A Tribute to Preserving Schindler’s Paradise

A Tribute to Preserving Schindler's Paradise
MAK Center
Los Angeles, California

"Since so much of its success is based on the relationship between the building and the site, preserving the integrity of the site is quite urgent."
Peter Noever
MAK Vienna Director

Photo: arcspace

The Schindler House is widely recognized as a masterpiece of early Modernism, treasured the world over for its beauty, ingenuity and innovations.
At a time when the Schindler House stands threatened by yet another neighboring condominium complex, that will rob the house of its essentially light and open spirit, the MAK Center for Art and Architecture has initiated an invitational entitled "A Tribute to Preserving Schindler's Paradise".

The exhibition presents 20 projects submitted as alternative proposals to the condominium complex planned for the property next door to the Schindler House.

The projects will be on view through November 22, 2003

Image courtesy Andrea Lenardin Madden
Design by Andrea Lenardin Madden

Participants include:
Christophe Cornubert/PUSH, Coop Himmelb(l)au,
Odile Decq + Beno”t Cornette, Peter Eisenman Architects, GŸnther Domenig, Driendl Architects, Durfee/Regn, Eichinger oder Knechtl, Zaha Hadid Architects, Sandrine von Klot, Mark Mack Architects, Andrea Lenardin Madden, Eric Owen Moss Architects, the Next ENTERprise, Dominique Perrault, Roto Architects, Bernard Sommer & Goga S. Nawara, Klaus Stattmann, Umbrella Organization/Michael Volk and Lebbeus Woods.

Of the 20 projects submitted the jury selected the work of Zaha Hadid, Peter Eisenman & Odile Decq + Beno”t Cornette as "premiere" projects.

The jury's comment was:
"The generosity of spirit of the architects who participated in the International protest is shown in the three proposals which have all architecturally and conceptually surpassed both what has been proposed and what is existing. The solutions are also economically viable and realistic and yet propose something that is provocative and challenging."

Image courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects
As parameter of their design, Zaha Hadid Architects sought to give the Schindler House space while at the same time accommodating a 21-unit condominium structure. Their program, a slender 21-story tower whose extreme verticality would complement the horizontal Schindler House, preserves vistas and avoid blocky massing that might engulf the house.

Image courtesy Odile Decq + Beno”t Cornette
Horizon: "New Territory Houses", the project submitted by Odile Decq + Beno”t Cornette, is based on transposing the architectural section process into three dimensions. Fractured, opened and animated by tectonic movements, the project is organized into three bands of housing with folded roofs that are integrated into the landscape.

Image courtesy Peter Eisenman Architects
Peter Eisenman Architects' "Schindler Galleries and Gardens" utilizes architectural elements of the Schindler House in a contemporary building-as-landscape. Striated walls, wood-framed roof structures and sunken gardens create a complementary building, which exists mostly below ground except for a dynamic array of roof planes.

Among the eight leaders from the fields of architecture, art and scholarship, that made up the jury, were Frank Gehry, Richard Koshalek, President of Passadena's Art Center College of Design, Judith Sheine, Author and Chair of the Architecture Department at Cal Poly and Carl Pruscha, Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna.

Photo: arcspace

Rudolph Michael Schindler's Kings Road house stands today as an icon of early modern architecture, equalling - if not surpassing - in sheer inventiveness the contemporary work of other architects. The house, built in the early 1920's, is also the birthplace of the southern California modernism we celebrate today.

Developer Richard Loring, who bought the property next door, has approved the design by his architect, Lorcan O'Herlihy, and plan to break ground early next year. After a series of meetings with Friends of the Schindler House he has agreed to reduce the size of the condominium building from 23 units to 18.

arcspace reports on exhibitions we do not take a stand on controversial issues.
For another point of view please read Below the Bamboo.

September 22, 2003





		EXHIBITION		Features
		A Tribute to Preserving Schindler's Paradise MAK Center Los Angeles, California "Since so much of its success is based on the relationship between the building and the site, preserving the integrity of the site is quite urgent." Peter Noever MAK Vienna Director Photo: arcspace The Schindler House is widely recognized as a masterpiece of early Modernism, treasured the world over for its beauty, ingenuity and innovations. At a time when the Schindler House stands threatened by yet another neighboring condominium complex, that will rob the house of its essentially light and open spirit, the MAK Center for Art and Architecture has initiated an invitational entitled "A Tribute to Preserving Schindler's Paradise". The exhibition presents 20 projects submitted as alternative proposals to the condominium complex planned for the property next door to the Schindler House. The projects will be on view through November 22, 2003 Image courtesy Andrea Lenardin Madden Design by Andrea Lenardin Madden Participants include: Christophe Cornubert/PUSH, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Odile Decq + Beno”t Cornette, Peter Eisenman Architects, GŸnther Domenig, Driendl Architects, Durfee/Regn, Eichinger oder Knechtl, Zaha Hadid Architects, Sandrine von Klot, Mark Mack Architects, Andrea Lenardin Madden, Eric Owen Moss Architects, the Next ENTERprise, Dominique Perrault, Roto Architects, Bernard Sommer & Goga S. Nawara, Klaus Stattmann, Umbrella Organization/Michael Volk and Lebbeus Woods. Of the 20 projects submitted the jury selected the work of Zaha Hadid, Peter Eisenman & Odile Decq + Beno”t Cornette as "premiere" projects. The jury's comment was: "The generosity of spirit of the architects who participated in the International protest is shown in the three proposals which have all architecturally and conceptually surpassed both what has been proposed and what is existing. The solutions are also economically viable and realistic and yet propose something that is provocative and challenging." Image courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects As parameter of their design, Zaha Hadid Architects sought to give the Schindler House space while at the same time accommodating a 21-unit condominium structure. Their program, a slender 21-story tower whose extreme verticality would complement the horizontal Schindler House, preserves vistas and avoid blocky massing that might engulf the house. Image courtesy Odile Decq + Beno”t Cornette Horizon: "New Territory Houses", the project submitted by Odile Decq + Beno”t Cornette, is based on transposing the architectural section process into three dimensions. Fractured, opened and animated by tectonic movements, the project is organized into three bands of housing with folded roofs that are integrated into the landscape. Image courtesy Peter Eisenman Architects Peter Eisenman Architects' "Schindler Galleries and Gardens" utilizes architectural elements of the Schindler House in a contemporary building-as-landscape. Striated walls, wood-framed roof structures and sunken gardens create a complementary building, which exists mostly below ground except for a dynamic array of roof planes. Among the eight leaders from the fields of architecture, art and scholarship, that made up the jury, were Frank Gehry, Richard Koshalek, President of Passadena's Art Center College of Design, Judith Sheine, Author and Chair of the Architecture Department at Cal Poly and Carl Pruscha, Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Rudolph Michael Schindler's Kings Road house stands today as an icon of early modern architecture, equalling - if not surpassing - in sheer inventiveness the contemporary work of other architects. The house, built in the early 1920's, is also the birthplace of the southern California modernism we celebrate today. Developer Richard Loring, who bought the property next door, has approved the design by his architect, Lorcan O'Herlihy, and plan to break ground early next year. After a series of meetings with Friends of the Schindler House he has agreed to reduce the size of the condominium building from 23 units to 18. arcspace reports on exhibitions we do not take a stand on controversial issues. For another point of view please read Below the Bamboo. September 22, 2003