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8 U.S. Postage SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIANS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER FIRST CLASS MAIL PAID

0 Pasadena, CA Permit No. 740 0 january february 2008 2

Photo: Anton Getty

P.O. Box 56478, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413, 800.972.4722, www.sahscc.org

The new year welcomes the

Photos: Anton Getty first in a new SAH/SCC series called Contemporary Patrons. Modeled after Contemporary our on-going Modern Patrons Patrons: Wells in series, these events are designed to Laguna Beach highlight the SAH/SCC Talk and Tour: Saturday, January 19, 2008 process of commissioning, designing, and living in a house from the original Please join us on January 19th, 2-4PM, at the home of Jan and Paul clients’ point of Muñoz in Laguna Beach, designed by former SAH/SCC board president view. Whereas Ted Wells. Moderated by board member John Ellis, will feature Modern Patrons the homeowners’ journey in creating the piece of contemporary archi- looked to those tecture. The event is $15 and open to SAH/SCC Life and Patron mem- ground-breaking bers (the program will only be available to the general membership in talents that the event there is space available). See the order form on the back established LA’s page. Space is limited. Ten years ago, the Muñozes purchased what was classified as an “unbuildable” sloping lot on Modern legacy, Pacific Coast Highway. Beside the grade and location issues, the lot had access, parking, and height Contemporary restrictions that would make it a nearly impossible property to develop. They worked with a noted Patrons focuses architect on a design for three years, but still had no approvals from the city. And worse, the pro- posed design had been compromised to such an extent that the landowners had resigned them- on current selves to building a house they no longer loved, selling it, and moving on. practitioners They started a process of finding a new lot for a new house and had saved a cover of the Los Angeles Times Magazine showing a house designed by Ted Wells. They called Wells, and decided who are to face the challenge of designing a house on their existing lot. The house was completed in investigating December 2005. the meanings Known to many at SAH/SCC, Ted Wells was our board president, and leader of many memo- rable tours; he remains on SAH/SCC advisory board. Wells is the principal at Ted Wells living:sim- of today’s ple LLC, in Laguna Niguel, CA. His designs include houses, offices, monasteries, gardens, and neigh- architecture. borhood planning projects throughout the US, as well as restorations of significant historical prop- erties by noted architects such as Henry and Charles Greene, RM Schindler, and Irving Gill. His architecture degree is from USC, and he is currently an architectural guest lecturer at UC Irvine, and taught at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo from 2002 to 2004. continues on page 3

