Stahl House aka Case Study House #22, Photo Romi CortierStahl House aka Case Study House #22, Photo Romi CortierStahl House aka Case Study House #22, Photo Romi CortierStahl House aka Case Study House #22, Photo Romi CortierStahl House aka Case Study House #22, Photo Romi CortierStahl House aka Case Study House #22, Photo Romi CortierStahl House aka Case Study House #22, Photo Romi CortierStahl House aka Case Study House #22,, Photo Romi CortierMrs. Stahl of the Stahl House, Case Study House #22, Photo 2009
The Stahl House, also known as Case Study House #22, is without a doubt one of the most famous homes in all of Los Angeles… and maybe the world. Built in 1959 as part of the Case Study House Program, it’s probably one of thee most photographed homes ever.
The late Julius Shulman made the residence famous with his iconic black and white photo of the home which featured two elegant women lounging in the home at dusk, as the city sparkled behind them. This happened in 1960, and the home has been on a roll ever since. Movies, editorial fashion shoots, tv commercials… I guarantee you’ve seen this home and it’s stunning panoramic view more often then you realize.
I was beyond excited when I was able to join an architectural tour to see this home in ’09. While it appears larger than life in photos, the square footage is in reality only about 2200 Square feet. It’s the balanced proportions that makes this residence looks so massive. Designed by Pierre Koenig for Buck Stahl and his family, the modernist glass and steel constructed home has become one of the most iconic mid-century homes in southern California.
Located in the Hollywood Hills above the Sunset Strip, the house was declared an LA Historical Cultural Monument in 1999. While the homes address is easy to find, 1635 Woods Drive, LA Ca. 90069, you’ll need to think twice about doing a drive by to catch a glimpse of it and the remarkable views. I learned when I visited the home that it’s on one of those gated private roads. But, if you’d really like to see the home, you can schedule a private tour that is remarkably affordable. For as little as $60, one person in one car, can have access to the home for an hour. Why not bring your significant other, a picnic basket and a bottle of wine, and sit and chill by the pool at dusk. I guarantee you it’s a ‘date night’ either of you would soon forget.
FYI The 2010 Documentary Visual Acoustics revisited this home with Photographer Julius Shulman, where he briefly talks about what it took to create his iconic image at the Sthal House.
Aria, Las Vegas, Photo Romi CortierCrystals Ceiling, Las Vegas, Photo Romi CortierThe Shops at Crystals, Las Vegas, Photo Romi CortierCrystals Staircase Detail, Las Vegas, Photo Romi CortierConcierge for the Shops at Crystals, Las Vegas, Photo Romi CortierGlacia Public Art Installation, The Shops at Crystals, Las Vegas, Photo Romi CortierCityCenter Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier
Crystals Shopping Center in Las Vegas has the most sublime architecture of any Shopping Mall I’ve ever seen. With over half a million square feet of high end retail space and clean breathable smoke free air with the subtlest scent of fragrance, Crystals sets the bar for high end shopping at a ‘mall’.
Known as CityCenter, or CityCenter Las Vegas, it’s makes me think of what Frank Gehry might have designed if he were ever enticed to create a shopping center, hotel and casino all in one. The conceptual master plan was actually designed by Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architects, with almost 17 million square feet covering 76 acres. At a cost of over 9.2 billion, it took roughly 5 years to construct.
I first discovered this remarkable complex on 11.11.11 when I joined my sister in Las Vegas for her wedding (along with about 20 thousand others couples). I’d heard about this ‘modern’ shopping center from a client of mine whose husband is an architect. Obviously it would have been impossible to miss this extraordinary presence on the Las Vegas Strip. It tantalizes everyone of your sense, from its stunning silhouettes, to its contrasting textures and tonal values. There’s even 5 water features with sounds to sooth your ears, including the remarkable ice sculpture Glacia. With thirteen Ice Pillars rising 15 vertical feet, the core of each Pillar is maintained at a constant minus 5 degrees fahrenheit to keep them frozen. It also takes up to 36 hours for the columns to re-freeze, which is no small feat when you considered it’s located just 50 feet from the entrance. We all know how hot and crowded Vegas can be, and when you step from the strip into this slice of heaven, you never want to leave. My senses are booth soothed and invigorated from the moment I walk in. It’s a reprieve from the riff-raff and re-defines modern luxury. You don’t need to have deep pockets to walk into this mall and chill out, but it sure helps if you do. Tom Ford, Valentino, Prada, Van Cleef & Arpels, Lalique, Gucci, Miu Miu, Cartier, Balenciaga… names, names names darling. I feel like Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous as those lovely words roll off my tongue. Pack your Black Amex and meet me in Las Vegas at Crystals, it’s time for some retail therapy.
Harpel House by John Lautner, Photo Romi CortierHarpel House by John Lautner, Photo Romi CortierHarpel House by John Lautner, Photo Romi CortierHarpel House by John Lautner, Photo Romi CortierHarpel House by John Lautner, Photo Romi CortierHarpel House by John Lautner, Photo Romi CortierHarpel House by John Lautner, Photo Romi Cortier
John Lautner’s 1956 Harpel House may sit in the shadow of Chemosphere, his famous flying saucer home, but it’s a shining gem in its own right.
