Silver Lake Modernism – Then and Now
Jacobson Residence, Ed Fickett, Architect
Saturday, September 30, 2006, 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM
Urban Operations Studio, John Southern, Architect
photos by David Etzen
This brochure is your ticket. It must be presented at each location
A tour of eight modernist homes designed by both mid-century and contemporary architects
Committee to Save Silver Lake’s Reservoirs
1
BUBESHKO APARTMENTS
Built in 1937-38 for Luby and Lily Bubeshko, the apartments are one
of Schindler’s best-known multi-family designs, one of ten in Silver Lake, recently restored to near original condition.
The plywood ceilings were the first ever done by Schindler, and the original color palette compliments the colors in the
plywood grain. Trademark elements can be seen throughout: indirect and direct light panels, extensive use of glass,
closets punched into adjacent rooms and built-in furniture to add to the sense of space.
2346 - 2348 Cove At 1,700 sq. ft., this was originally a duplex, reconfigured into a single family home by designer
George Minmaugh. Renovation included appliances, cabinets and tile that are true to Walker’s intent. Original
concrete floor grids remain, as do the living room’s flagstone hearth and open fireplace. The home was featured in the
2006 Sundance documentary Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman.
Rudolph Schindler
2344 Cove Recent restoration has brought this unit nearly back to its original condition. Many of the Walker
trademarks are apparent, including mahogany wall panels, striped mahogany ceilings, light boxes, storage
compartments hidden above door jambs, and the original green color Walker used to bring the outside in.
2
2342 Cove Designed as a one-bedroom with an adjacent studio, this unit was converted into a two-bedroom.
Removing carpet tiles in the living room revealed the original concrete floors. The mahogany-covered walls add
warmth to a space dominated by concrete and glass. Walker elements can be seen throughout: light boxes for task
lighting, louvered clerestory windows above the kitchen cabinets, and “L”- shaped metal rods that once held curtain
room dividers.
After leaving Vienna for Chicago to work with Frank Lloyd Wright, 29-year-old Rudolph
Schindler then came to Los Angeles, where he oversaw construction of Wright’s Hollyhock House. He built his Kings
Road studio/residence in West Hollywood and the Lovell Beach House in Newport Beach in the 1920’s. The Kings
Road house was originally built as a two-family residence, and at one time was shared with Richard and Dione Neutra.
JACOBSON HOUSE
Built in 1953 for a radiologist, the home has had five owners. The current
owner spent three years returning it to its current pristine condition. The home is “L” shaped, wrapping around the
pool on a wedge-shaped lot. Walls of windows include louvered panels for air circulation, opening onto spectacular
views from the ocean to the Griffith Park Observatory. The original color palette of gold, green and tan has been
faithfully observed. The brick patio, vintage furnishings, period art, Formica countertops and mahogany walls,
cabinets and fireplace surround are in keeping with Fickett’s and the Jacobsons’ plan for the home.
Edward Ficket
Named “An American Hero” by the American Institute of Architects, Edward Fickett was a
fourth-generation Angeleno, graduating from USC in 1937. He did graduate work at MIT in architecture, engineering
and city planning. He designed as many as 60,000 homes (some 10,000 in the San Fernando Valley). At the end
of WWII, Fickett’s mission was a home for every returning veteran. The result was a ranch house with an open floor
plan, raised ceilings, partial walls and walls of glass.
3
AVENEL COOPERATIVE
Rodney Walker
Born in 1910 in Salt Lake City, Rodney Walker studied engineering at Pasadena City College,
then art and mechanics at UCLA, graduating in 1938. After working as a draftsman for Rudolph Schindler and
spending the war years at Douglas Aircraft Co., Walker moved to Ojai, CA, designing and building custom homes
(including his own). After “retiring” in 1971, he opened the Oaks Hotel in Ojai, becoming a jewelry designer and
gift shop owner. He died in 1986 leaving few records of his projects.
7
FLAVIN HOUSE
Part of the Neutra Colony, this three-bedroom, 1,587-square-foot home was completed
in 1957. The owners requested a “large, anonymous space,” resulting in a perfectly shaped, multipurpose “U”. A
trademark feature is the seamless wall of windows that
draws a visitor to the views of Silver Lake.
