John Lautner

Modernist Masterworks of Los Angeles, 1900 - 1970

If you coveted the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Ennis House in Los Angeles we wrote about last year, but didn't quite have the $15 million asking price, you should pick up a copy of Architecture of the Sun. The weighty tome, being published later this month by Rizzoli for $95, focuses on Los Angeles' many fine modernist masterworks built from 1900–1970. A modern city shaped by the complexities of its geography – ocean, desert, and mountains – "as connected with the industries which formed its cultural references and livelihood", Los Angeles has produced some of the greatest architectural accomplishments of the twentieth century. In addition to Lloyd Wright the architects featured include Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Rudolph Schindler, whose brilliant designs came to define an era. The eminent author, Thomas S. Hines, is Professor Emeritus of History and Architecture at UCLA, where he teaches cultural, urban, and architectural history.

Tags: architecture, books, California, coffee table books, design, Ennis House, Frank Lloyd Wright, John Lautner, Los Angeles, modernism, modernist, modernist architecture, photography, Richard Neutra, Rizzoli, UCLA

"Just Don't Call it Wolf's Lair," Estate of the Day

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

What's not to love about a castle that sits under the Hollywood sign? Especially if the price has been chopped from $7.5 million (the price the house was listed for in June 2008) to $4.7 million?

TV personality Debbie Matenopoulos and her soon-to-be-ex-husband Lionsgate Entertainment music executive Jay Faires have re-listed their Norman-style castle, once known as Wolf's Lair. The couple reportedly bought in 2002 for $2.9 million. Because of the association with Hitler's bunker of the same name, plans are to change the name to something, well, more castle-y.

The turreted 5,485-square-foot castle that sits on 3.3 acres was built in the 1920s and includes a two-bedroom guest house designed by architect John Lautner. The main house was built by and named after L. Milton Wolf, the developer of Hollywoodland. In fact, the Hollywood sign that sits behind the home was put there by Wolf to advertise Hollywoodland. ( The original sign bore that name and was covered with 4,000 flashing electric light bulbs.) There is a heart-shaped black-bottom pool and eight bedrooms total on the property, which sits high above Los Angeles' Beachwood Canyon.

Lure about this property is legendary. Wolf, something of a ladies' man, reportedly installed a secret apartment under the gatehouse where he entertained, ahem, privately.

Bugsy Siegal's former castle -- the one Madonna owned subsequently -- is right up the road a piece. Castillo del Lago is listed at $9.95 million, making the former Wolf's Lair a relative bargain.

Ernie Carswell of Teles Properties, Beverly Hills, has the listing.

Gallery: Just Don't Call It 'Wolf's Lair'

Tags: bugsy siegel, BugsySiegel, castillo del lago, CastilloDelLago, celebrity real estate, CelebrityRealEstate, debbie matenopoulos, DebbieMatenopoulos, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, hollywood, john lautner, JohnLautner, madonna

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High Art: Katy Rodriguez Shows at John Lautner's Harpel House

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Estates, Events

On Sunday evening, a select group of Los Angeles design luminaries will converge at the intersection of fashion and architecture -- Katy Rodriguez's show at John Lautner's Harpel residence. Models and It Gals like Chloe Sevigny and Christina Ricci will be wearing Rodriguez's latest designs and mingling with guests including artists Shepard Fairey and Raymond Pettibon.

Judging from the collection, it feels like the perfect setting -- the clothes have an architectural quality, and they're filled with the rich, subtle detailing that distinguishes good design from the ordinary, or the ostentatious.

The Harpel house has been meticulously restored by Rodriguez's business partner Mark Haddawy. He's spent the past two years removing a superfluous second story and bringing the house back to its original, sublime logic.

Between the high fashion and the cityscape below, the views should be pretty spectacular. Check out the gallery to see a few images of the Harpel house and more pieces from Rodriguez's Spring/Summer 2009 collection.

Gallery: Katy Rodriguez Shows at Harpel House

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Tags: architecture, fashion, harpel residence, HarpelResidence, john lautner, JohnLautner, katy rodriguez, KatyRodriguez, shepard fairey, ShepardFairey

Wolff House, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I couldn't settle on a celeb house to feature for my Sunday estate so instead we are looking at one that might be a bit of candy for a celebrity with an architecture jones. The Wolff House was built by John Lautner in 1961 (you may remember the name from the recent sale of Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette's sale of a Lautner in Malibu). This home a three-bedroom in the Hollywood Hills, is a a modernist treasure in wood and stone and glass. The house is on a private cul-de-sac and has an amazing view. Other features include a one-bedroom guesthouse and a beautiful pool. An article in Variety from 2005 indicates that the home was sold in 2005 for around $4 million. It is listed now at $5.995 million.

Gallery: Wolff House