A Revolutionary House in Los Angeles
The Legacy of Rudolf Schindler and the Schindler House
Last year, I took a short road trip through California to visit some of our most beloved mid-century houses and buildings. One of the first stops was Rudolf Schindler’s masterpiece in Los Angeles.
The Schindler House, built in 1922, is one of the earliest examples of modernist residential architecture in the United States.
The house shows Schindler’s innovative approach to reimagining domestic spaces and exploring new architectural ideas. Located on Kings Road in West Hollywood, it was designed as a communal live/work space for two families, challenging traditional concepts of home design.
Before moving to the tour of Schindler’s masterpiece, I’d like to ask for two minutes of your time to fill out our first Substack survey. Your feedback will help us immensely in creating stories that match your interests. Thank you in advance for your contribution, and enjoy today’s story.
(Marco Guagliardo - Mid-Century Home’s Editor in Chief)
Rudolf Schindler was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1887. He studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, where he was influenced by the modernist principles of Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos. After moving to Chicago in 1914, Schindler worked under Frank Lloyd Wright, whose ideas on organic architecture and open spaces strongly influenced him.
In 1920, Schindler moved to Los Angeles to oversee construction of Wright’s Hollyhock House. During this time, he began to develop his own architectural approach, combining his European training with the opportunities offered by California’s climate and lifestyle. He focused on creating spaces that were functional, adaptable, and connected to their environment.
The Schindler House
The Schindler House, designed in 1922, was an experiment in redefining domestic architecture.
The house was built at a time of significant change. After World War I, architects and designers sought to move away from traditional styles and embrace modern approaches. Schindler was influenced by movements such as the Bauhaus and the International Style, but his work in Southern California allowed him to explore ideas specific to the region’s climate and culture.
Schindler designed the house for himself, his wife Pauline, and their friends Clyde and Marian Chace, creating a communal living arrangement that broke away from traditional single-family home concepts. The house was built with flexibility in mind, allowing spaces to adapt to the needs of its occupants rather than enforcing fixed functions for rooms.
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