THE SCHINDLER HOUSE | ARC
The trip to LA was going well so far. Days filled with coffee crawls, food crawls, and beautiful weather. The drive on Melrose is a feast for the eyes. Restaurants, design stores, and lovely cars are the makeup of West Hollywood. The map said the ETA to the Schindler House was only 2 minutes away and I thought, “we’re this close?” From the pictures, Schindler seemed like it was up in the hills, maybe in a secluded neighborhood. But as we approached the bamboo grove entrance, I quickly realized that even the landscape design commands your attention and says, “you are someplace else now”.
The bamboo hedge hides the building quite nicely, with small pockets of reveal as you enter the space. The sounds of Melrose already begin to diffuse, and upon sight of the wooden beams and glass, a sense of curiosity is already created. Schindler house is a simple design, one central courtyard with 2 volumes on each side, and a volume at its core, anchoring the building. The residence is void of furniture for the most part, giving the home this sort of museum like feel. It draws your attention to the humble materials that make the place page one in timeless design. Polished concrete floors with the occasional signs of wear and cracking give it character. The glass paneling is reminiscent of Japanese architecture. The beige stucco creates a warmth that feels familiar.
The cross beams above are relatively low, making you conscious of how you fit into the rooms. But I think it is quite perfect. It feels just right. It contrasts so nicely with the feelings that you get once you enter the grass courtyard. Your sense of openness is heightened completely. The curiosity continues in the roof overhangs, and ever so slightly diagonal wall formations. What I greatly appreciate is that all the corners are offset. 2 edges of a wall don’t necessarily meet at the end points, but instead they are placed perpendicular to create this feeling of “what is behind that wall?” A wall isn’t just a wall, but it encourages movement and discovery.
Even the bathroom has a skylight that you cant really see. This produces a diffused lighting that plays so nicely with the concrete and stainless steel. It only makes sense to have Aesop hand soap and lotion in a place like this. Somehow the sepia tone bottles and tan packaging compliments the canvas door framed with wood so well that you just had to enter. Schindler house turns the mundane into this sort of intentional ritual that makes one conscious of every practice.
It is a case study in the beauty of contrast. The thin floor to ceiling vertical windows are engulfed in the concrete walls, You appreciate the window more because it’s such a light form that sits within such a dense form. The view that the thin window frames is just enough for you to see whats on the other side, but not enough to experience whats on the other side. Once again reinforcing the idea that good architecture makes you want to explore. Two smaller courtyard volumes are on the opposite side of the west wing. This area consists simply of tall reeds, the thick summer grass, and an outdoor fire place. You can just visualize the gatherings this kind of juxtaposition encourages.
When you walk all the way to the north edge of Schindler, you can see the entire elevation beautifully. Visually everything is balanced despite not being perfectly symmetrical. It even engages with the large tree that rests in the courtyard and overhangs to the right. It feels calm, at rest, while still showcasing the movement of the wind in the leaves of the tree and the tall blades of the reeds. The courtyard sits a step or two lower than the rest of the building, capitalizing on the sense of closure and coziness that a courtyard already creates. The house feels horizontal and very humble.
Even though there was only maybe one or two other people there, the design in itself makes you respect silence in a beautiful way. I found myself talking quietly, even whispering at times as if I was a in a library or art gallery. Really, it could be argued that the building is a reading of the past. The forms are works of art themselves. Intentionality always deserves full attention. As we exited, I could breathe easier. I felt at peace, I felt this sort of reset perspective. Before we leave, we past the gift shop which was once the garage. Even this is so open. It doesn’t demand a purchase, but it almost deserves one out of appreciation.
The staff of the MAK Center for Art and Architecture mimicked the design of the space. It’s as If they were bi-products of their environment. Restful and thoughtful of the surroundings. I picked up a book documenting the origins and implications of the space. Many conversations on creating a zine that showcases spaces like this ensued - here we are. It’s hard to believe that this modernist home is over a hundred years old now. Schindler House is the unsung hero of the west-coast modernist movement, and still stands the test of time. It’s a mindful experience that I find myself mentally revisiting many times - always the result of an incredible architecture.