Silver Ridge Avenue has some of the most storied monuments to Modernist architecture to be found in the world, including works by Harwell Hamilton Harris, Rudolph Schindler, J.R. Davidson and Allyn E. Morris. Visiting there recently, I was struck by a number of exciting new architectural projects being infilled in a few of the steep, remaining hillside lots, and some interesting remodels.
A real eye-catcher is this stunning architectural statement at 2358 Silver Ridge. Designed by Sean Briski, Principal of the architectural firm ChromaAD, Briski has created something very special as the accompanying photos will attest.
The exterior of the house is a series of experiments in wall construction that have been organized into a composition. The screen wall at the stair is made up of tire 'alligators' sandwiched between panels of glass. The light-transmitting wall panel in the living room is made with packing peanuts laid between twin wall lexan.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Tree House, Standard llp Architects jeffrey allsbrook | silvia kuhle | nicholas hopson | sylwia pasciak 2002-2010
Tree House, Standard llp Architects jeffrey allsbrook | silvia kuhle | nicholas hopson | sylwia pasciak 2002-2010
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke
Tree House, Standard llp Architects jeffrey allsbrook | silvia kuhle | nicholas hopson | sylwia pasciak 2002-2010
Tree House, Standard llp Architects jeffrey allsbrook | silvia kuhle | nicholas hopson | sylwia pasciak 2002-2010
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke
Monday, January 3, 2011
Brauer-Drobka Residence, Bardwell Case & Associates, Architects (Remodel) 2004
Brauer-Drobka Residence, Bardwell Case & Associates, Architects (Remodel) 2004
Originally uploaded by Michael Locke
The Brauer-Drobka Residence is located at 3106 Berkeley Circle in Silver Lake.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
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
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Purviance Duplex, R. M. Schindler, 1923
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.'
Friday, December 24, 2010
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
Sunday, December 19, 2010
3507 Fernwood, Steven Hill, Architect- 1983
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
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
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.
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
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
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
Hansen Residence Harwell H. Harris, Architect 1950-51
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
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
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
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
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.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
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
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
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
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
Photo taken from the 1800 block of Lucile Avenue.
Wood Residence, Padraic Cassidy, Architect 2004
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.
The Wood Residence is located at 2048 Kenilworth Avenue in the Moreno Highlands of Silver Lake.
Sokol House, Richard Neutra, Architect- 1948
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
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
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.
The Collins House is located at 1709 Silverwood Terrace.
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