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SAH/SCC Tour and Event Information: 1.800.972.4722; [email protected] SAH/SCC NEWS is published bi-monthly by the Society of Architectural Historians / Southern California Chapter. Subscription is a benefit of membership and provides members with one of the President’s Letter most comprehensive calendars of architectural events in Southern California and advance notice of This year, SAH/SCC mounted its first fund-raising campaign in the institutional exclusive SAH/SCC architectural events and tours. memory of the organization. Because we had never held a funding campaign, we had no way of guessing the outcome in advance. The Crossroads Challenge campaign Editor: Julie D. Taylor, Hon. AIA/LA sought $25,000 to preserve the organization’s solvency and meet the challenges of Assistant Editor: Monica Lee the electronic era of communication. The goal has just been reached and gifts are Internet Editor: Brent Eckerman still coming in, expanding the possibilities of how we can best meet members’ Art Director: Svetlana Petrovic expectations and fulfill our mission of educating the public about architectural Administration: Arline Chambers design and the built environment of Southern California. The members of the executive and advisory boards have been deeply touched by the Information and ads for the newsletter should be sent three weeks before the issue date. support received from the following donors to the Crossroads Challenge campaign to date: March/April 2008 issue deadline: February 10, 2008 Chris Ackerman David Keitel Claire Rogger Please send all ad materials, notices of events, and news to the attention of the editor: Jay Bacon Marilyn Kellogg Arthur Rosenstein Julie D. Taylor, Editor SAH/SCC News Newsletter telephone: 310.247.1099 Chris Beach Maryann Kuk Richard Cayia Rowe P.O. Box 56478 Newsletter fax: 310.247.8147 Don Bensen Katherine Lain Steven Saute Sherman Oaks, Newsletter e-mail: [email protected] Richard P. Bloch Larry Layne Marilyn Schmitt CA 91413 Bill Bowling Alan Lieb James M. Schwentker III Ann Burckle William & Rhoda Lo Alan Sieroty SAH/SCC Executive Board Pamela Burton Jan Martin Paul Siman Dr. & Mrs. W. Garrett Christy Johnson McAvoy Carol Ann Smith Merry Ovnick (President) Jean Clare Baaden Craig Walker Capune Judy McKee Nancy Smith Sian Winship (Vice President) John Ellis Adam Wheeler Arline Chambers Le Roy Misuraca Michael R. Somin Merry Ovnick (Membership) Friedman Dennis Whelan Carole Dougherty Douglas M. Moreland Richard & Claudia Starzak John Berley (Treasurer) Cara Mullio Stephanie Enright Catherine Myler Michael Stull Brent Eckerman (Internet) Frederick Fisher Ronald Nestor, AIA John C. Terrell Lambert Giessinger James Newland Tichenor & Thorp SAH/SCC Advisory Board Joy & Gordon Gilliam Mark Nichols Architects, Inc. Lisa Gimmy & Claus Best Cricket & Robert Oldham Kenneth Turan & Ted Bosley, Ken Breisch, Stephen Harby, Elizabeth McMillian, Rochelle Mills, Raymond Girvigian, FAIA Hugh Oliver & Patricia Williams Claire Rogger, Richard C. Rowe, Nancy Smith, Ted Wells, Robert Winter Gwynne Gloege Noel Osheroff Daniel Visnich Marilyn Goudzewaar Anne S. Otterson Lori & John Warnke Elizabeth Harris Helen T. Park Eric H. Warren Judy Horton Lanna Pian Ted Wells John R. Hribar Ron Rector Allyne Winderman SAH/SCC members Virginia Jansen John August Reed Dr. Robert Winter Mar Jennings & Victor Regnier Joyce Zaitlin Howard Toboco Susan Rifkin Life Members: RANDELL L. MAKINSON QUINCY WARGO Diane Kanner Richard Roether CHRISTY JOHNSON McAVOY JOHN & LORI WARNKE ELIZABETH L. McCAFFREY ERIC & KAREN WARREN GRANT BARNES MARLENE McCOY DR. PATRICIA A. WARREN KYLE C. BARNES In this post-holiday season for sending thank-you notes, our sincere thanks. We JUDITH McKEE RON WATSON KATHLEEN BIXLER look forward to a new year of events and gatherings where we hope to see all of our ELIZABETH McMILLIAN DAVID R. WEAVER JOHN BLANTON current members and to meet many new faces. Happy New Year! IRIS MINK JOHN WELBORNE, ESQ. MARY DUTTON BOEHM Merry Ovnick LE ROY MISURACA TED W. WELLS MARIE BOTNICK SUSAN W. MONTEITH DR. ROBERT WINTER BILL BOWLING DOUGLAS M. MORELAND TERI SUE WOLF RUTH BOWMAN SARA G. MULLER CHERNOFF MR. & MRS. DAVID YAMADA KEN BREISCH & JUDY KELLER SAH/SCC Year in Review: 2007 DANIEL T. MUNOZ BOB YOUNG CHARLOTTE ROSE BRYANT RONALD NESTOR, AIA JOYCE ZAITLIN BONNIE BURTON SAH/SCC members celebrated and investigated sites both near and far in 2007. Take a look at our MARK NICHOLS DAWN SOPHIA ZIEMER PAMELA BURTON year in review. If you weren’t with us on any of our adventures, you can relive some of them through PETER A. NIMMER ANNE ZIMMERMAN & MARK PIAIA DENIS CAGNA & CARLOS MEDINA the publications created especially for the events. See the back page for ordering information. JOHN M. NISLEY JOHN & RHONDA CANO PETER NORTON WENDY CARSON Patron Members: Libya and Tunisia: In Search of Ancient Splendor and the Far-Flung Outposts of Empire REGINA O’BRIEN ROBERT JAY CHATTEL, AIA Sunday, February 11th; Santa Monica Public Library THOMAS O’CONNOR DON & VERA BENSEN NEIL CLEMMONS & An