Category Archives: Architecture

Architecture

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

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Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Entry Rotunda, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Entry Rotunda, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Ballroom, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Ballroom, Photo Romi Cortier
PORTRAITS of the FALLEN MEMORIAL, Photo Romi Cortier
PORTRAITS of the FALLEN MEMORIAL, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Presidential Limousine, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Presidential Limousine, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Presidential Helicopter, Photo Romi Cortier
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Presidential Helicopter, Photo Romi Cortier

The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum was host to The Portraits of the Fallen Memorial exhibition from May 10, 2014 – July 6, 2014.

I will admit that I was apprehensive about going to the Nixon Library to attend the Portraits of the Fallen Memorial exhibition. However, after spending the better part of the day touring the massive exhibits and beautiful grounds, I found it quite educational. I’ve decided that while this may be my first experience at a Presidential Library, it certainly won’t be my last. It was after all,  a museum.   A museum complete with gifts to President Nixon, clothing worn by First Lady Pat Nixon, campaign memorabilia, video footage… oh yeah, and of course those pesky watergate tapes. I may be a left leaning guy politically, but If I can’t keep an open mind, then I’m just another extremist.

The most poignant part of my experience at the Nixon Library was to see President Nixon‘s birthplace, and then understand the trajectory of his life that brought him full circle to his final resting place next to First Lady Pat Nixon, about 100 feet from where he was born. I was a bit startled to see their headstones, but I know it’s a sentiment my late mother would have loved, to be buried near her roses.

I also have to say that I love the pomp and circumstance associated with all things Presidential, regardless of party. To me, that’s simply being American.  I loved seeing the Presidential Seal on the 1967 Presidential Limousine that carried Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. Apparently it weighs as much as that Presidential Helicopter… all 11,000 pounds. In fact, the 1977 Guinness Book of World Records states that this is “the most expensive car ever built… cost for research, development and manufacturing was estimated at $500,000.” President Obama’s 2009 Cadillac Limousine is assumed to have cost $300,000. I would have guessed higher considering the expense of technology… maybe it’s made in China. (Oops, did I just say that?) Seriously though, if you live near a Presidential Library, or are considering visiting one, I highly recommend it. You’ll without a doubt be enriched by your experience. And if all else fails, attend a wedding at one.  My research shows that this particular Presidential Library is a hot spot for weddings.

FYI – American Flag Protocol recommends our flag should lead, not follow, and should always be attached to the front right corner of an automobile, preferably the chassis.

 

 

Architecture

The Heart of John Lautner’s Harvey Residence

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Harvey Residence, Main Entry, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey Residence, Main Entry, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey Residence, Foyer, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey Residence, Foyer, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey House, Circular Main Room, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey House, Circular Main Room, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey Residence, Living Room, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey Residence, Living Room, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey House, Mid-Century Lighting, Photo Romi Cortier
Harvey House, Mid-Century Lighting, Photo Romi Cortier

The remarkable Central column above might be the Heart of John Lautner‘s Harvey Residence ,  or it might also be Actress Kelly Lynch and Mitch Glazer who are committed to mid-century preservation.  In 2008 they opened their home to the public via the MAK Center and the Hammer Museum in conjunction with the Lautner retrospective ‘Between Earth and Heaven’.

Marked as a tear-down,  the couple bought the home in 1998 and set to work restoring the 1950 residence.  No two Lautner homes are alike, even if this concentric design reminds you of his iconic Chemosphere home.  While Lautner had a strong preoccupation with geometric forms, such as the circle and triangle, his homes are ultimately rooted in the concept of integrating the home into its location, creating an organic flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces.  If the words ‘Organic Architecture’  ring any bells, you might be thinking Frank Lloyd Wright whom Lautner apprenticed under at Taliesin .

The fact that all of this might be lost because the home sits on a remarkable piece of property with a 180 degree view, or more, is unthinkable. Imagine sitting in the grand central room while listening to chamber music as the lights of the city twinkle behind the performers… it’s pure magic. As luck would have it, several years ago one of my clients gave me her tickets for The Da Camera Society, who specialize in Chamber Music In Historic Sites.  Therefore, I’ve been in this home twice, and Kelly and Mitch as usual are remarkable hosts.  They wouldn’t know me if I walked in through their doors again, but that’s not the point. The point, is that they’ve restored this remarkable home and kept the doors open, even to the public.

