Donna Locke, Leonardo Chalupowicz & Michael St. Onge, October 24, 2010

Donna Locke, Leonardo Chalupowicz & Michael St. Onge, October 24, 2010
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Donna Locke, Leonardo Chalupowicz & Michael Saint-Onge, at Leonardo Chalupowicz's home in Silver Lake, October 24, 2010, participants in the Eastside Eco Tour. Leonardois a local “green” architect, artist and member of the Silver Lake NC. He is involved in a number of local causes, primarily the creation of the Micheltorena School and Community Garden.

Purviance Duplex, R. M. Schindler, 1923

Purviance Duplex, R. M. Schindler, 1923
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Elizabeth Bougart-Sharkov, Chair of the Silver Lake Urban Design & Preservation Committee, recently informed that this unassuming duplex located at 944 Maltman Avenue is indeed the work of a young Rudolf Shindler! 'During the course of research and digging through history and left-intact documents, we made this tremendous discovery. It was designed and built according to his plans', an ecstatic Ms. Bougart-Sharkov exclaimed, 'It was a stepping stone in terms of using cast concrete as a structural and architectural element.'

Lehrer Architects' Scott Smith, Nerin Kadribegovic, Zoe Post, Erik Alden, Anoushka Alden, Michael Lehrer, Arlene Cuevas, Jeannette Fabry, Roberto Sheinberg, Travis Frankel, & Sebastian Munoz

Lehrer Architects' Scott Smith, Nerin Kadribegovic, Zoe Post, Erik Alden, Anoushka Alden, Michael Lehrer, Arlene Cuevas, Jeannette Fabry, Roberto Sheinberg, Travis Frankel, & Sebastian Munoz
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Michael Lehrer and a group of his co-workers at the Lehrer Architectural Office in Silver Lake, December 2010. Pictured are (L-R) Scott Smith, Nerin Kadribegovic, Zoe Post, Erik Alden, Anoushka Alden, Michael Lehrer, Arlene Cuevas, Jeannette Fabry, Roberto Sheinberg, Travis Frankel, & Sebastian Munoz

3507 Fernwood, Steven Hill, Architect- 1983

3507 Fernwood, Steven Hill, Architect- 1983
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

The late Steven Hill made his imprint on Silver Lake architecture with many of these distinctive stucco and glass block houses. This particular property is located at 3507 Fernwood and is striking in its simplicity.

Bubeshko Apartments, R.M. Schindler, Architect, 1938-41

Bubeshko Apartments, R.M. Schindler, Architect, 1938-41
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

The Anastasia & Luby Bubeshko Apartments designed by Rudolph Schindler. Garnering world acclaim, the building was featured in the MOCA Schindler Retrospective as one of the architect's best-known multi-family designs. Located at the Southeast corner of Lyric Avenue and Griffith Park Blvd., these much-photographed apartments have great indoor/outdoor flow with their oversize roof terraces. The Mayan style blocks add a dramatic element.

Silver Lake's Oldest House? 832 Coronado Terrace, c.1885

Silver Lake's Oldest House? 832 Coronado Terrace, c.1885
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

As a history buff, I have often wondered when the very first houses in Silver Lake were built. While I can't be absolutely sure, the best information I have at present is that the first homes in Silver Lake on record appear to have been built in the late 1890s.

Coronado Terrace, on the edge of Echo Park, has the oldest houses still standing in Silver Lake. The house at 832 Coronado Terrace is perhaps the best preserved. Built in 1895, it retains much vintage character.

Elevado de Castillo, Design Vidal (remodel) 2007

Elevado de Castillo, Design Vidal (remodel) 2007
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

The latest 'rescue and restore' project by the design team of Guy & Karen Vidal, the 'Elevado de Castillo' represents the team's 20th completed project in the Silver Lake/Echo Park communities. A severly neglected Spanish fourplex originally built in 1925, Karen fell in love with the architectural beauty of the octagonal turret, the tall ceilings and arched entryways, sparking her restoration-oriented imagination. The building was considered a 'tear-down' by everyone who was considering buying it, except the Vidals, who value preservation and restoration over the quick buck.

Glendale/Hyperion Viaduct, John C. Shaw, City Engineer, 1927

Glendale/Hyperion Viaduct, John C. Shaw, City Engineer, 1927
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

The Glendale/Hyperion Viaduct, popularly known as the Hyperion Bridge, was completed in June 1927. It was built by Salih Brothers, Contractors, during the term of George E. Cryer, Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. During its construction, H.J. McGuire was President of the Board of Public Works and Merrill Butler served as the Engineer of Bridges. It spans the Los Angeles River between Atwater Village and Silver Lake and Los Feliz. This picture was taken from the eastern (Atwater Village) side.

