of the museum's leadership committees, handling events, development, and cultivating high-level memberships. The couple, married for 22 years, are known for their active social life, constantly entertaining or traveling - he in his two-seater airplane or tiny Mazda convertible, she in her Audi S5 convertible. Together, they have raised two daughters: Gabrielle, 20, and Ariana, 30 (Govan's daughter from his first marriage).
The timing of their move coincides with a pivotal moment in Govan's career, as LACMA's dramatic and highly controversial new building by Pritzker Prize-winning Swiss architect Peter Zumthor - his first U.S. commission - is set to open in April. The museum, just a 15-minute drive from their new home, will even be visible from their bedroom window. Among the first installations will be a 27-foot-long work by their neighbor, artist Todd Gray, created specifically for the south entrance. In a gesture that perfectly captures LA's artistic community spirit, Govan and Ross borrowed artwork from Gray the day before moving in, with Govan noting, "In most neighborhoods you might borrow a cup of milk if you're just moving in - but in Los Angeles, you can be sure there's an artist who might have an artwork to lend."
The house represents more than just a new residence for the couple - it symbolizes their deep commitment to Los Angeles and its cultural future. "This will be our last house," Govan declares, calling it "a turning point." With Ariana now working as a sales assistant at Hauser & Wirth in Los Angeles and Gabrielle in her junior year at Otis, the family has firmly planted roots in the city. Govan sees Los Angeles as uniquely positioned for cultural innovation, explaining, "We're a much younger metropolis than New York. Our institutions are still very young and developing. Most big encyclopedic art museums are products of the 19th century, and they need an update. Los Angeles is a good place to try something new."
The couple's first dinner in their new home was a fitting celebration of both continuity and change, hosting friends artist Tacita Dean and writer Evgenia Citkowitz for takeout from Goop Kitchen - the same meal they had shared when the trio first visited the house before construction began. As Ross reflected on the milestone, "A lot has changed, some things have remained the same. Next time, hopefully, there will be running water." The comment highlights the couple's sense of humor about moving into a house that, despite its artistic magnificence and years of renovation, still lacks some basic amenities like running water and kitchen appliances, having spent the previous night hanging art and arranging furniture that had just arrived that afternoon, including a digital baby grand player piano they both plan to learn to play.
