A modest late Schindler design in need of careful restoration... but I doubt that this will be around long, even with the collapsed economy:
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Studio-City/42 ... me/5238860
Presburger house RM Schindler for sale
I saw this posting about the Presburger house at another architectural website and found it interesting:
" "Saw it today. Um.... interesting.
I suppose someone will be able to do something amazing with it. But it's going to take a ton of work. The house hasn't been maintained well at all. The floors and finishes are not original and seem cheap. The built-in cabinets might be original, but are pretty beat up. Walls have been partially covered with odd pieces of painted plywood... Why? Who knows. It's kind of a mess.
The exterior isn't much better. Someone added wood trim (check the older photos, it's not original) but then they forgot to repaint it, so it looks terrible. The roof is marred by an monstrous HVAC unit with ducts snaking all over the place. The pool is a nice idea, but again--not original. And too big for the lot.
Then, of course, there are all the inherent Schindler problems... the low ceilings, tiny rooms, cheap materials and squirrelly layout.
Sure, the clerestory roof is stunning. The living room has a serene beauty. The master could be amazing. But it's going to take someone with a lot more passion than sense to take on this little diamond in the rough.
So let's all raise our glass to that person now and say thank you for baring the burden for the rest of you. Thank you for risking so much to do the right thing. It might not payoff financially--at least, not right away--but you will reap the benefits of a grateful Lotta Living community! You're a better man than me.
C." "
I saw the house also and agree with much of what C says. What I don't agree with, however, is this sentence:
"Then, of course, there are all the inherent Schindler problems... the low ceilings, tiny rooms, cheap materials and squirrelly layout."
The plan ("squirrelly layout") is completely logical, except for what the sellers are calling the formal dining room, which is simply an enclosed porch which would have made sense originally as a connection to the outdoor space. Also, the poster talks about the "cheap materials". They are actually classic Schindler: stucco, plywood, exposed striated solid wood ceilings with the original beige Schindler stain. These would be the same materials used in any of the more upscale Schindler houses. Of course, the kitchen tile replacement is offensive, but this is not an "inherent Schindler problem" nor are the so-called "low ceilings". In fact, the living and master bedroom spaces have very generously proportioned ceilings with clerestories flooding the house with beautiful light, the other two bedrooms having seven or eight foot ceilings in keeping with the scale of the house.
Schindler houses often suffer the fate of neglect, but I have seen much worse, and for the asking price, this house is an amazing opportunity for the right person.
" "Saw it today. Um.... interesting.
I suppose someone will be able to do something amazing with it. But it's going to take a ton of work. The house hasn't been maintained well at all. The floors and finishes are not original and seem cheap. The built-in cabinets might be original, but are pretty beat up. Walls have been partially covered with odd pieces of painted plywood... Why? Who knows. It's kind of a mess.
The exterior isn't much better. Someone added wood trim (check the older photos, it's not original) but then they forgot to repaint it, so it looks terrible. The roof is marred by an monstrous HVAC unit with ducts snaking all over the place. The pool is a nice idea, but again--not original. And too big for the lot.
Then, of course, there are all the inherent Schindler problems... the low ceilings, tiny rooms, cheap materials and squirrelly layout.
Sure, the clerestory roof is stunning. The living room has a serene beauty. The master could be amazing. But it's going to take someone with a lot more passion than sense to take on this little diamond in the rough.
So let's all raise our glass to that person now and say thank you for baring the burden for the rest of you. Thank you for risking so much to do the right thing. It might not payoff financially--at least, not right away--but you will reap the benefits of a grateful Lotta Living community! You're a better man than me.
C." "
I saw the house also and agree with much of what C says. What I don't agree with, however, is this sentence:
"Then, of course, there are all the inherent Schindler problems... the low ceilings, tiny rooms, cheap materials and squirrelly layout."
The plan ("squirrelly layout") is completely logical, except for what the sellers are calling the formal dining room, which is simply an enclosed porch which would have made sense originally as a connection to the outdoor space. Also, the poster talks about the "cheap materials". They are actually classic Schindler: stucco, plywood, exposed striated solid wood ceilings with the original beige Schindler stain. These would be the same materials used in any of the more upscale Schindler houses. Of course, the kitchen tile replacement is offensive, but this is not an "inherent Schindler problem" nor are the so-called "low ceilings". In fact, the living and master bedroom spaces have very generously proportioned ceilings with clerestories flooding the house with beautiful light, the other two bedrooms having seven or eight foot ceilings in keeping with the scale of the house.