illustrated talk with architect, world traveler, and SAH/SCC advisory board member Stephen Harby POLLY OSBORNE, AIA DONALD & JUDITH BRODER LAURITA BUAICO HARRISON featured the spectacular landscapes, stunning architecture, and distinct cultures of Libya and Tunisia. ANNE OTTERSON MICHAEL P. DEASY TRACY CONRAD These two countries were once the breadbasket of the Roman Empire, and offer today some of the best FRANCIS PACKER & MARIAN DODGE ELIZABETH COURTIER preserved and most dramatically situated ancient sites of Greek and Roman cities. HELEN PALMER EAMES FOUNDATION BILL DAMASCHKE & JOHN McILWEE C. E. PARKER STEPHANIE ENRIGHT CROSBY DE CARTERET DOE & Downtown Santa Monica Walking Tour GEORGE PENNER ENID & GARY FREUND LINDA SOLLIMA DOE Saturday, April 14th AUDREE PENTON LISA GIMMY & CLAUS BEST HEINZ E. ELLERSIECK Created by the Santa Monica Conservancy, the walk traversed more than 130 years of Santa RON RADZINER STEVE GLENN J. RICHARD FARE, AIA, CCS, CSI Monica history, from its Wild West frontier beginnings to the sophisticated metropolis of today. TOM & PEGGY REAVEY HERB & ELLEN GROELINGER CAROL FENELON Buildings featured on the tour encompass diverse architectural styles, from the Victorian through JOHN AUGUST REED JOHN HEGLIN DONALD R. FERGUSON Spanish Revival, Art Deco, and early Modernism, including The Majestic Theatre, The Keller Block, STEVE & SARI RODEN DWAYNE HOWARD RON FIELDS CLAIRE ROGGER TRACIE JAHN The Builder’s Exchange, and The Bay Cities Guaranty Building. GILBERT & SUKEY GARCETTI ARTHUR & GLORIA ROSENSTEIN LARRY LAYNE DR. & MRS. KENNETH GEIGER A Block in Glendale ROB ROTHBLATT ALVIN Y. LEE ROBERT GELINAS Saturday, May 19th RICHARD CAYIA ROWE ARTHUR LIU LAMBERT GIESSINGER A drive-yourself tour showcased the diversity and originality of Glendale’s residential architecture JEFFREY B. SAMUDIO KEVIN ORECK GORDON & JOY GILLIAM from the beginning to end of the 20th century. A microcosm of Southern California’s rich architec- STEVEN SAUTE SUSAN ROSE RAYMOND GIRVIGIAN, FAIA tural heritage, the Glendale tour included Ard Eevin, Paul Revere Williams’ Baird House, and LAWRENCE SCARPA DAN SULLIVAN & ALBERT GENTLE PROF. PAUL GLEYE ELEANOR SCHAPA JOHN C. TERELL Vahran Kevork Jebejian’s Bloch House. GWYNNE GLOEGE ANN SCHEID SETH WEINGARTEN GEORGE GORSE Phoenix: Out of the Shadow JAMES M. SCHWENTKER III ANDY & LISA HACKMAN Friday-Sunday, September 7th-9th JULIUS SHULMAN BRUCE & BETH HALLETT New Members: The weekend’s events explored the evolution of modern architecture in the Phoenix area, featuring PATRICIA SIMPSON STEPHEN HARBY the residential work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Case Study House architects Calvin Straub and Al CECILIA SINGER Margaret Bach ELIZABETH HARRIS MARK SLOTKIN Diana Hawes Beadle, as well as contemporary master Will Bruder. As Phoenix is most often associated with EUGENE & SHIRLEY HOGGATT CORBIN SMITH Katherine Heimark Taliesin West, the travel tour sought to focus on the work of the local modern architects who cre- JAMES & ANNELIESE HORECKA GIBBS M. SMITH Matthew Hourihan ated bodies of work distinctive from that of Wright. ALISON R. JEFFERSON NANCY & KYLE SMITH Patricia Oliver, AIA ELAINE K. SEWELL JONES Prefab Lite JANANN STRAND Jennifer Siegal PAULA JONES Saturday, October 20th; Office of Mobile Design Prefab Show House, Venice, CA CAROLYN STRAUSS David Thurman JONATHAN S. JUSTMAN A lecture, slide show, and studio tour with SAH/SCC board member Jean Baaden featured Jennifer LYNN MARIE SULLIVAN Richard Valencia REBECCA KAHN VERN SWANSEN Nancy Wilk Siegal, known for her work in creating mobile structures that include customized, prefab Modernist DIANE KANE MARIE TARTAR & STEVE EILENBERG homes through her design firm Office of Mobile Design (OMD). The talk covered Siegal’s innovative STEPHEN A. KANTER, MD REGINALD THATCHER New Patrons: design sensibilities, expertise in futuristic concepts, prefabricated construction, and green building VIRGINIA ERNST KAZOR RAUN THORP technologies. MARILYN KELLOGG Steve Glenn M. BRIAN TICHENOR, AIA LAMAR KERLEY John Heglin A. TISCHLER Members’ Celebration THEODORA KINDER SARAH FLYNN TUDOR Saturday, December 1st; Art Center College of Design, Hillside Campus, Pasadena DON & KUBLY GUSTAV H. & BETTY M. ULLNER New Life Members: The annual celebration gave attendees the opportunity to learn about the history of Craig Ellwood’s CHARLES A. LAGRECO MAGGIE VALENTINE design of the main building, as well as future planning and development growth for the college. RUTHANN LEHRER Charlotte Rose Bryant DANIEL VISNICH Director of Architectural Documentation and Special Projects (and a member of SAH/SCC) Dana PAMELA LEVY WOLFGANG WAGENER & Hutt spoke on the history and future conservation efforts of the Ellwood Building, while Senior Vice MARTIE LIEBERMAN LESLIE ERGANIAN President of Educational Planning and Architecture Patricia Oliver, AIA, discussed the Art Center’s ROBERT LOWER ROBERT D. WALLACE Master Plan, which took more than seven years to develop and is now in the year-long planning JOYCE P. LUDMER process at City Hall. News-J-F.qxd 12/17/07 12:12 PM Page 3