Built as a
“cooperative experiment” in 1948, each three-bedroom
unit was originally 960 sq. ft. and sold for $11,000. The
flexible floor plan includes sliding doors that reveal or
conceal rooms as needed. Each of the ten units branches
off one side of a common path, set at an angle from the
street. Living rooms open into private outdoor spaces,
bringing the outdoors in. Geometric lines, flat roofs, and
lack of exterior decoration are also Ain trademarks.
After decades of neglect, this unit was restored and
modified. The living room was expanded four feet and
the full-length sliding glass doors replaced.
The current owners have lovingly restored the house.
In the living room, the cork floors, the Altec-Lansing
stereo speaker, and the brown and red walls have
been returned to their original condition. The kitchen
has original cabinetry and wood walls, and the front
bathroom and rear bedroom’s closet doors have been
restored to the original.
Richard Neutra
O’ Neill Apartments, Rodney Walker, Architect
Gregory Ain
As an architecture student in the late 1920’s (when he and Harwell Hamilton Harris studied under
Richard Neutra), Gregory Ain intensified his conviction that modern architecture is an agent of social change. His
belief in benefiting the many vs. the individual is evident in his multi-family housing projects, including the 1937
“Dunsmuir Flats” apartments in Los Angeles. Ain designed at least eight projects in Silver Lake, an area known for
progressive attitudes. One of the first locally trained modernists, Ain worked with both Rudolph Schindler and Richard
Neutra, and helped Charles Eames develop his famous bent plywood chairs.
4 VIDAL HOUSE This previously nondescript 1937 stucco structure was recently re-imagined by architect
Ana Henton and interior designer Karen Vidal. Its exterior was wrapped with a rain screen of Prodema panels
imported from Spain, comprised of hundreds of layers of phenolic resin finished with a veneer of Okoume, an African
hardwood. Out of public view, the structure forms an “L” around a lush, exotic pool and cabana area.
Ana Henton
With her Princeton Masters in Architecture in hand, Ana Henton began her career working with
Frank Gehry. In 2003, she began practicing in Silver Lake and is now a principal at Mass Architecture and Design,
where she and partner Gregory Williams focus on residential and commercial designs. One of her first clients was
Silver Lake Wine on Glendale Blvd. – the result demonstrates that high-concept design is not necessarily high-budget.
5
HANSEN HOUSE
Designed in 1950 for Endicott & Alice Hansen, this home has a winding path that
leads to the deck and entry elevated over the garage, providing a spectacular view of the reservoir and privacy from
the traffic below. Every room has a garden or lake view.
Harris designed the living room to draw the eye to the reservoir across the street, with clerestory windows to provide
additional light. By grouping window and door openings within the solid walls, Harris gave a more expansive feeling
to a small room. He designed the dining room table and chairs as well as the built-in living room sofas and cabinets.
The current owner, who purchased the home in 1992, has maintained the original linoleum and plastic laminate
countertops with stainless steel edging in the kitchen. The color palette is true to Harris’ original design.
Harwell Hamilton Harris
One of the few American architects in the modernist tradition, Harris initially
studied sculpture, drawing and painting at Otis Art Institute. Enthralled by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House,
he enrolled at Berkeley’s School of Architecture in 1928. After seeing a Hollywood apartment building attributed to
Schindler and Neutra, he sought them out and became a Neutra apprentice (an association that lasted until 1951),
working on the Lovell Health House in Los Feliz, among others. Harris was committed to both simplicity and flexibility,
consistency of materials and light and openness. Unlike other modernist pioneers, he preferred wood rather than steel.
6
O’NEILL APARTMENTS
Rodney Walker built the O’Neill Apartments in 1953 as four units in
two buildings, one stacked above the other. The west side of each building is predominated by glass, opening to the
patios and views of the Silver Lake reservoir. The east side walkway is covered with a combed plywood that is no
longer fabricated
Flavin Residence, Richard Neutra, Architect
Born in Vienna in 1892, Neutra
is credited with introducing the International Style to
America. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1923, he
partnered with Rudolph Schindler before opening his
own studio.
Neutra was a master at designing dramatic structures on dramatically sloping sites. His constructions of light metal
frames, stucco finishes, walls of glass, and flat roofs contrasted with the surrounding lush landscapes. True to his
belief that modern architecture is a social force for the betterment of mankind, he designed Depression-era homes
using inexpensive and experimental materials.
8
MEYERS HOUSE
Built in 1938 for the Meyers family, known for frequent musical soirées, this house
was designed to accommodate musicians and audiences. Hidden cabinets were made to hold musical instruments,
and the Meyers’ son added metal cabinets to hold sheet music.