Schindler houses often suffer the fate of neglect, but I have seen much worse, and for the asking price, this house is an amazing opportunity for the right person.
Only a Schindler fan would notice the original elements and finishes, among the unfortunate furnishings and other distractions in the photos -- and none
of the photos seems to reveal evidence of Schindler's spacial play and formal moves. Indeed this may not be of the architect's best houses. But to
the true believer, any Schindler structure holds the hope of containing some of the magic -- so you'll have to indulge us, for a moment, as we ponder the
possibilities. . .!
SDR
of the photos seems to reveal evidence of Schindler's spacial play and formal moves. Indeed this may not be of the architect's best houses. But to
the true believer, any Schindler structure holds the hope of containing some of the magic -- so you'll have to indulge us, for a moment, as we ponder the
possibilities. . .!
SDR
Many of the original elements are still intact, but much of the plywood which was originally stained has been painted white. A typical characteristic of his houses from this period is the play of plaster against stained wood. This is missing because previous owners kept only the ceilings as natural wood, losing much of the contrast of the built ins against the walls. The master bedroom and living room have unpainted wood celings, the other bedrooms are painted all white. Some open bookshelves have been enclosed, making them more like closets than the architectural elements which were meant to further break up the volumes.
Another thing that makes it difficult to photograph and to immediately appreciate, is that the house is a bit cluttered. There must be at least fifty paintings on the walls, much of it done by Sam Rosenwein, who I believe is/was the husband of the last owner, who I was told recently passed away.
I have been on several tours of Schindler houses, and in my opinion this is not a bad example of his work and is in average unrestored condition. The original moments shine and everything that has been altered detracts.
The photos were clearly not done with any regard to the tradition of architectural photography, but are generic real estate photos probably taken in a few minutes to document the rooms, front yard, back yard.
A diamond in the rough...
Another thing that makes it difficult to photograph and to immediately appreciate, is that the house is a bit cluttered. There must be at least fifty paintings on the walls, much of it done by Sam Rosenwein, who I believe is/was the husband of the last owner, who I was told recently passed away.
I have been on several tours of Schindler houses, and in my opinion this is not a bad example of his work and is in average unrestored condition. The original moments shine and everything that has been altered detracts.
The photos were clearly not done with any regard to the tradition of architectural photography, but are generic real estate photos probably taken in a few minutes to document the rooms, front yard, back yard.
A diamond in the rough...
I really like the house.
I have a fascination for minor works by major architects. What makes these works great is that the designer must distill his concepts down to their essentials almost like a haiku. If the work still has that designer's "touch, look, or feel" whatever you wish to call it, it was successful, and it is very difficult to do, as I have found. Schindler was very successful with the Presburger house.
It would be great to see what it looked like originally.
I have a fascination for minor works by major architects. What makes these works great is that the designer must distill his concepts down to their essentials almost like a haiku. If the work still has that designer's "touch, look, or feel" whatever you wish to call it, it was successful, and it is very difficult to do, as I have found. Schindler was very successful with the Presburger house.
It would be great to see what it looked like originally.
It begins in 1960, with Esther McCoy's "Five California Architects" (Praeger; second edition 1975). This is an important study by someone
who worked with the architect.
Then, "Schindler," in 1980, by David Gebhard, published by Peregrine Smith, Inc, Santa Barbara and Salt Lake City.
William Stout re-issued this work in a new and expanded edition in 2001.
There is a bibliography on this page. http://eng.archinform.net/arch/1121.htm
Judith Scheine's work is especially notable. A small paperback, with a black-and-white cover, has tiny section drawings of the houses that beat
many larger offerings in aiding the reader to comprehend the architecture.
SDR
who worked with the architect.
Then, "Schindler," in 1980, by David Gebhard, published by Peregrine Smith, Inc, Santa Barbara and Salt Lake City.
William Stout re-issued this work in a new and expanded edition in 2001.
