Historic Modernism In Mar Vista, $1.6M

In terms of design and a radical rethinking of Postwar urbanism, the Modernique Homes by the pioneering L.A. Modernist Gregory Ain were groundbreaking in their day—and one of them is on the market and open this weekend. Having worked with Richard Neutra for years and fully invested in California’s unique approach to the International Style, Ain designed the Mar Vista Tract, (dubbed the Modernique Homes for marketing purposes) in 1948 with Joseph Johnson and Alfred Day, architects he had been working with in Neutra’s office, plus a frequent collaborator, the landscape architect Garret Eckbo. Of 100 planned homes, only 52 were built. The L.A. Conservancy says it best, “In 2003, the Mar Vista Tract on the west side of Los Angeles became the city’s first designated historic district containing solely Modern-style, post-World War II homes. The designation was more than warranted, considering the development is an outstanding embodiment of architect Gregory Ain’s philosophy that modern architecture makes for better living and should be available to everyone.” It was a sentiment that sadly translated into Ain being politically targeted as a Socialist, singled out by J. Edgar Hoover as, “the most dangerous architect in America”.Photo Credit: Stephanie ZaleyPhoto Credit: Stephanie ZaleyPhoto Credit: Stephanie ZaleyPhoto Credit: Stephanie ZaleyA prime example of Ain’s well-considered simplicity, the Modernique Homes were intended primarily for returning servicemen and their families—a compact, flexible 3-bed, 1-bath house of only 1,100-square-foot—which appears much more spacious when inside. The garage, which was converted to a pottery studio, could easily regain its original use. Go to the listing for additional details and images. Open on Sunday, March 9 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, this is an outstanding opportunity to acquire an historic example of L.A.’s unique heritage, represented by veteran architecture specialist  Brian Linder at Compass. For a really (really) deep dive into Gregory Ain’s contribution to LA’s architectural landscape, there’s this video from the Getty Center of a lecture by Anthony Fontenet, the author of Notes from Another Los Angeles: Gregory Ain and the Construction of a Social Landscape.Photo Credit: Stephanie ZaleyThe post Historic Modernism In Mar Vista, $1.6M appeared first on California Home+Design.

View more

The Perfect Schindler Eyrie In Outpost Estates, $3.3M

Born in Vienna, Rudolph Schindler [1887-1953] has become one of the most admired—and mythic—California Modernist architects, in part because so few of his projects have survived intact. His own home in West Hollywood, now beautifully restored, is widely considered his finest extant work. Schindler was among the first wave of European emigres drawn to L.A.’s seemingly endless possibilities and prosperity, arriving in 1920 from Chicago when he was hired by Frank Lloyd Wright to manage his California office and projects while Wright was working in Tokyo on the Imperial Hotel. The eminent architectural and art historian Reyner Banham would go on to write that Schindler designed “as if there had never been houses before.”Photo Credit: Sterling ReedNew to the market, this 4-bed, 3-bath house on Outpost Drive, commissioned by Jacob and Margaret Druckmann and built by Schindler in 1941, remains a simple, light-filled example of the architect’s modest domestic esthetic. His domestic projects often have a subtle ad-hoc aspect—unlike the highly polished work of his lifelong friend, colleague and fellow Austrian, Richard Neutra—because Schindler often actively participated in the construction process. Plus the budgets were undoubtedly more modest. The home is currently owned by Tara Subkoff, the actress and  performance artist who co-founded Imitation of Christ, the radical and deeply influential clothing collective, one whose guerrilla ‘fashion’ shows were as much about consumerism as clothing. Entry is through a well-hedged private patio with a simple but sculptural outdoor fireplace echoing the one inside. Radical at the time, plywood paneling and cabinet work in the open living and dining areas are original.Photo Credit: Sterling ReedPhoto Credit: Sterling ReedPhoto Credit: Sterling ReedPhoto Credit: Sterling ReedThe bedrooms and the sympathetically renovated baths are on the lower level.Photo Credit: Sterling ReedPhoto Credit: Sterling ReedPhoto Credit: Sterling ReedOffering an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a piece of L.A.’s rich architectural and cultural history, the Druckmann Residence is co-listed by architectural specialists Lilian Pfaff at Modern California House and William Baker at The Agency. Both agents’ links have many more images of the property, new and vintage, plus Schindler’s original floor plan.Photo Credit: Sterling ReedThe post The Perfect Schindler Eyrie In Outpost Estates, $3.3M appeared first on California Home+Design.

View more

Cutting-Edge Design By Lorcan O’Herlihy In Franklin Village, $1.55M

Not all of L.A.’s condominiums are created equal. Some are unbelievably mundane, and some, like this dwelling on the market at Canyon5 in Franklin Village, are extraordinary. Designed in 2019 by architect Lorcan O’Herlihy, Canyon5 was built by developer Leeor Maciborski under L.A.’s Small Lot Initiative, a 2005 zoning innovation that permits expansive but controlled development on small, underutilized plots. The interiors of the unit—notable for their warm cabinet work and finishes—are by DISC Interiors.Photos by Gavin Cater/Cater PhotographyO’Herlihy has mastered an unmistakably edgy but ultimately elegant style in addressing density in multi-unit urban infill. His 2008 Habitat825 project in West Hollywood is a radical 19-unit composition of stacked white, green and black forms and open spaces, that was controversial at the time but still retains a bit of its alien spaceship vibe landed on a quiet WeHo street. For architecture tourists, Habitat825 is also probably the most “seen” of O’Herlihy’s work as it’s located directly adjacent to Rudolph Schindler’s own 1922 paradigm-breaking home.In contrast, the Canyon5 project is a graceful composition of almost nautical references, with structures echoing ship’s hulls and sails. Without common walls, each of units’ sweeping metal-clad structures allow for maximum privacy; windows and walls of glass carefully frame the views; the ribbing of the structure is expressed inside and out. Each of the five two-bedroom, three-bathroom 1,677 square foot dwellings is set on a cedar-clad two-car garage/storage podium and extends upwards two levels, topped by a private roof deck with spectacular views across the low-rise neighborhood and the Hollywood Hills. Photos by Gavin Cater/Cater PhotographyPhotos by Gavin Cater/Cater PhotographyPhotos by Gavin Cater/Cater PhotographyVPhotos by Gavin Cater/Cater Photography This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire and live in a work of architecture by one of LA’s best practitioners, represented by veteran agents Rob Kallick and Mary Regal of the Take Sunset team at Compass. Offered at $1.549M, 1826 Canyon Drive will be open this Sunday, February 23, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Visit the listing for additional images and details. Photo Credit: Gavin Cater/Cater PhotographyThe post Cutting-Edge Design By Lorcan O’Herlihy In Franklin Village, $1.55M appeared first on California Home+Design.

View more