Posts in architect's corner
The Future of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

This gorgeous building, which was home to the Academy Awards from 1961-1968 and a celebrated venue for countless concerts and performances (including George Carlin’s famous show with the 7 dirty words), has been essentially closed since 2013. Since then, its future use has been long debated including the possibility of demolition due to its need for costly repairs and retrofitting.

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The Pierre Koenig Residence (#2)

There are many, many, homes all over Los Angeles with serious architectural pedigree and it’s very satisfying to own one of them. What’s a far less common is to buy a house that was designed by one of the pre-eminent architects for his own home. That’s what this blog post is about and the architect is Pierre Koenig

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Garcia House by John Lautner - An Architectural Triumph

There are things encountered in life where the accompanying backstory helps one understand it and appreciate it more fully. And while my intention with this post is to do just that, the truth is, this home is an example of something whose beauty speaks for itself.  It is a work of art that deserves to be savored and so I encourage you to take your time with this post.

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Contemporary Architectural Splendor

If you’re going to live in the hills, you may as well live at the top. And here is your chance to do just that. Sited upon nearly 20,000 square feet of absolutely prime hilltop on one of Silver Lake’s finest streets, this immaculate East Coast Traditional with spectacular views in every direction was built by architect Theodore Criley, Jr in 1939. And as great as the house itself is, the setting will absolutely steal your heart.

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Perfect for Those Who Want Some Elbow Room

Although it’s not much more than a hop, skip, and a jump away from LA, as you turn off the 14 freeway and make your way into the town of Agua Dulce, you’re immediately struck by a feeling that you’re much further away than the time it took to drive there. Here, living happens in a way that is spread out far and wide. And it likely includes saddles.

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William C. Hay Residence

The hills of Los Feliz are known for having a resplendent collection of Spanish Colonial homes from the early 1900’s. And this new listing on Bonvue Avenue, designed by Charles C. Kyson in 1924, is no exception. In fact, this is one of the finest examples to hit the market in Los Feliz in recent memory thanks to a superb renovation that has happened over the past two years.

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The Lechner House by RM Schindler: Perfection Revisited

As you go through the photos of this listing, you may think to yourself: ‘wow, what a great midcentury timecapsule’. But you would be mistaken. This is a decade of restoration by a dedicated owner, who also happens to be an accomplished designer in her own right. (see studioshamshiri.com for other examples of her work.)

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A De-Lovely Spanish Hacienda by Milton J. Black

Tucked away at the end of a winding road in the hills of Woodland Hills is this surprising and utterly fantastic find. This 1930 Spanish Hacienda by architect Milton J. Black has so much going for it, it’s kinda ridiculous.

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The Hammerman House by Richard Neutra in Bel Air

If you are a fan of Neutra’s work, one of the things that you’ll immediately recognize about the Hammerman House (in addition to its beauty) is its size. With 4,315 square feet of living space, this is on the larger end of the spectrum of homes designed by Neutra.

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An Historic Hacienda by Wallace Neff in Palm Springs

Let’s head two hours east of L.A. for a spell. You guessed it, Palm Springs. No doubt you’ve heard that this desert oasis has been transforming into one of the hottest real estate markets in Southern California. And the truth is, this new boom is really just beginning. 

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Johnson Residence by Harwell Hamilton Harris

Say hello to the Johnson Residence by Harwell Hamilton Harris.  One of the things that I love about Harris is how varied his home designs were. But one thing that you’ll be sure to find in every project is a careful use of materials and spaces that are elegant and fluid. And this new listing in Beverly Crest is a wonderful example of this. 

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