Case Study Houses

[audiodrome]

Does anyone else love this kind of architecture? Koenig, Neutra, Johnson, Eames, etc. I don't know if I could live in one of these places full time, but it would be a hell of a vacation house! Every time I see one of these houses, I fantasize about what it must have been like to be young and rich in '50's/'60s Hollywood. That's why I love all those period movies depicting life in the Hollywood Hills.

[Simon A]

Man do I love those!

You see one in Catch Me If You Can't, and another in The Limey. I'd love to live in one of those and I'd also take the car in the first picture please! :love:

I'll leave to your imagination the image of the birds that go with that set... ;)

[Jay F]

Does anyone else love this kind of architecture? Koenig, Neutra, Johnson, Eames, etc. I don't know if I could live in one of these places full time, but it would be a hell of a vacation house! Every time I see one of these houses, I fantasize about what it must have been like to be young and rich in '50's/'60s Hollywood. That's why I love all those period movies depicting life in the Hollywood Hills.Yeah. I love all things mid-century.

Do you read Atomic Ranch magazine? http://www.atomic-ranch.com/ A little less slick, but similar. And definitely of that era.

[audiodrome]

Yeah. I love all things mid-century.

Do you read Atomic Ranch magazine? http://www.atomic-ranch.com/ A little less slick, but similar. And definitely of that era.
Man, that looks right up my alley! I wonder if it's available at any book stores because I'd like to try it out before subscribing. Is it all things mid-century or is it mostly architecture?

[Jay F]

Man, that looks right up my alley! I wonder if it's available at any book stores because I'd like to try it out before subscribing. Is it all things mid-century or is it mostly architecture?The houses and the interiors. It's quarterly. It's on the newsstand right now, and it disappears quickly, so run and get a copy. I got mine at B&N. The editors did a book of the same name, available at amazon.

[audiodrome]

Thanks - I'll check my local B&N. Do you know of any good websites for that kind of stuff?

[www.records]

I love the looks of it, but I wonder how it would hold up with a couple feet of snow on the roof?

[Jay F]

Thanks - I'll check my local B&N. Do you know of any good websites for that kind of stuff?
Are you shopping for furniture? There are lots of sites to look at. Here's one in your neck of the woods: http://www.resideinc.com/

How about http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

A house? I'm on an e-mail list for modern houses in Portland OR, http://www.portlandmodern.com/ Do you know of a neighborhood in your area that's MCM? There are some LA real estate blogs that are near porn, the places are so expensive (and, often, so beautiful). And there's a lot to see in Palm Springs.

I'll have to think about this. I helped a friend decorate an apartment in NY, and I did a lot of research about two years ago.

Until then, google "mid century modern."

[Jay F]

I love the looks of it, but I wonder how it would hold up with a couple feet of snow on the roof?I think most of it exists in warmer climates (TX, CA, OR), though a friend's parents here had a gorgeous grey brick/white beam house that's still standing. And there's a development in Alexandria, VA, called Hollin Hills that's MCM, and DC gets plenty of snow.

[audiodrome]

Are you shopping for furniture? There are lots of sites to look at. Here's one in your neck of the woods: http://www.resideinc.com/

How about http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

A house? I'm on an e-mail list for modern houses in Portland OR, http://www.portlandmodern.com/ Do you know of a neighborhood in your area that's MCM? There are some LA real estate blogs that are near porn, the places are so expensive (and, often, so beautiful). And there's a lot to see in Palm Springs.

I'll have to think about this. I helped a friend decorate an apartment in NY, and I did a lot of research about two years ago.

Until then, google "mid century modern."
I'm not shopping for anything; I just love that "look." There are very few houses around these parts that look like that. It's mostly colonials and Victorians. Most of the houses around here that were built mid-century are your typical ranch or split-level deals. There was a famous Walter Gropius house in Provincetown that just went on the market recently for around $12 million!

[Jay F]

I'm not shopping for anything; I just love that "look." There are very few houses around these parts that look like that. It's mostly colonials and Victorians. Most of the houses around here that were built mid-century are your typical ranch or split-level deals. There was a famous Walter Gropius house in Provincetown that just went on the market recently for around $12 million!
Two other magazines: Dwell and Metropolitan Home.

[leGrandOrange]

John Lautner is cool, too. I don't think he did Case Study houses, but he's from the same era/milieu. Johson (mentioned by OP) was not a California modernist at all, but no doubt he influenced the West Coast aesthetic.

Here are a couple of Lautner houses that were used in movies:

Some of the chemosphere (his UFO house in the Hollywood Hills--first pic) is used in Body Double.

