RM Schindler - Rodriguez House - Master Architects - International Style on Waymarking.com

1845 Niodrara Drive

Rudolf Michael(RM) Schindler (1887-1953) was a pivotal Modernist architect who remained largely unrecognized by the critical establishment during his lifetime. A pragmatist and theoretician, Schindler designed more than 500 projects, over 150 of which were built, most of these in the Los Angeles area, where he settled in 1920. Working out of his Kings Road house (1921-22) (visit link) he developed his own original form of modern architecture, which he called "Space Architecture" in which his central concerns were the creation of complex and beautiful interior spaces composed of space, climate, light and mood (visit link) .

The Rodriguez house, a house of wood, stucco and stone, served as a transition to his post World War II "Schindler Frame" work. Unlike the "skin designs" of the 1930s, RMS is now interested in exposing structural members. In the living area, he extends the exposed rafters of the sloped roof and turns them at a right-angle to connect them to the beams support the floor below. This series of ribs protruding outside suggests a rotated volume.

Located on a verdant, sloping lot the L-shaped plan is turned at a 45-degree angle to the street and the property limits to optimize solar orientation. The living spaces are organized on the upper floor while providing access to the backyard via a porch. A complex set of built-in furniture separates the living room from the dining room. The bedroom wing bridges over a passageway that connects the front and back garden. A continuous band of clerestories provides a double exposure to all rooms.

4/5/09 Update
Just watched the movie "Pineapple Express" and was surprised to discover the exterior of the Rodriguez house featured as the home of one of the main characters where the shooting occurred (visit link) . Who'd have guessed they would seek out such a distinguished location for such a silly movie.

Architect: Rudolf Schindler Building Type: Residential Date Built: 1940-42 City building is located in: Glendale, CA

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Date Logged Log   04/05/2009 Darmok and Jalad wrote comment for it

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