Schindler's Manola Court apartments revived

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Mon Jun 03, 2019 10:56 am

https://www.dezeen.com/2019/06/02/manol ... s-angeles/?

https://www.livetogivela.org/about-manola-court

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Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Mon Jun 03, 2019 11:31 am

Interiors of this masterpiece have been hard to come by. One former owner was incredibly fussy about whom she was willing to rent to. It is a relief to see that it has been taken over by sympathetic owners.

Modmom1 · Post by **Modmom1** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 1:12 pm

Stunning! There are more photographs here under gallery: https://www.manolacourt.com

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 1:41 pm

Every architect can be credited, I think, with at least one unique contribution to the art. In Schindler's case, one such niche is his three-dimensional boarded ceilings...

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Modmom1 · Post by **Modmom1** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 1:46 pm

Do you know what the yellow structure is (under gallery, third photo down from the center row)? Joe thought it might be a structure to conceal a light.

It somewhat reminds me of the Schindler light structure in this photograph that we previously discussed: https://www.instagram.com/p/BrN21w2gb2Z/

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 3:42 pm

I wondered about the same thing, Mod. It looks to hefty to be a light fixture; too little light would get out. But I cannot imagine anything else.

SDR, FLW did a similar ceiling at La Miniatura.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 3:47 pm

Ah, yes---and I suppose that would have predated Schindler's. Perhaps his were in homage . . .

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HOJO · Post by **HOJO** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 3:59 pm

Modmom1 wrote:Do you know what the yellow structure is (under gallery, third photo down from the center row)?

First click on the photo, then see text on the left of the photo:
"The office in the Penthouse at Manola Court, including original Redwood ceiling and Schindler designed ladder to access the sleeping porch on the roof."

Modmom1 · Post by **Modmom1** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 5:33 pm

Thanks HOJO. Now I can see a faint demarcation in the ceiling that is probably a hatch to the roof. Leave it to Schindler to make a mundane object beautiful!

So all you west coasters, are there no insects/animals out west? I recall a sleeping porch at the Greene and Greene Gamble House in Pasadena and you see all those sliding glass walls in Dwell opening to kitchens. I can't even imagine life without screens.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:06 pm

None to speak of in San Francisco. Crows and seagulls, and sparrows . . .

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peterm · Post by **peterm** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 9:44 pm

Every September the ants come marching in, searching for water. At our first place in Echo Park, they found a way into our freezer. It looked like thousands of chocolate sprinkles had been spilled. No screen in the world can stop those beasts.

These Schindler photos make me even miss those ant infestations.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Thu Jun 06, 2019 10:28 am

One of the delights of California is the lack of most flying bugs. There are ants, as peterm notes, and, of course, cockroaches, and in some areas bed bugs have made a strong comeback. But compared to the buggy Midwest and Plains states, it's largely bug-free in California. I don't miss gnats!

Modmom1 · Post by **Modmom1** » Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:18 am

Certainly a delight to be lacking in flying bugs! My snakes and frog keep us virtually free of mosquitoes but flies, which seem to appear the moment your dog releases their bowels, are disgusting.

The Glenbrow Tower ('64 Ted van Fossen) has a closet on the roof terrace with a rusted Murphy bed springs. It was used pre-air-conditioning for sleeping under the stars. We will not be restoring this original feature, as our $ can be better spent elsewhere. Good news, on the tower for those of you following, despite the enormous rainfall for the past 2 years (last year we had 20" above normal and this year is probably close), both the new roof and the roof terrace has been completed, and Joe has corrected the design flaws (TvF was never trained in architecture). The lower floors are airing out for a couple weeks before another mold remediation then the restoration can begin! We have also found a possible source for matching Douglas Fir (same era) plywood to replace damaged from another building in town. Keeping our fingers crossed!