The Elrod House (2nd pic) is used in Diamonds Are Forever (Bambi and Thumper et al). (In the movie the location of the house is 'outside Las Vegas,' whereas the house is actually in Palm Springs.)

[Simon A]

I think Taschen released a book on these beautiful houses a few years ago. I recommend you visit their web-site. Their books are usually fantastic!

[audiodrome]

I think Taschen released a book on these beautiful houses a few years ago. I recommend you visit their web-site. Their books are usually fantastic!
Yes, and they're not too expensive either.

[leGrandOrange]

My understanding--and it may be out of date or just plain wrong--is that Taschen actually owns the Chemosphere and throws wild parties there!

[Simon A]

My understanding--and it may be out of date or just plain wrong--is that Taschen actually owns the Chemosphere and throws wild parties there!

Baby, those Taschen cats throw wild parties everywhere!!! :D

[Downsampled]

There's a great book I saw once:

Richard Neutra: The Complete Works (http://www.amazon.com/dp/3822866229)

It's a costs a mint. Maybe I will buy it someday. :)

[leGrandOrange]

There's a great book I saw once:

Richard Neutra: The Complete Works (http://www.amazon.com/dp/3822866229)

It's a costs a mint. Maybe I will buy it someday. :)

Yeah, I got that on sale a few years ago coz the binding broke--surprise, surprise!

[audiodrome]

Here's another nice cheap Case Study-type book:

http://www.amazon.com/Julius-Shulman-Modernism-Rediscovered/dp/3822842877/ref=pd_sim_b_title_4

[Downsampled]

Has anyone ever visited/toured a Case Study house (or something similar)? I believe some of them are protected and preserved -- and I suspect that's mostly in So. California. Anything worth checking out next time I'm down there?

[leGrandOrange]

You can visit the Eames house and studio in Pacific Palsades--you need to call first (the home is conserved by of the Eames Foundation--or something like that--which is run by Demetreous Eames, the designers' grandchild.) I just showed up one day and had a good look around--It's better to call first. They schedule periodic tours of the interior, as well. There is a Neutra near by but there's no access and you can't really see much. I think there's an Entenza, too--all on the same street!

There are also occasional tours of Neutra houses in Silverlake--not sure who holds them, but a bit of snooping of the interweb should yield results.

The bible of LA architecture is "Los Angeles: An Architectural Guide," by David Gebhard and Robert Winter. The book is divided into different neighborhoods and gives brief descriptions, addresses, and accessibility for the the buildings listed. Absolutely essential if you plan to look at architecture in Los Angeles.

LA is really a bastion of modernist architecture, something that is often overlooked in people's facile depictions of the place...But the secret has been out of the bag, now, for at least a decade...Or am I mistaken?

Cheers,
Bob

[leGrandOrange]

Julius Shulman is the "dean" of modernist LA architectural photography. He's over 90 but still kicking. Just sold his archive to the Getty. He gave a lecture at the Getty a while ago--and one of the young women in the classic/iconic Shulman image below was also a guest. She's middle-aged now!

Here's another nice cheap Case Study-type book:

http://www.amazon.com/Julius-Shulman-Modernism-Rediscovered/dp/3822842877/ref=pd_sim_b_title_4

[leGrandOrange]

Sorry, please allow me one more quick post--the Orange County Museum of Art had a show recently (it just closed) about the intersection of California Modernism with art, design, architecture AND music--it had a whole room dedicated to West Coast Cool Jazz (think Miles and Gil Evans and, of course, "Birth of the Cool.") They a neat video of an interracial band (I think Chet Baker et al, don't remember really) attired in beach clothes jamming in someone's living room in a beach house. Way, way Cool! (This was the 50s!)

[audiodrome]

Sorry, please allow me one more quick post--the Orange County Museum of Art had a show recently (it just closed) about the intersection of California Modernism with art, design, architecture AND music--it had a whole room dedicated to West Coast Cool Jazz (think Miles and Gil Evans and, of course, "Birth of the Cool.") They a neat video of an interracial band (I think Chet Baker et al, don't remember really) attired in beach clothes jamming in someone's living room in a beach house. Way, way Cool! (This was the 50s!)
No, that's great - thanks for all the info. I wish I lived near LA!

[Billy Budapest]

Two other magazines: Dwell and Metropolitan Home.

I thought Dwell went out of business? I started a subscription, received two issues, and then never got anything from them again . . .

NEVERMIND. I just checked the website and they are not out of business. It remains a mystery why I never received my issues. I have contacted customer service and hopefully will get it straightened out.