Famous Architects in California, Who is your favorite?

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GraceOMalley_IHB

GraceOMalley_IHB

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I have 2. The first one is Paul Williams. He is responsible for the "California Regency Style" he did the Jetson's type structure at LAX and is responsible for a renovation at the Beverly Hills Hotel as well as countless celebrities homes.



Because his name is innocuous, it was assumed that he was white. During this period, (from the 20s to the 60's primarily) Architects would sit next to their clients and draw the the client was happy. Because of segregation his clients wouldn't sit next to him. So he learned to draw upside down and he signed his drawings "I am a negro"



BK and I met his granddaughters a few years ago and I really think he was an architect that never got enough attention or respect. He was amazing and really understood the idea of casual elegance.



My second favorite is actually a landscape architect named Frederick Law Olmsted. He was responsible for Central Park, Golden Gate Park, The roads into Yosemite, all of the landscaping for the Chicago Worlds fair in 1893. He was opinionated, grumpy and brilliant. And if you get the opportunity take the time to learn something about him, he had vision that I still don't think we understand or appreciate. He had the ability to see his projects with mature landscaping 30 years before anyone else could.
 
Pierre Koenig vs Green & Green .....and this house in particular

<a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/1473/">Case Study House #22 - Stahl House</a>



<img src="http://www.wirtzgallery.com/exhibitions/2003/2003_06/shulman/images/js03.jpg" alt="" />



and this other little shack.



<img src="http://www.gamblehouse.org/_img/home/The-Gamble-House-Pasadena.jpg" alt="" />
 
Glass House - Philip Johnson

<img src="http://philipjohnsonglasshouse.org/global/images/glasshouse/gallery/gallery_107001.jpg" alt="" />



Kaufmann House - Richard Neutra <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/2562/">IHB link</a>



<img src="http://www.portfolio.com/images/site/editorial/magazine/2008/05/neutra-pool-large.jpg" alt="" />



Sigh....too many to choose from. Palmer & Krisel, too.



<img src="http://www.movemodern.com/mm/components/com_ezrealty/ezrealty/2723wkings33_fc60cc004a866e303ae5d4dfd26c8a0e.jpg" alt="" />
 
The planners at TIC followed some of the Olmstead's planning principles thus most of the villages have the feeling "I have arrived". Planners for Villages of Columbus did not have the academic discipline so the feeling "when can I leave" is obvious.
 
Troop,



I love modern homes too but these homes were not designed for families. Thet are cold sterile and un-inviting. They are beautiful to look at but uncomfortable to live in. Owners of these homes have no children or have adult children. I do not see individuals with family (children) focus living in these home. Lifestyle partners like these homes.



I see that you also like Greene and Greene's craftsman. That is perfect for families. Its warm and inviting.



You can choose either one pending the outcome of prop 8?



You with good taste in architecture I can't imagine you buying in a master planned community.
 
<em>About the glass house.. I don?t think people who live in there has any plan to make any child. </em>



It's surrounded by 47 acres, so no worries about privacy ! (if that's what you were talking about).



bk, you are correct. It was built for, and resided in, by a childless gay man. Now that shouldn't be a shock to anyone.



Tickets just went on sale for 2009 if anyone is planning a trip to the New England area next year.





<a href="http://philipjohnsonglasshouse.org/">Philip Johnson Glass House</a>
 
Gustav Stickley and of course Frank Llyod Wright.



I love craftsman homes and especially love bungalow type structures.

The other set of homes I absolutely love are pueblo/adobe homes. So simple and sublime, yet warm and inviting.

Anyways thank you!

-bix
 
[quote author="Astute Observer" date=1223610431]About the glass house.. I don't think people who live in there has any plan to make any child.</blockquote>


Philip Johnson's glass house was built in the late 40's. in New Canaan Connectticut on a 47 acre site where neighbors were too far away to see anything. Johnson passed away in his 90's and He was gay and often held orgy parties in this glass home. He never made any child of course.



Oops!! I did not read Troop's post and she beat me to it.



Johnson was hired by Robert Schuler in 1979 to design the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove adjacent to the drive-in church designed by Neutra. Meier completed the last building a few years ago.



<img src="http://en.structurae.de/files/photos/2529/crystal_cathedral/crystal_cathedral_01.jpg" alt="" />

Johnson's Crystal Cathedral 1982



<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1288/536729620_3af43794c2.jpg?v=0" alt="" />

Meier's Cathedral museum



<img src="http://www.you-are-here.com/modern/tower.jpg" alt="" />

Tower by Neutra 1955
 
[quote author="biscuitninja" date=1223619704]Gustav Stickley and of course Frank Llyod Wright.