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Wells has lectured at universities around the world, and appeared for three years on Home and Garden Television net- work’s “American Homestyles” series, as well as on numerous PBS educational programs. Wells is writing a book on archi- tect Harwell Hamilton Harris, to be published in 2009, and is a contributing author to a book on Southern California Modernism to be published in 2008. The house Wells created for the Muñoz family wanders up the hillside in a series of three boxes made of prefabri- cated panels of Cor-ten weathering steel. The quarter-inch-thick plates of steel are the structural walls of the house. Between the three-foot-wide panels of steel are windows covered by sliding wood screens. The three boxes stack and interlock upon one another around a central courtyard garden and are topped by thin copper-edged roofs that shade gable ends filled with glass. Additionally, the house is environmentally conscious in construction, durable in material, and flex- ible in plan. At the core of the house is a two-story airy transition room with a cantilevered steel stair and a 13-foot-high sliding hangar door to the courtyard. On the upper floor are the main living areas and a wide ocean view. The level below con- tains two bedrooms, a bath, and studio. The lowest level, shielding the house from PCH, contains a guest bedroom, bath, and office. Steel, wood, glass, concrete, and boulders combine in a form reminiscent of an old barn, but one made of ele- gantly crafted material with daring structural design. Throughout the house, the repetition of the panelized structural system of Cor-ten steel panels asserts itself. On the interior, each prefabricated panel is inset with finished materials of waxed Masonite, smooth cork, or muted-color lami- nate. The floors, of cork or polished concrete, are simple to maintain, unaffected by sand from the beach, and are warmed by radiant heating. At the center of the living area, a freestanding wall of bookcases and closets defines the space and is anchored by two fireplaces of thin horizontal brick. Today, the house is a single-family dwelling for Mr. and Mrs. Muñoz and their teenage son, along with spaces for their daughters and grandchildren, who frequently visit. There is a separate studio workspace for the couple: Mr. Muñoz is a design engineer of micro-medical devices, and Mrs. Muñoz is a fabric artist. But these contemporary patrons want their house to adapt and change as their lives will, so the house is designed to convert to two or three independent dwellings, if needed, for multi-generational living. Join us for the inaugural Contemporary Patrons event, for an afternoon of exploration into what it took to create this work of architecture overlooking the Pacific.

