Sunday, March 1, 2009

The First Modern Residence?

Vienna-born architect Rudolph M. Schindler (1887-1953) built this concrete, wood, and glass house on Kings Road in West Hollywood in 1922. The Kings Road Schindler House is widely considered to be one of the most influential buildings in Los Angeles because Schindler included elements such as an open floor plan, outdoor patios, sliding doors, and a minimalist aesthetic that were radical at the time but would later become ubiquitous in California residential architecture.
The vine-covered structures on top of the one-story house are outdoor "sleeping baskets."

The Schindler House was designed with private units for two families and a shared common space in the central area of the residence. After completing the house, Schindler and his wife lived in one of the units and Schindler stayed in the house until his death in 1953. Richard Neutra, L.A.'s other Vienna-born modern architect, and his wife lived in the other unit from 1925-1930. The Schindler House is open for public tours and often hosts art exhibitions and events. Here are some views of the interior:

The neo-modern Habitat 825 condominium by Irish-born, Los Angeles based architect Lorcan O'Herlihy is located next door to the Schindler House:



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