There is a bibliography on this page. http://eng.archinform.net/arch/1121.htm
Judith Scheine's work is especially notable. A small paperback, with a black-and-white cover, has tiny section drawings of the houses that beat
many larger offerings in aiding the reader to comprehend the architecture.
SDR
The more recent Judith Scheine book R.M. Schindler is also informative and the chapter entitled "Shindler and Wright or The First Space Architect" might be of interest to our Wright Chatters. She thoroughly explores the complicated dialogue between these two masters.
The Furniture of R.M. Schindler (Berns/ Gephard) is an informative survey of his furniture designs and very relevant to fans of Usonia.
The Architecture of R.M. Schindler from the Los Angeles MOCA exhibition of 2001 is another good one.
The Furniture of R.M. Schindler (Berns/ Gephard) is an informative survey of his furniture designs and very relevant to fans of Usonia.
The Architecture of R.M. Schindler from the Los Angeles MOCA exhibition of 2001 is another good one.
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Roderick Grant
- Posts: 11815
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
Presburger is a wonderful design for a modest-sized, middle class house, one of RMS's best late works. The white is unfortunate, and to truly understand the house, the white must go. Like FLW's houses, RMS's houses do not need the walls draped with pictures; the design of the interior is enough. It would look good without furniture. I hope someone sympathetic to RMS gets this gem.
That one interior photo has been one of my favorites for many years now.
It shows on the left side a bookcase with cantilevered ends, the huge clerestory windows looking out to eucalyptus trees, but more importantly one sees beyond the living room into the upper area of the master bedroom, the upper walls being glass. This is a signature element of the late "schindler frame" houses. The light from one space flows into the next, though the rooms are enclosed and separate, by use of upper glass enclosures. This enlarges the space significantly and the light, which is diffused, comes from every direction.
Behind the baby grand piano is another space dividing low bookcase, (probably to hold lps or 78s). Walking to the right, one goes to the front door, to the left, the master bedroom, with a clever closet door to the right of the bedroom door, appearing to be a wood portion of the wall. Contained within this one photo are many of the "tricks" of Schindler, and from what I saw of the house, they don't stop there, but have been altered or concealed by insensitive interventions.
Jones and Emmons lifted many of these ideas a few years later in the Crestview project in the Brentwood area.
The roof also revisits Taliesin West, which must have had a profound influence on Schindler.
SDR- I would never go so far as to call this one a "masterpiece", but if in original condition maybe "another ingenious solution to the problem of the small house on a tiny lot."
It shows on the left side a bookcase with cantilevered ends, the huge clerestory windows looking out to eucalyptus trees, but more importantly one sees beyond the living room into the upper area of the master bedroom, the upper walls being glass. This is a signature element of the late "schindler frame" houses. The light from one space flows into the next, though the rooms are enclosed and separate, by use of upper glass enclosures. This enlarges the space significantly and the light, which is diffused, comes from every direction.
Behind the baby grand piano is another space dividing low bookcase, (probably to hold lps or 78s). Walking to the right, one goes to the front door, to the left, the master bedroom, with a clever closet door to the right of the bedroom door, appearing to be a wood portion of the wall. Contained within this one photo are many of the "tricks" of Schindler, and from what I saw of the house, they don't stop there, but have been altered or concealed by insensitive interventions.
Jones and Emmons lifted many of these ideas a few years later in the Crestview project in the Brentwood area.
The roof also revisits Taliesin West, which must have had a profound influence on Schindler.
SDR- I would never go so far as to call this one a "masterpiece", but if in original condition maybe "another ingenious solution to the problem of the small house on a tiny lot."
I have long considered the Presburger house to be Schindler's "Case Study House" despite the fact that he was never asked to design for the program. Unlike most of the houses for that program, this one was actually built on a budget comparable to a "builder's" house. What makes this house so special for me is that it is RMS's response to the mundane tracts that were starting to envelop the Valley.
For this small lot, Schindler designed every inch of the property to the lot line, as in Kings Road, with various gardens and areas shielded by dense plantings. While this is quite common in LA now, it must have still been relatively uncommon in the 1940s.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 2397946232
For this small lot, Schindler designed every inch of the property to the lot line, as in Kings Road, with various gardens and areas shielded by dense plantings. While this is quite common in LA now, it must have still been relatively uncommon in the 1940s.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 2397946232
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