I visited this home in 2008 as part of the MAK Center tour, organized in conjunction with the Hammer Museum‘s John Lautner exhibit Between Earth and Heaven. This home was on the tour because recent renovations by Mark Haddawy had restored the home to its original design. Lets call it a ‘make under’ because that’s exactly what it was. Haddawy removed a second story addition, stucco walls, aluminum window frames, track lighting and a myriad of other ‘improvements’ by previous owners who thought they were modernizing and improving the mid-century home. Haddawy spent two years removing those improvements and then recreated Lautner’s door knobs, light fixtures and other details, returning the home to the architects original vision. His passion as a preservationist has given great hope and pride to architectural enthusiasts, and shows what’s possible at a time when many of these homes are on the brink of being bulldozed.
Thanks to Haddawy’s restoration, I was able to observe Lautner’s use of a ‘radial’ support system for the roof. While homes like Silver Top (lower level) and the Harvey Residence feature a single central support pillar with beams radiating out, this home features multiple concrete pillars with beams radiating out, ultimately creating a zig zag pattern. This remarkable construction gives more flexibility to the placement of walls both inside and out. Thus the exterior walls are no longer ‘load bearing’. This is what allows the hallway to exist on the outer perimeter of the homes north side, joining the bedrooms with the main living area. It also allows for the creation of the homes hexagonal living room. You’ll also notice in the photos that the stone flooring in the living room is continued out onto the patio by the pool. This helps blend the indoors with the out doors because there’s no threshold line with contrasting materials on either side. Thus, stone gives way to stone, versus hardwood floors against concrete or tile. Additionally, the stones are irregularly shaped, as is the pool, which again adds to the visual continuity of the homes overall design. Ultimately, this groundbreaking design serves a larger purpose, which is to maximize the stunning views of the San Fernando Valley. It’s to bad we weren’t allowed to bring our swimming suits on the home tour, because I would have loved nothing more then to run and jump on that amazing diving board, and canon ball into the pool.
Armand Hammer Family Mausoleum. Photo Romi CortierInside the Armand Hammer Family Mausoleum, Photo Romi Cortier
Armand Hammer Family Mausoleum, Photo Romi CortierArmand Hammer Family Mausoleum Skylight, Photo Romi CortierMarble Bench inside the Armand Hammer Family Mausoleum, Photo Romi CortierInside the Armand Hammer Family Mausoleum with Heiress Casey Hammer, Granddaughter of Dr. Armand Hammer, Photo Romi CortierCasey Hammer, Granddaughter of Dr. Armand Hammer, at the Armand Hammer Family Mausoleum, Photo Romi Cortier
That’s right, I’m taking you inside the Armand Hammer Family Mausoleum... why, because I can.
How many of us will ever go inside a mausoleum? Not many. And as luck would have it, one of my dear friends for nearly two decades is a member of the Hammer family, Ms. Casey Hammer. For years she’s joked about taking me inside the family’s mausoleum, where she’d often hang out with her late father Julian Hammer, and late grandfather Dr. Armand Hammer. With her wicked sense of humor, she’d leave the doors ajar, sit back, and then surprise and scare unsuspecting tourists, catching them off guard as they’d try and enter. So, since I finally have this Design Diary in place (thanks to her encouragement) I thought I’d take her up on the offer to finally see the inside of it.
If you’ve ever been to the world famous Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, then you’ve probably seen this mausoleum . Trip Advisor rates this mausoleum as #48 of 1,010 Attractions in Los Angeles. Yes, it’s odd to refer to a cemetery as world famous but here’s a short list of Hollywood Luminaries who are buried here: Truman Capote, Heather O’Rourke (the young actress who played ‘Carol Anee’ in Poltergeist I, II, III – as her headstone states) Dean Martin, Walter Matthau, Carroll O’Connor, Rodney Dangerfield, Farrah Fawcett, Merv Griffin and yes, the worlds most famous and iconic blonde, Marilyn Monroe.
It had been nearly a decade since Casey was inside the family mausoleum. She inserted the key, gave it a little turn, and the heavy bronze gate slowly began to opened. Once the doors were open, the interior took on new life. The luster of the white marble looked brilliant as the setting sun streamed in through the leaded glass side window. The marble floor sparkled with rainbows patterns creating a mystical glow that permeated the space. As we stepped inside, I looked up and noticed the stunning stained glass skylight that was barely visible from the outside. As you may have noticed, the exterior is granite, while the doors are bronze. I would love to know more about the design motifs used in the skylight, leaded glass side windows and the doors, however, I can’t seem to find any information about them. I also couldn’t find any information on who designed the space, but I did learn that this is the only family mausoleum in the cemetery.
Casey explained to me that her grandfather moved his parents Julius and Rose Hammer, as well as brother Harry Hammer, over from Russia to be entombed here. There are two spaces left which are designated for Casey and her brother. Until recently, I couldn’t begin to imagine what it’s like to know where your final resting place would be. However, I’ve recently made that decision for myself, and there’s a sense of relief that comes with taking care of this type of business.