Photos: Anton Getty

California Romantica Houses of Los Angeles, Reinventing Los Angeles: Hometown Santa Monica: by Diane Keaton Volume 1: 1885-1919; Nature and Community in the The Bay Cities Book text by D.J. Waldie Volume II: 1920-1935 Global City by Colleen Dunn Bates (editor) photos by Lisa Hardaway and by Sam Watters by Robert Gottlieb Building on the success of a similar Paul Hester At first blush, one would think these Gottlieb—a professor (UCLA, Occidental volume on Pasadena, editor/publish- Even without the imprimatur of two tomes (360+ pages! 400+ illus- College), author (Environmentalism er Bates gathers local experts, writ- Oscar-winning actress Keaton, trations! each!) would be compre- Unbound), public servant (board ers, and personalities to paint a real- California Romantica is a true hensive surveys of the domestic member of Metropolitan Water istic picture of their town. A refer- Hollywood star. This lavish volume landscape of LA. Instead, each vol- District), and activist (co-founder of ence perhaps more applicable for attempts to recreate the awe and ume focuses on around 37 particu- Urban and Environmental Policy natives than it is for tourists, the aura Keaton felt at her first childhood lar homes “designed by inventive Institute)—brings wide and diverse guidebook lists beaches, hang-outs, experience of the “romance that architects for power-hungry, deal- experience to the study of Los museums, shops, restaurants, and lived within the walls of our Spanish making, creative, and civic-minded Angeles and its scarcity of both the like with lively annotations, inter- heritage.” Twenty homes, many lov- Los Angeles citizens.” Watters—a nature and community. No com- views with notable locals, and fun ingly restored, are displayed with professor at USC—uses dusty (but plaining diatribe, this book proffers facts. The big difference between equal passion. Each prime example is beautiful) black-and-white photos, solutions and heralds successful this and a travel guide is its depth of introduced with spread after spread plus floor and garden plans, to craft programs already in place, such as knowledge and range of opportuni- of achingly gorgeous photos along the history of the characters that efforts toward the Los Angeles ties. For example, the art chapter with lively text by noted LA historian shaped LA. In Volume I, the names River and Arroyofest, each warrant- lists the expected museums and gal- Waldie, who couches each home that just seem like mere notations on ing their own chapters. Gottlieb dis- leries, but also offers studios and within its historical, cultural, and a Thomas Guide—Doheny, de sects and discusses origins, fail- workshops to create one’s own work. geographic conditions. In a subtle Longpre, Brand, Griffith, Hancock, ures, successes, and future ramifi- The architecture chapter presents way, the sequencing of image and Cochran—are fully fleshed out cations of nature, community, nine self-guided tours (from “John words gives the viewer/reader the through their architectural patron- water, transportation, migration, Byers Extravaganza” to “Frank O. visceral experience Keaton hopes age. Volume II gives a nod to and globalization in the city in a Gehry—Oh, My!”), a list of historic for. A board member of the LA Hollywood with homes for stars and way that is neither preachy nor houses, and interview with architect Conservancy, Keaton has a motive for producers—Pickfair, Harold Lloyd, accusatory, but informative and— Gwynne Pugh. this book; she wants “‘Old’ and Marion Davies, Irving Thalberg—and I dare say—inspiring. Prospect Park Books; softcover; ‘Spanish’ to stop being code words demonstrates a slow progression MIT Press; softcover; 256 pages; $24.95. for demolition.” into Modernism. Even though this 440 pages; $24.95. Rizzoli New York; hardcover; enjoyable series begs for at least two 346 pages; $65. more volumes on houses, Watters has embarked on his next study, Southern California Gardens, 1885- 1935. Acanthus Press; hardcover; Volume I, 368 pages; Volume II, 392 pages; $89, each. january february News-J-F.qxd 12/17/07 12:12 PM Page 4

