Lovell Beach House, Los Angeles California

Rudolf Michael Schindler (1887–1953) was an Austrian-American architect who worked in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. He is often associated with the fringes of the modern movement in architecture, but although he worked and trained with some of its foremost practitioners, his inventive use of complex three dimensional forms, warm materials, striking colours, and tight budgets have placed him as one of the true mavericks of 20th century architecture. His work mostly escaped widespread publication during his lifetime, but has developed a critical resurgence since the 1980s. Image File history File links Lovell_beach_house. ... Image File history File links Lovell_beach_house. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... This article is about the largest city in California. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Modern architecture is a broad term given to a number of building styles with similar characteristics, primarily the simplification of form and the elimination of ornament, that first arose around 1900. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... The Parthenon on top of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece Architecture (from Latin, architectura and ultimately from Greek, αρχιτεκτων, a master builder, from αρχι- chief, leader and τεκτων, builder, carpenter) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... Sterner hade fel! Elin har rätt som vanligt ...

Early history

Rudolf Michael Schindler was born on September 10, 1887, to a middle class family in Vienna, Austria. His father was a wood/metal craftsman and importer; his mother was a dressmaker. He attended the Imperial and Royal High School from 1899 to 1906, and enrolled in the Wagnersschule of Vienna Polytechnic University, graduating in 1911 with a degree in architecture. Schindler was most impressed by professor Carl König, despite the presence of many other famous notables like Otto Wagner, and particularly Adolf Loos. Most notably, in 1911, he was introduced to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright through the influential Wasmuth Portfolio. September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... Vienna (German: Wien [viːn]; Slovenian: Dunaj, Croatian and Serbian: Beč Romanian: Viena, Hungarian: Bécs, Czech: Vídeň, Slovak: Viedeň, Romany Vidnya;) Vienna is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... Otto Wagner Otto Koloman Wagner (13 July 1841–11 April 1918) was an Austrian architect. ... Adolf Loos (December 10, 1870 in Brno, Moravia–August 8, 1933 in Vienna, Austria) was an early-20th century Viennese modernist architect who is associated with the International Style. ... Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was one of the most prominent and influential architects of the first half of the 20th century. ... The Wasmuth portfolio (named after the German publisher), was one of Frank Lloyd Wrights first published works. ...

Schindler also met lifelong friend and rival Richard Neutra at the university in 1912, before completing his thesis project in 1913. (Their careers would parallel each other: both would come to Los Angeles through Chicago, be recognized as important early modernists creating new styles suited to the Californian climate, and sometimes both would work for the same clients). Kaufman House, Palm Springs, California. ...

In Vienna, Schindler acquired experience in the firm of Hans Mayr and Theodore Mayer, working there from September 1911 to February 1914. Schindler then moved to Chicago to work in the firm of Ottenheimer, Stern, and Reichert (OSR), accepting a paycut to be in the progressive American city, home of Frank Lloyd Wright. He found New York, which he visited along the way, crowded, unattractive, and commercial. Chicago was more redeemable, however, with less congestion, and access to the architectural work of Henry Hobson Richardson, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was one of the most prominent and influential architects of the first half of the 20th century. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... Henry Hobson Richardson, portrait by Sir Hubert von Herkomer Trinity Church in Boston is one of Richardsons most famous works. ... Louis Sullivan Louis Henry (Henri) Sullivan (September 3, 1856–April 14, 1924) was an American architect, called the father of modernism. He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, and was a mentor to Frank Lloyd... Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was one of the most prominent and influential architects of the first half of the 20th century. ...

Schindler's Early Career, and Frank Lloyd Wright

Schindler continued to attempt contact with Wright, writing letters despite his clumsy English, and finally met him for the first time on December 30, 1914. Wright had little work at this stage, was still plagued by the destruction of Taliesin and the murder of his mistress earlier that year, and did not offer Schindler a job. Schindler continued work at OSR, keeping himself occupied with trips and study, notably familiarizing himself with the early tilt up slab work of Irving Gill. Wright was able to hire Schindler when Wright obtained the commission for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, a major project that would keep the architect in Japan for several years. December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... For the studio established by Frank Lloyd Wright, see Taliesin (studio) Taliesin or Taliessin (c. ... Irving Gill (1870 - 1936) was born in Tully (near Syracuse), New York, USA. He trained as an architect and went on to become well known for architecture in Southern California. ... Facade and pool of Imperial Hotel in the Museum Meiji-Mura Imperial Hotel, Ltd. ... Headquarters of Tokyo Metropolitan Government View of Tokyos Shibuya district Tokyo ) (help· info), literally eastern capital, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and includes the highly urbanized downtown area formerly known as the city of Tokyo which is the heart of the Greater Tokyo Area. ...