During my feng shui studies at UCLA, our teacher explained to us that thousands of years ago in the asian culture, a warring nation would first attack the tombs of the dead to usurp the chi from the living, thus weakening their opponents. Their belief system indicated that the living drew energy from the deceased relatives for up to 80 years. If that’s true, then I can see why Casey takes great solace in visiting her father, grandfather and great grandparents in this elegant space located just across the street from her grandfathers museum, the Armand Hammer Museum. I know how sacred this space is to her, and I appreciated the opportunity to go inside and spend time with her family. I will also admit that we took a few #CemetarySelfies (see Instagram) and some other photos that might be considered inappropriate… but it gave us both huge belly laughs, and nothing raises the vibration of a space more than laughter. Therefore, I believe we left more ‘light’ in the space than we took.
Egyptian Revival at 2700 Glendower, Photo Romi CortierTerrace at 2700 Glendower, Image courtesy Redfin 2014Dining Terrace off kitchen at 2700 Glendower, Image courtesy Redfin 2014Living Room, Top Floor at 2700 Glendower, Image courtesy MLS 2010Dining Room at 2700 Glendower, Image courtesy MLS 2010Fireplace at 2700 Glendower, Image courtesy MLS 2010Kitchen at 2700 Glendower, Image courtesy MLS 2010Guest unit & back patio at 2700 Glendower, Photo courtesy MLS 2010
This Egyptian Revival Residence at 2700 Glendower Avenue in Los Feliz is my former residence. Granted, I lived in the mother-in-law apartment behind the house, but it made my first few years in LA pretty special. My view was of the golf course on the north side of the hill, with the ability to hear concerts at the Greek Theater… like Ms. Tina Turner.
Michele, who owned the house, was one of LA’s few female stunt car/precision drivers. Remember those Mercedes Benz commercials with Cybil Shepard in the 90’s? That was Michele’s handy work. I was living in an 8 week sublet when I met Michele at the salon and heard about her ‘room for rent’. I couldn’t move in fast enough. She also had 3 beautiful dogs that roamed the gated compound, so there was never any need to lock the doors. I’m going to do my best to dig up some photos from my archives of my time there. In the meantime, I’m using current and past MLS photos for this post, plus the ones I took from the street recently.
When I was taking photos at the Egyptian Theater this week, the trapezoid shapes triggered my memory of Michele’s home. So I decided it was time for a drive by to see how the house was looking. I was surprised to see that the home was for sale, and even more stunned to read it described as a Contemporary Brick & Glass Masterpiece. That’s not how I remembered it, so I looked it up on the MLS when I got home. Usually I’m all for renovating and updating, however, in this case, I think it was a huge mistake. Some homes are meant to have old world charm, and this is one of those homes. Michele had spent years working with a British Blue Blood Designer making the home into a rustic southwestern styled retreat. I realize that by now, that look was probably dated as well. However, the new images I’ve posted below from the current MLS listing show a remarkable change. The white kitchen looks like it belongs in a cape cod styled home. And the 60’s mod/hollywood regency great room looks ridiculous. It appears the fireplace as been removed, which makes me wonder about structural support. I was living in this home during the NorthRidge earthquake, and we came through it fairly unscathed. In fact, we had a large feast at the dinner table that night with about half a dozen of us, celebrating our good fortune.
My favorite room in this entire residence was the upstairs living room with the panoramic views. Sadly, the recessed soffits that echoed the exterior shape of the curved stucco trim, are completely gone. The room had previously been styled with vintage and rustic furniture that included an oval shaped wrought iron coffee table, previously used for a child’s casket. I know, sounds grim, but it was pretty damn cool. Her downstairs office was also lined with cowhide, there were rough hewn wide planks floors through out the home, with an overall casual elegance to it.
The home was built in 1924, and was completed about 6 months before Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis BrownHome down the street. I can only imagine what the ridge must have looked like in the 20’s & 30’s with only those Egyptian and Mayan structures. Michele had told me that the home was built by a Saudi Prince for his Mistress, however, research shows that it was built by contractor Arthur Holiday as his personal residence, and is sometimes referred to at the Arthur Holiday Residence… I think I like Michele’s story better. Also Michele had mentioned that she could have bought the lot across the street for about $15,000 in the early 70’s to ensure her view. She thought why bother, who could possibly build in the middle of that ravine. But this is LA, she should have known better. Once the home across the street was finally built, it took years to sell… lets chalk it up to bad feng shui.
The home was listed on 5/15/2012 by Carol Dotson at 310.927.4107, and was recently reduced by $200,000 to $2,395,000. I guess I’m not the only one who isn’t in love with the cape-cod/mid-century makeover. Hopefully it’ll sell to someone who has the vision to restore some of what’s been lost… this is after all, one of LA’s only Egyptian Revival homes.
Upstairs Living Room at 2700 Glendower, Photo Courtesy MLS 2014Great Room at 2700 Glendower, Photo courtesy MLS 2014Kitchen at 2700 Glendower, Photo courtesy MLS 2014