Reunion House, Richard Neutra 1949 (Remodeled by Dion Neutra 1966)

Reunion House, Richard Neutra 1949 (Remodeled by Dion Neutra 1966)
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

The personal home of architect Dion & Lynn Smart Neutra. Known as the 'Reunion House', envisioned as a hypothetical 'grandparent's house' where family reunions would be held, the house is the most private of all the homes in the Neutra Colony; instead of exposed to the lake, it is hidden in a forest of trees and ponds, creating a most tranquil setting. Located at 2440 Earl Street in Silver Lake.

Hansen Residence Harwell H. Harris, Architect 1950-51

Hansen Residence Harwell H. Harris, Architect 1950-51
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

I had the privilege of visiting this lovely home in my capacity as photographer for the CSSLR 2006 Home Tour, 'Silver Lake Modernism- Then & Now'. Up until the assignment, I had only the opportunity to admire the house from the street and from what I had read in architecture books. My curiosity was hightened with the purchase of Barbara Bestor's new book (2006) entitled, 'Bohemian Modern: Living in Silver Lake' which features the Hansen House. Fashion Designer, Kirk Nozaki, who purchased the home in 1992 was kind enough to give me a tour of the home and allow me to share these photographs with you.

Pedroarena House, Henry Grey, Architect, 1940

Pedroarena House, Henry Grey, Architect, 1940
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Up until about 1920 most of the Spanish style architecture found in Southern California could be defined as 'Mission Revival' or 'Pueblo Revival'. The Panama-Pacific Exposition buildings in San Diego, designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue in 1915 created an explosion of interest in a more elaborate style of Spanish architecture that lasted up until the United States entered WWII. The Pedroarena House, designed for Carolina Pedroarena by Architect Henry Grey in 1940 is characteristic of the more elaborate Spanish Colonial Revival Style, borrowing details of Moorish and Renaissance inspiration. Dramatic details include complex roof forms of varying heights; lacy gates and balconies; hand-painted inlaid tiles and an enclosed courtyard with fountain, creating a theatrical effect found in great favor during the period.

Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral, A.A. Tolubeyev, Architect, 1928

Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral, A.A. Tolubeyev, Architect, 1928
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Designed in the Pskov style of 12-13th century northern Russia. The first Russian Orthodox church in Los Angeles, it was founded by a congregation with few wealthy members, many of whom had served as officers in the Russian army and navy who fled Russia in the choas following the Russian Revolution and World War I.

In 1960, the church was enlarged to almost double its size with designs by B.A. Filiippov. In 1971 it was designated a cathedral by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America. The same year, architect S.N. Koschin designed a new building to house the Chapel of St. Herman of Alaska, a school building and sacristy.

The Cathedral is located at 650 Micheltorena Street.

Bart & Ildiko Choy Residence, Choy Associates

Bart & Ildiko Choy Residence, Choy Associates
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Barton & Ildiko Choy's home in Silver Lake ranks as one of my personal favorites. With walls of glass and rich redwoods, the house exudes a 'Lake Arrowhead' ambiance, with a view of Silver Lake Reservoir in the foreground. The Choys have a distinguished lineage in the architectural and interior designed communities and frequently host civic events for the community. Located at 3035 Windsor Avenue.

Marylin Choy Residence, Choy Associates, Architects 1977

Marylin Choy Residence, Choy Associates, Architects 1977
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Built five years after and next door to his personal residence, this Choy-designed residence has many of the same attributes of his own home yet is quite different. The extensive use of redwood and glass give this property a distinctive alpine look that takes full advantage of the view of the lake below.

Ivanhoe Drive Mid-Century, Mia Lehrer, Landscape Design, April Greiman, Color Design

Ivanhoe Drive Mid-Century, Mia Lehrer, Landscape Design, April Greiman, Color Design
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Featured in Featured in Sunset Magazine and recipient of the “Western Garden Design Award of Excellence” the Mid-Century Modern home at 2651 Ivanhoe Drive has been dramatically updated, thanks to the vision of AIGA design medalist April Greiman who designed the interior colors and the inviting gardens, designed by Landscape Architect Mia Lehrer. The house is located at 2651 Ivanhoe Drive.

Otero House, Ray V. Otero, Architect 1961, Inside Space Interiors, Restoration

Otero House, Ray V. Otero, Architect 1961, Inside Space Interiors, Restoration
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Architect Ray V. Otero selected a hillside lot in Silver Lake affording dramatic city views and built this lovely post and beam for his personal residence in 1961. Highlighted by high ceilings and walls of glass, the residence expresses Otero's Modernist ethic. A recent restoration by Inside Space Interiors brings a fresh vitality.