Schindler's role was to continue Wright's American operations in his absence, working out of Wright's Oak Park studio. Schindler met and married his wife Pauline Gibling (1893-1977) in 1919, and in 1920 Wright summoned him to Los Angeles to work on the Barnsdall House. Wrights home in Oak Park, Illinois Oak Park is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

Schindler had already taken on several private commissions while in Los Angeles, but notably completed what many think is his finest building, his Kings Road House (also known as the Schindler house, or Schindler-Chace house), as an office/house for two men and two women by late spring 1922. And had started to take on several projects of his own. The Kings Road House, also known as Schindler Chase house: Schindler had long been fascinated by the construction method of tilt up concrete slabs, having done extensive research on them in his early days working for OSR. He was now intent on using this method for the new home he...

During this time, fractures started to appear in the Schindler-Wright relationship. Schindler complained, with some validity, of being underpaid and exploited.

Schindler claimed he was being excessively underpaid, and was, as well as his architectural affairs, running Lloyd Wrights businesses, such as the rental of the Oak Park houses. Of the houses Wright built in this period, the Hollyhock House was undoubtedly the most significant, which Schindler did most of the drawings for, and oversaw the construction of, while Frank Lloyd Wright was still in Japan. The client, Aline Barnsdall, subsequently became a client of Schindler himself, designing a number of small projects for her on Olive Hill, and a spectacular beachside 'translucent house' in 1927, which remains one of the great unbuilt projects of the 20th century. the Hollyhock House The Aline Barnsdall Hollyhock House is a building in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, which was originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as a residence for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall, built in 1917. ...

As Schindler was applying for a Los Angeles architects licence in 1929, he mentioned his extensive work on the architectural and structural plans of the Imperial Hotel. Wright, however, refused to validate these claims. Eventually, disputes over whose work was whose spiralled, until Schindler released a flyer for a series of talks with Neutra, advertising himself as "in charge of the architectural office of Frank Lloyd Wright for two years during his absence". Wright refuted this claim, and the two split in 1931, and never reconciled until 1953, less than a year before Schindler's death.

Solo work

Schindler's early buildings are usually characterised by concrete construction. The Kings Road House, Pueblo Ribera Court, Lovell Beach House, Wolfe House and How house are the most frequently identified projects. The Kings Road house was to work as a studio and home for Schindler, his wife, and friends Clyde and Marian DaCamara Chace. The floorplan worked itself around several L shapes, and the construction features included tilt up concrete panels cast on site, which contrasted with the more 'open' walls of redwood and glass. It has largely become the symbol of Schindler's architecture.

In a search to create more inexpensive architecture, Schindler abandoned concrete, and turned to the plaster-skin design. This type of construction characteristic of his work throughout the 1930s and 40s, but his interest in form, and space never changed. He developed his own platform frame system, the Schindler Frame in 1945. His later work uses this extensively as a basis for experimentation.

Recognition

Schindler's early work, such as the Kings Road House, and Lovell Beach House went largely unnoticed in the wider architectural world. As early and radical as they were for modernism, they may have been too different for people to recognise, and Los Angeles was only a minor speck on the architectural map. Schindler was not included in the hugely influential International Style exhibit of 1932, while Neutra was. To add insult to injury, Neutra was incorrectly credited as the Austrian who worked on the Imperial Hotel with Wright. His first real major exposure came in Esther McCoy's 'Five California Architects' of 1960. His work is undergoing somewhat of a modern revaluation, for its inventiveness, character, and formal qualities, which are bringing it to a new generation of younger architects. The Kings Road House, also known as Schindler Chase house: Schindler had long been fascinated by the construction method of tilt up concrete slabs, having done extensive research on them in his early days working for OSR. He was now intent on using this method for the new home he... International style can refer to International style in ballroom dancing - see ballroom dance; International style in architecture - see international style. ...

Quotes

"Can't you give me two lines, just two lines of recommendations without any hints at 'what a great man the boss is' and what poor fishes they are in comparison" - Schindler to Wright, while attempting to apply for his architects licence.

"He has built quite a number of buildings in and around Los Angeles that seem to be admirable from the standpoint of design, and I have not heard of any of them falling down". - Wright

"He has a good mind, is affectionate in disposition, and is fairly honorable I believe. Personally, though strongly individual, he is not unduly eccentric and I, in common with many others, like him very much" - Wright

"Personally, I appreciate Rudolph. He is an incorrigible Bohemian and refuses to allow the Los Angeles barber to apply the razor to the scruff of his neck. He also has peculiarly simple and effective ideas regarding his own personal conduct. I believe, however, that he is capable as an artist. I have found him a too complacent and therefore a rotten superintendent. The buildings that he has recently built in Los Angeles are well designed, but badly executed. I suspect him of trying to give his clients too much for their money. I should say that was his extreme fault in these circumstances of endeavoring to build buildings" - Wright

"Rudolph was a patient assistant who seemed well aware of the significance of what I was then doing. His sympathetic appreciation never failed. His talents were adequate to any demands made upon them by me" - Wright at Schindlers Memorial Exhibition of 1954.

External link

• Rudolf Michael Schindler at the aeiou Encyclopedia