David and Mary Gamble were free to...

David and Mary Gamble were free to spend many a Sunday afternoon resting as the summer breezes flowed through their carefully designed Pasadena home, which is recognized as one of the finest examples of the American Arts and Crafts Movement.

The turn-of-the-century movement marked a break from elaborately ornamented Victorian style as Arts and Crafts designers tried to find the truthful essence of designs.

The elegant simplicity of the Gamble House can be enjoyed today during an unpretentious 25th anniversary celebration marking the date the house was given to the city of Pasadena.

For $1, guests can stroll through the spacious second-floor hallway, admire the specially crafted furniture and gaze at the view from the third-story meeting room. Afterward, they can enjoy refreshments while sitting near the fish pond.

The house was given to the city in 1966 by the Gamble heirs in a joint agreement with USC, which administers the house.

Architects Charles and Henry Greene used exotic hardwoods and stained glass for its progressive design, which includes an open-floor plan and an ingenious system of natural cross-ventilation.

The house was built in 1908, during a time when most designers were still putting lion’s feet on chairs.

“This deals with human emotions,” Director Randell Makinson said. “This is to live in spaces that enrich your life every day, such as when the sun comes in the right rooms at the various times of day.”

Open touring of the house will run from noon to 3 p.m. The house is located at 4 Westmoreland Place. Visitors are asked to wear flat shoes with broad heels. For more information, call (818) 793-3334.