Manola Court Apartment Building, R.M. Schindler, Architect, 1926-1940

Manola Court Apartment Building, R.M. Schindler, Architect, 1926-1940
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Rudolph Schindler designed Manola Court for his client, artist/designer Herman Sachs over a 14-year period. They are an excellent example of Schindler's abstract style. Located at 1811-1830 Edgecliffe Drive. The entire complex of sixteen residences 'set within hilliside gardens on three adjacent street-to-street parcels' was listed for sale (July 2008) for $3M. A dramatic 2-story owner's loft connects directly to the original studio.

Photo taken from the 1800 block of Lucile Avenue.

Wood Residence, Padraic Cassidy, Architect 2004

Wood Residence, Padraic Cassidy, Architect 2004
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Dramatic contemporary home designed by South Pasadena-based architect Padraic Cassidy in 2004. I formerly reported that this home was designed by Kiyohara and Moffit, based upon records at the Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety, and only recently received this correction. The architect was kind enough to offer these great photographs which I am happy to share with you.

The Wood Residence is located at 2048 Kenilworth Avenue in the Moreno Highlands of Silver Lake.

Sokol House, Richard Neutra, Architect- 1948

Sokol House, Richard Neutra, Architect- 1948
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

One of the nine houses comprising the 'Neutra Colony' built incrementally between 1948 and 1961. The Sokol house was the first of the group and is distinctively different from the others. It is also one of the largest of the group, being 2382 square feet. The colony was designed as a 'posturing group' that is, 'the grouping of a team in cooperative action, where each individual posture complements the others and no soulless, mere side-by-side prevails.' The result is a 'community with a sense of sensual, animated tranquility, of accomplished sophistication rendered simply by mature hands. Each house is unique.'

Gumina House, Brian Kutz, Architect (Remodel) 2000

Gumina House, Brian Kutz, Architect (Remodel) 2000
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

After purchasing the house in 2000, John and Carly Gumina hired Architect Brian Kutz to do an extensive remodel, completely changing the facade of the original house. Located at 3500 Fernwood Avenue in Silver Lake.

Collins Residence, William Kesling, Designer/Builder 1936

Collins Residence, William Kesling, Designer/Builder 1936
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

The home had the unmistakeable quality of a Kesling Home: small but with elegant style. And of course it was in the area where there are about a half dozen or so surviving Keslings. He even showed me some fine old photographs taken by the great Julius Shulman of the house, and were given to the owner by Mr. Shulman.

The Collins House is located at 1709 Silverwood Terrace.

Garrett-Hansford Residence, Robert Kennard, Architect, 1964

Garrett-Hansford Residence, Robert Kennard, Architect, 1964
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

Much admired post + beam located at 2076 Redcliff Street in the Moreno Highlands. The sweeping curve of the east facing glass walls provides dramatic views of the reservoir from every room. A terrace divides the public rooms from the bedrooms.

Glendale/Hyperion Viaduct, John C. Shaw, City Engineer, 1927

Glendale/Hyperion Viaduct, John C. Shaw, City Engineer, 1927
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke

The Glendale/Hyperion Viaduct, popularly known as the Hyperion Bridge, was completed in June 1927. It was built by Salih Brothers, Contractors, during the term of George E. Cryer, Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. During its construction, H.J. McGuire was President of the Board of Public Works and Merrill Butler served as the Engineer of Bridges. It spans the Los Angeles River between Atwater Village and Silver Lake and Los Feliz. This picture was taken from the eastern (Atwater Village) side.

Silver Lake California : SILVER LAKE ARCHITECTURE

Silver Lake California : SILVER LAKE ARCHITECTURE

Silver Lake California : Los Angeles California Neighborhood Information & Events

Silver Lake California : Los Angeles California Neighborhood Information & Events

Neutra Lecture at Silver Lake Library Draws Standing Room Only Crowd

A standing-room-only crowd greeted Dr. Raymond Richard Neutra, youngest son of architect Richard Neutra and his wife Peggy Bauhus on Saturday, February 13th as the two presented “From Vienna to Silver Lake: Why Richard and Dione Neutra decided to be Americans” in a lecture at the new Silver Lake Library.


Dr. Neutra, with wife Peggy Bauhaus read from letters written by his parents, during the time that his father first came to America to explore its possibilities, while his young bride stayed home in Vienna. Afterwards, participants were invited to tour the VDL Research House. Architect Dion Neutra gave a fine lecture on the house that he and his brothers called home during their youth.



The VDL Research House, located in Silver Lake, is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. The house was bequeathed to California Polytechnic University at Pomona after Richard and Dione’s deaths. It is administered by the Cal Poly Foundation, and managed by the College of Environmental Design.