 

 

 

Architecture, Decorative Arts

Art Deco Metal Works of the Waldorf Astoria

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Art Deco Mailbox at the Waldorf Astoria, Photo Romi Cortier
Art Deco Mailbox at the Waldorf Astoria, Photo Romi Cortier
Elevator Doors at the Waldorf Astoria, Photo Romi Cortier
Elevator Doors at the Waldorf Astoria, Photo Romi Cortier
Waldorf Astoria Seating Area, Photo Romi Cortier
Waldorf Astoria Seating Area, Photo Romi Cortier
Waldorf Astoria Vent Register, Photo Romi Cortier
Waldorf Astoria Vent Register, Photo Romi Cortier
Waldorf Astoria Stairwell, Photo Romi Cortier
Waldorf Astoria Stairwell, Photo Romi Cortier

Art Deco is alive and well at the Waldorf Astoria. Over 80 years have passed since she was built in 1931 by Schultze and Weaver, and she’s still the jewel of the City. I had the distinct pleasure of staying there this spring (thank you American Express Rewards) and I wasn’t disappointed. Since my first visit to her lobby in the early 1980’s, I’ve been wowed by her glamour and sophistication. Judging by the amount of tourists taking selfies in her lobby, I’m not the only one.

As a guest of the hotel, I took the opportunity to wander her halls and corridors, examining every detail.  I was wowed at every turn. She is indeed a total work of art. Vent registers, handrails, elevator doors, mailboxes, the list goes on, it’s craftsmanship at its finest. It’s no surprise that Cole Porter lived there for 25 years… I would too. And with the private driveway underneath the hotel, I can see why every president stays there, secret service must love it. In fact, I was a spectacular way to exit my 4 day stay at the hotel, in chauffeured town car wearing my biggest sunglasses (yes it was actually sunny). If only someone would have alerted the paparazzi… oh, that’s right, I’m not famous. But I sure felt like it while staying at the Waldorf Astoria.

 

Architecture

A Fundraiser at the Kaufman House

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Kaufman House, Upper Level, Photo Romi Cortier
Kaufman House, Upper Level, Photo Romi Cortier
Kaufman House, Upper Level, Photo Romi Cortier
Kaufman House, Upper Level, Photo Romi Cortier
Kaufman House, Upper Level, Photo Romi Cortier
Kaufman House, Upper Level, Photo Romi Cortier
Kaufman House, Courtyard, Photo Romi Cortier
Kaufman House, Courtyard, Photo Romi Cortier
Filmmaker Eric Bricker at the Kaufman House
Filmmaker Eric Bricker at the Kaufman House

In 2008 or 09,  there was a major Fundraiser at the Kaufman House in Palm Springs, to help raise funds for Eric Bricker’s  documentary film Visual Acoustics.  Apparently I was the last person in town to hear about it until about 24 hours before the event… and of course it was sold out. But that didn’t stop me.  A friend and I kept calling and hounding the people in charge, begging for a $100 ticket. Gaining access to the Kaufman House was extremely rare, and I knew this would be my one shot, and so worth the price of admission.

I left LA after work on saturday making the mad dash to the desert for the evening event, with dress clothes in tow. I got word en route that yes, they’d let us in. However, there were a few stipulations. No photographs in the home, nor from the end of the pool facing the mountains. That vantage point was sacred as Julius Shulman had shot his iconic image of the home from there in 1947. But that didn’t stop me from setting my little camera on the cocktail table and snapping a couple shots when no one was looking, thus the image at the top of the page.

I spent most of the evening on the upper level where I shot the images above. It was a tranquil summer night with a beautiful moon and no wind. It was the epitome of what desert modernism was about, indoor and outdoor spaces that effortlessly flow into one another. The home was built by Richard Neutra in 1946, and has remained a classic. In fact, it’s considered one of the most important houses of the 20th Century, along with Fallingwater, Robie House, Gropius House and the Gamble House.

Mr. Julius Shulman was in attendance, and despite being wheelchair bound, was having the time of his life. He was holding court in the new Marmol Radzner Pool House (built to enjoy the view his photo had made so famous) surrounded by beautiful women.  Eric Bricker’s documentary was putting the man behind the camera front and center, celebrating his life’s work… he was indeed a rockstar.

 

Architecture, Decorative Arts

Drapery Details from the Grand Trianon at the Palace of Versailles

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Window Drapery Tassel
Window Drapery Tassel. Photo Romi Cortier
Drapery Tassel
Window Drapery Tassel. Photo Romi Cortier
Drapery Tassel Medallion
Drapery Tassel Medallion. Photo Romi Cortier

I Love these Drapery Details from the Grand Trianon at the Palace of Versailles! The Grand Trianon  was built by Jules Mansart in 1687 for Louis XIV, (also known as the ‘Sun King’)  as a reprieve from the formality of life at the main Palace. This little get away for him and his mistress, Madame de Montespan, was lush with decorative details. This remarkable color palette  is over 300 years old, and is proof that some things are always a classic, regardless of the current trends. I would assume that these items have been refreshed or refurbished since 1687, as much of the Palace has been undergoing renovations during the last decade.  The furniture and art of this residence is so spectacular, that these details could easily have gone unnoticed. I’ve been to Versailles several times, and this was one of the few times this residence had been open to the public. If you’re there and it’s open, don’t miss it. It’s usually less crowded than the main Palace and can easily be done in an hour… unless you like to linger and enjoy the details. Then by all means, walk very very slowly because there’s so much to take.