publications o r d e r f o r m For those of you who missed out on recent SAH/SCC tours, or would like more information for your reference, here’s an opportunity to get your hands on the publications printed especially for SAH/SCC events. Don’t let another chance pass you by.

Out of the Shadow: 24-page, two-color brochure from Phoenix travel tour featuring the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Al Beadle, Blaine Drake, Paolo Soleri, Edward B. Sawyer, Bennie Gonzales, and Will Bruder ______at $12 each

A Block in Glendale: pocket-size fandeck of cards featuring five diverse properties— including a Paul Williams residence—plus historical background information on the Brockmont Heights subdivision ______at $3 each

Rodney Walker 3 30 90: 12-page brochure exploring the architect’s usage of the three-foot module and features nine homes on five sites order form ______at $8 each fill out form below and send to: SAH/SCC Edward Killingsworth: Setting a Modern Standard: 20-page, black-and-white brochure featuring seven Long Beach houses and an article by the architect P.O. Box 56478 ______at $8 each Sherman Oaks, CA 91413

Space and Learning: eight-page, four-color brochure on the historical and contempo- SAH/SCC Event: rary legacy of LA school architecture featuring projects by Richard Neutra, Thom Mayne, Rios Clementi Hale Studios, and others ______at $8 each Contemporary Patrons: Wells in Laguna—January 19th Rodney Walker: The Ojai Years: tri-fold, black-and-white brochure featur- ______Life/Patron member ticket(s) at $15 each = $______ing Walker’s important residences in Ojai, with pictures and article by histori- an David Mason (Only SAH/SCC Patron and Life Members are eligible. To become a member, see below.) ______at $5 each

Kesling Homes: bi-fold, two-color brochure from the “Kesling Modern Structures” tour ______at $2 each SAH/SCC Membership Benefits:

The Historic and Modern Spirit of Ventura: 20-page guide from Ventura tour Subscription to bi-monthly SAH/SCC News ______at $10 each Member prices for SAH/SCC events Free Members’ Celebration Modernism for the Masses: tri-fold brochure with inserts of detailed floor plans of Eichler homes visited on the Orange County tour Membership Categories: ______at $10 each $45 Member (individual) Reconsidering Lloyd Wright: 21-page, four-color booklet from “Reconsidering Lloyd Wright House Tour” $65 Dual (two names at same address) ______at $10 each $30 Student (with copy of current ID)

Union Station and MTA Transit Center: bi-fold map for a self-guided walking tour $125 Patron (up to two names at same address) including historical facts and photos $650 ______at $2 each Life Member (one time contribution)

David Gebhard Review: essays on the Works Project Administration by Robert W. SAH/SCC Membership: Winter, Orville O. Clarke, Jr., and Mitzi March Mogul ______at $5 each ______at $ ______each = $ ______(membership category) Total: $ ______

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