The original built-in sofa has been restored and reupholstered. The current owner added the steel kitchen cabinetry to
tie in with the original features of the home. The large concrete table in the garden references the Meyers’ well-used
ping pong table.
Raphael Soriano
Raphael Soriano was born on the Greek island of Rhodes in 1907. After emigrating to the
U.S. in 1924, he studied architecture at USC, graduating in 1934. He helped define California Modernism and
pioneered the use of modular prefabricated steel framing and aluminum structures as an alternative to wood, which
significantly reduced construction costs
After interning for Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra (alongside Gregory Ain), Soriano worked on several WPA
projects during the Depression, and completed his first commission – Silver Lake’s Lipetz House – in 1936. In 1950,
Soriano completed his design for friend and architectural photographer Julius Shulman (who, at 96, still lives in the
house – one of the few Soriano structures still standing). Relocating to Northern California, he designed the first massproduced steel house in 1955, built by developer Joseph Eichler in Palo Alto.
9
URBAN OPERATIONS STUDIO
On a formerly vacant lot on busy Silver Lake Blvd., this
studio/residence was built in 2004. Initially conceived as a loft space, the building addresses traditional domesticity
as well as the contemporary requirements of a home studio. While the spaces become more private the further one
moves into the house, the overall open layout allows for maximum flexibility.
Urban Operations was responsible for both the design and construction of the building. The exterior finishes consist
of corrugated steel, clear cedar siding and stucco. The owner/resident also designed and installed much of the
interior finish work, utilizing bamboo floors and plywood elements to make the house more human. Vintage and
contemporary furniture complement pieces made by the owner.
John Southern
After graduating from the University of Florida’s Bachelors of Architectural Design Program,
John Southern received a Masters of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture. He focused
on residential projects as a principal of Level Design, and in 2006 opened his current studio, Urban Operations.
Urban Operations has a multidisciplinary focus, specializing in architecture and also producing fashion and furniture
designs, installations and cultural criticism. Southern teaches at Woodbury University.
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URBAN OPERATIONS
817 Silver Lake Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Architect: John Southern
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1607 Angelus
Los Angeles, CA
Architect: Raphael Soriano
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Fernwood Ave
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MEYERS HOUSE
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FLAVIN HOUSE
2218 Neutra Place
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Architect: Richard Neutra
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VIDAL HOUSE
2387 West Silver Lake Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Architect: Ana Henton
Interiors: Design Vidal Interiors
2346-2348 Cove Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90039
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AVENEL COOPERATIVE
2841 Avenel St.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Architect: Gregory Ain
O’NEILL APARTMENTS
2342-2344 Cove Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Architect: Rodney Walker
JACOBSON HOUSE
2313 Moreno Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Architect: Ed Fickett
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2036, 2044, 2046 Griffith Park
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Los Angeles, CA 90039
Architect: Rudolph Schindler
2305 West Silver Lake Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Architect: Harwell Hamilton Harris
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BUBESHKO APARTMENTS
HANSEN HOUSE
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Ticket will-call, parking and shuttle
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MICHELTORENA ST. SCHOOL
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HOUSE TOUR
The following Silver Lake businesses and entities have graciously
supported this event, and we encourage you to patronize them when in
need of their goods and services:
COMMUNITY SERVICES:
David Bohnett Foundation
KCET Television
4401 Sunset Blvd. 323/953-5328 www.kcet.org
Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com
Pilates Metro
Edendale Grill & Mixville Bar
Aaroe Associates
Charitable Foundation