I love craftsman homes and especially love bungalow type structures.

The other set of homes I absolutely love are pueblo/adobe homes. So simple and sublime, yet warm and inviting.

Anyways thank you!

-bix</blockquote>


I think biscuit, Troop and I share similar taste in architecture we should form a group BK-BisTro
 
My fav, are Greene and Greene. Having done woodworking for nearly 20 years, I appreciate the detailing that was all done by hand back then..
 
[quote author="Bubblegum" date=1223628590]My fav, are Greene and Greene. Having done woodworking for nearly 20 years, I appreciate the detailing that was all done by hand back then..</blockquote>


No nails, screws, and metal fasteners. Just old fashion pegs, mortise and tenon joinery.
 
[quote author="biscuitninja" date=1223619704]Gustav Stickley and of course Frank Llyod Wright.



I love craftsman homes and especially love bungalow type structures.

The other set of homes I absolutely love are pueblo/adobe homes. So simple and sublime, yet warm and inviting.

Anyways thank you!

-bix</blockquote>


Pasadena is about to have their annual Craftsman weekend if you want to get tickets. Its pretty incredible...
 
I like Richard Neutra's designs a lot. Too bad they don't exist in OC. We have a serious shortage of creative architects here in OC. So, the one I really like is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Eichler">Eichler</a>.



http://totheweb.com/eichler/e_house/images/rear_night_2008_toerge.jpg



Heh, it looks like the Realtor sponsored site <a href="http://www.eichlersocal.com/">eichlersocal.com</a> hasn't paid their bill, or something. It's okay, there are none for sale that I can tell at the moment. Unless of course some person is mainlining the Kool-Aid and wants more than a mil for one in OC.



Anyway, there is just something about the large windows and the atriums that I love. I know, I know... the radiant heating system is a PITA at this stage of a home's life, but who needs a heater here in SoCal? I just wish the locations were better. The tract off of Meats behind the Orange Mall is not the best area. The other Orange location is better, but the style of homes are not some of Eichler's finest, and many moron owners have let them go to sh*t. The Santa Ana/Tustin location is probably the best, but again many people have let them go to sh*t. Some have been beautifully remodeled, but some have been destroyed by owners who get contractors who wouldn't know the difference between an Eichler and a Klondike bar.



I can't remember where I posted about the Eichlers before, but I will search for it and edit this post later if I find it.



Edit: <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/753/">Here is the thread</a> where I took some shots of the Eichlers around here. I should go back with a real camera and do another post, or update that one.
 
robert hidey FTW!



<img src="http://www.laingluxury.com/img/sublevel_lucia/ren3B_lg.jpg" alt="" />



<em>"dont hate me because i'm beautiful..."</em>
 
I love glass houses... but boy I can't imagine what your thermal issues might be... from yes... it has really good thermal loading to yes.. it has really good thermal loading...



-bix



p.s. i'll have to checkout that home show in Pasadena (sp?).



-bix
 
Bix, you'll like this link then.... <a href="http://www.bungalowheaven.org/">Bungalow Heaven</a>



I wanted to buy a Craftsman there about 6 years ago...but the selection for sale was awful. I ended up buying a Tudor in the San Raphael Hills, which is nice too. Bungalow Heaven sponsors tours every spring...you get to see 20 of the neighborhood houses. It's a really fun walking tour and you get to meet bungalow enthusiasts from all over CA. Highly recommended.



bk, I have had the pleasure of watching a Craftsman masterpiece being brought back to life for the past 2 years. That's how I know Randall Mackinson of Gamble House fame.



<a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/home/la-hm-greene10mar10,1,667166.story?page=2&coll=la-home-printedition">Randall Mackinson</a> Most credit Randall with bringing the Craftsman movement back to life....but he did fall on some controversy as this article mentions. He's the best though....and the foremost expert on Greene & Greene.



I work a side job and my other boss owns one of the Borax Mansions in the Hollywood Hills. When the Blacker House got denuded, he obtained many of the light fixtures...and hung them in the Borax mansion. Can I just say.....they are beautiful. Some are one of a kind and priceless. My boss is a huge fan and treats these things with kid gloves...and recognizes that they are a part of history.



If the timing is right, I can take you on a tour. The boss hired only the finest craftmen from all over the world....mortise and tenon guys from England, plaster guys from Italy. It was an international smorgasboard in there for awhile. Even the guy who HAND made the shingles was flown in from Ireland to do the job.



You would swoon if you saw the end product
 
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