The BuzzCut Blog - Los Angeles Magazine

Los Angeles Magazine's Chris Nichols sent me this short video, expressing his love for the "City of the Angels"  Enjoy!
The BuzzCut Blog - Los Angeles Magazine

Meeting up with Author-Architect-Lecturer ALAN HESS

I had the pleasure of meeting Alan Hess recently at the iconic Bob's Big Boy Coffee Shop in Toluca Lake.  Hess has written extensively about Mid-Century architecture, including the book "Googie Redux".  He was kind enough to autograph the book for me, along with his recently published work, "Forgotten Modern".  Hess contributed to my research on the work of Architect Allyn E. Morris, specifically the "Lago Vista" condominium complex overlooking Echo Park Lake, which was featured in the Los Angeles Times as "Home of the Week" on January 3, 2010.

Richard Neutra Lecture at Silver Lake Library February 13th

Dr. Raymond Richard Neutra, youngest son of architect Richard Neutra will present 'From Vienna to Silver Lake: Why Richard and Dione Neutra decided to be Americans' in a lecture at the new Silver Lake Library, February 13, 2010.


Dr. Neutra, with wife Peggy Bauhaus will read from letters written by his parents, beginning at 2 p.m.. Afterwards, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Neutra will lead a tour of the VDL Research House nearby. There is a $10 fee for the tour; the lecture is free.

Dr. Neutra is Chief Emeritus of the Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, California Department of Public Health. He previously taught medical epidemology at Harvard University, UCLA and UC Berkeley. Since retiring in 2007, he has devoted his energies to the restoration and preservation of the VDL Research House. The experimental house and compound, where the Neutra family grew up, is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. It was bequethed to California Polytechnic Univesity at Pomona after the elder Neutra and his wife Dione died. The house is managed by the school's College of Environmental Design.

In recent years, Dr. Neutra has volunteered to help Cal Poly in fundraising for the restoration and reprogamming of the compound 'out of a sense of gratitude to my parents, who provided me with a sense of social responisibility. They provided a culturally rich home environment that in turn formed the foundation for a career in public health.', he said. (Raymond's architect and brother Dion, who took over the Neutra architectural practice after their father's death, is a consultant on the restoration project).

The Silver Lake Library is located at 2411 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039. Parking space is limited; please consider carpooling, bicycling or walking. Early arrival suggested!

Raymond Richard Neutra is pictured with his father, Richard Neutra in the photo, courtesy of Raymond Neutra..

Website:www.neutra-vdl.org

Sustainable Saturdays at Silver Lake Library


Beginning in February 2010, the Silver Lake Public Library will present a series of programs that will provide information and guidance to local residents about various different aspects of sustainable living. The series will be free to the public and will include talks and workshops by sustainability experts and documentary films about a range of sustainable practices. Space is limited, so reservations are required. Please call the Library at (323) 913-7453 to reserve your place.

Our first talk is about the Library itself:

Saturday February 6, 11am

The Integrated LEED Design of Silver Lake Library

Talk with Q&A by Thomas Michali, Partner, M2a Milofsky Michali and Cox Architects

Mr. Michali will present a brief introduction to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements and how the design process for the Silver Lake Library integrated green design features into the planning, design and construction to target the goal of reaching a Gold level building.

The series is organized by Meher McArthur, a Silver Lake resident, writer of the “Keen to be Green” column in the Los Feliz Ledger, and member of Sustainable Silver Lake in conjunction with the Silver Lake Library.

Silver Lake Library, 2411 Glendale Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA 90039  (323) 913-7453

Thomas Michali is pictured in the center with fellow Architect Barry Milofsky and Librarian Fontayne Holmes at the Dedication Ceremony, Silver Lake Library, November 16, 2009.

Architect A.E. Morris' "Largo Vista" Overlooking Echo Park Lake Reduced $20,000

What's a Million Dollar View Worth?


The Sellers have generously reduced the price $20K! Isn't it time to take a look?  The property was honored in the Los Angeles Times as "Home of the Week" on January 3, 2010 and recently featured in the popular website, "Curbed L.A."  To learn more, please visit the Largo Vista website or drop by for a visit, Sunday, Jan.24, 2010 between 1-4 p.m.

Author Lisa Steadman's "If He's Not the One, Who Is" Book Launch at Tantra

Relationship Expert Lisa Steadman with the help of hubby Luis de Avila threw a Book Launch Party last evening, January 16, 2010 at the fancy Tantra Lounge in Silver Lake.  Her new book, "if he's not the one, who is?" was the main topic of discussion at the book-signing event.  I had the pleasure of attending with Donna Jean.  It was a festive evening, with fancy appetizers, a fabulous location, and all of Lisa's beautiful friends.

Allyn E. Morris' "Lago Vista Complex in Echo Park is L.A. Times "Home of the Week"

My listing at 1701 Clinton Street in Echo Park is Los Angeles Times Home of the Week"!

http://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/news/la-fi-home3-2010jan03,0,1285559.story