3178 Glendale Blvd. 323/906-0088 www.pilates-metro.com
SilverLake Community Church
2930 Hyperion Ave. 323/663-3151 www.silverlakechurch.com
HOME DÉCOR/FURNISHINGS:
Bittersweet Butterfly
1406 Micheltorena St. 323/660-4303
Living Room
3531 Sunset Blvd. 323/665-5070 www.livingroomhome.com
Sueño Studio
2811 Sunset Blvd. 323/483-7300 www.suenostudio.com
REALTY SERVICES:
Isaac Fast and John Abreu, Coldwell Banker Los Feliz
323/210-1434
SILVER SPONSORS
Karen Lower, Sotheby’s International Realty Los Feliz
($1000 - $2499)
Isaac Fast/John Abreu
Coldwell Banker Los Feliz
323/665-1700 karen.lower@sothebysrealty.com
George and Eileen Moreno, REMAX Los Feliz
323/668-7600 www.georgeandeileen.com
Michael Slater, Prudential – John Aaroe and Associates
323/671-1239 michael@michaelslater.com
Jeffrey Young, Sotheby’s International Realty Los Feliz
310/205-0305 jeffrey.young@sothebysrealty.com
Karen Lower
Sotheby’s International Realty Los Feliz
Jelmert & Locke Group, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
323/644-3338 www.thesilverlakenews.com
Chris Serrano and Grace Gaerlan, Coldwell Banker Los Feliz
www.graceandchris.com
George and Eileen Moreno
REMAX Los Feliz
Michael Slater
Prudential California Realty – John Aaroe and Associates
Jeffrey Young
Sotheby’s International Realty Los Feliz
PARKING AND SHUTTLE BUS INFORMATION:
Please refer to the map above for locations of the tour sites, which will be open
between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
All tour participants are strongly encouraged to use the 7 free shuttle buses
provided by CSSLR, which will continuously circulate among all houses and the
Micheltorena Street School. Ample parking is available at the school parking
lot as well as on adjacent streets. Parking near most of the houses is extremely
limited or prohibited. As the number of people admitted into a house at any time
may be limited, please allow for some waiting. Those unable to use the buses are
encouraged to carpool and walk between houses where feasible. The tour may
be started at any house.
Buses will begin boarding at the Micheltorena Street School for the gala reception
at Silvertop at 4:45 pm. The reception will be from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. Only those
on the guest list who have purchased a Silvertop package ticket will be admitted
to the reception.
FOOTWEAR, FACILITIES & OTHER LOGISTICS:
Non-slip, flat-heeled walking shoes are highly recommended for walking to and
through the houses. Protective booties may be provided at some locations. Some
houses will require negotiating steep streets, walkways and stairways. Regrettably,
there is no wheelchair access to the houses. Children under 12 years of age are
not allowed, and children over 12 must pay the full ticket price and be accompanied at all times by a parent or supervising adult. Pets are not allowed. Tickets are
non-refundable and the tour will proceed rain or shine. Restrooms will not be available at the tour houses, but will be available at the Micheltorena Street School.
Richard Stanley, Coldwell Banker Los Feliz
323/906-2417
RESTAURANTS:
Brite Spot
1918 Sunset Blvd. 213/484-9800
Cliff’s Edge
3626 Sunset Blvd. 323/666-6116
The Coffee Table
2930 Rowena Ave. 323/644-8111
Edendale Grill & Mixville Bar
2838 Rowena Ave. 323/666-2000 www.edendalegrill.com
Silver Lake Modernism – Then and Now
Sponsored by the Committee to Save Silver Lake’s Reservoirs
CSSLR is an all-volunteer non-profit community benefit corporation established
in 1988 and dedicated to preserving the historical, aesthetic, ecological and
public recreational benefits of Silver Lake’s open water reservoirs.
For more information about CSSLR’s activities, please visit our web site at
www.csslr.org or call our information line at 323/259-3919.
Acknowledgements:
EVENT CHAIRS: Lori Oddino and Dave Keitel
BROCHURE DESIGN: redbar
RESEARCH AND EDITORIAL: Leslie Edmonds and Dave Keitel
PHOTOGRAPHY: David Etzen, Dave Keitel and Michael Locke
PUBLICITY: Carla Lazzareschi and Michael Locke
VOLUNTEER COORDINATION: Shelley Marks
Event Committee:
Lori Oddino, Dave Keitel, Leslie Edmonds, Shelley Marks, Michael Slater, Beth Knox,
Herb Gold, Leni Fleming, Catherine Stafford, Carla Lazzareschi, Andrew Sears,
Jed Donaldson, Michael Locke
CSSLR Board of Directors:
Andrew Sears (President), Maryann Kuk (Vice-President), Leslie Edmonds (Secretary),
Beth Knox (Treasurer), Mark Beall, Whitney Blumenfeld, Glen Dake, Jed Donaldson,
Leni Fleming, Herb Gold, Dave Keitel, Carla Lazzareschi, Shelley Marks, Lori Oddino,
Marilyn Tower Oliver, Michael Slater, Catherine Stafford
CSSLR especially thanks all the participating homeowners, docents and sponsors.
Without them this event would not be possible.