Archives for posts with tag: modernism

Detail of travertine floor at the Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Museum entrance hall seen from the entrance plaza. Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Visitor shadows on the restaurant at the Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Family room facade detail of polished and rough cut travertine. Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Curving Brise soleil by the cafe. Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Exhibitions Pavilion with a view to Los Angeles. Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Family room reflected in the west pavilion. Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Sunset on the Detail of travertine cladding. Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

The Family Room and reflection. Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Looking up the Family Room facade. Getty Center. Photo: Quintin Lake

Richard Meier’s Getty center in LA is symphony of pale forms and surface texture which are brought to life by the the beautiful LA light and the immaculate condition in which the building in maintained.

In Andreas Papadakis and James Steele, Architecture of Today (Paris: Terrail, 1991) Meier is quoted as saying:

Architecture is the subject of my architecture…What I seek to do is pursue the plastic limits of modern architecture to include a notion of beauty moulded by light. My wish is to create a kind of spatial lyricism within the canon of pure form. In the design of my buildings, I am expanding and elaborating on what I consider to be the formal base of the Modern Movement…The great promise and richness of some of the formal tenets of Modernism have almost unlimited areas for investigation…I work with volume and surface, I manipulate forms in light, changes in scale and view, movement and stasis.

VIEW MORE / BUY PRINTS / LICENSE IMAGES of the Getty Center here >>

Facade I. Detail of the stainless steel facade of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA. Photo: Quintin Lake

Facade II. Detail of the stainless steel facade of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA. Photo: Quintin Lake

Facade III. Detail of the stainless steel facade of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA. Photo: Quintin Lake

The subtle abstract quality of the matte stainless steel panels as they catch the light is what struck me the most about Frank Gehry’s celebrated and much photographed Deconstructivist Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles built in 2003. Originally, one portion of the building featured highly polished panels; however, these were dulled in 2005 due to heat reflection problems in nearby buildings. See images of the Gehry House, LA from 1978 where his experiments with deconstructivism in architecture began.

See more photos of details, facade elevations and complete views of the building here >>

The Eames House or Case Study House No. 8, by Charles and Ray Eames Los Angeles, California. Photo: Quintin Lake

Located upon a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and hand-constructed in 1949 within a matter of days entirely of pre-fabricated steel parts intended for industrial construction, it remains a milestone of modern architecture. Designed by husband-and-wife design pioneers Charles and Ray Eames, to serve as their home and studio. The Eames’ proposal reflected their own household and their own needs; a young married couple wanting a place to live, work and entertain in one undemanding setting in harmony with the site. Perhaps the proof of its success in fulfilling its program is the fact that it remained at the center of the Eames’ life and work from the time they moved in (Christmas Eve, 1949) until their deaths.

VIEW MORE / BUY PRINTS / LICENSE IMAGES of the Eames House here >>

Vitriolite, Neon & Stainless Steel facade of Fox Umbrella Shop (Photo: Quintin Lake)

Neon sign at Fox Umbrella Shop (Photo: Quintin Lake)

Stainless Steel prancing fox on the facade of Fox Umbrella Shop (Photo: Quintin Lake)

Original enamelled signage set on mirror in the entrance to Fox Umbrella Shop (Photo: Quintin Lake)

Interior of Fox Umbrella Shop showing curved glass window (Photo: Quintin Lake)

Curved glass ant-reflective shop window at Fox Umbrella Shop (Photo: Quintin Lake)

Fox Umbrella Shop, 118 London Wall next to Globe pub in the City of London (Photo: Quintin Lake)

This stylish shop was established by Thomas Fox in 1868, and has passed through a number of hands since then. In the early days the building housed a hair salon and a tailor, also owned by Fox, and it was common for customers to come, leave their umbrella to be repaired and have their hair cut while they were waiting. The extremely stylish exterior was installed in 1936 and was, at the time, the latest in shop-front design. Curved non-reflective glazing later used at heals on Tottenham court road was used for the windows, and the framework was made from black Vitrolite a type of black glass used in the 1930s and chromed steel. Two prancing silver foxes and a neon sign were the finishing touches. Seventy years on, it still looks achingly cool.

Inside, the shop is fitted with cabinets made of solid Canadian black walnut. The staircase boasts framed mirrors, with original advertising graphics dating back to 1868. Right up until 1990, the umbrellas were handmade in the basement workshop to the strictest criteria, and T Fox prides itself on having produced one-off designs for John F Kennedy, a gadget umbrella for a James Bond film, and brollies for John Steed in ‘The Avengers’. Visit the T Fox Website here

These photographs were commissioned by Thames & Hudson / View Pictures for an upcoming book on the architecture of the City of London

View more images from this photoshoot of Fox’s Umbrella Shop here

Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

Please add your comment with amendments or suggestions.

Adamson House and Malibu lagoon Museum wikipedia article
Spanish Revival: Architect: Styles Clement
23200 Pacific Coast Highway
PO Box 291
Malibu CA 90265
(310) 456 8432
http://www.adamsonhouse.org
Reg. Tours: Wed-Sat 11AM to 3PM Grp. Tours: Need reservations for> 11
Price: $5.00 General; $2.00 Students

Doheny Mansion
Historicist: Architect: T. Eisen, S.Hunt
AF Rosenheim, W Neff
Campus of Mount St Mary’s College
near USC, Los Angeles
(213) 477 2962
www.dohenymansion.org
Tours By reservation only
Price $25.00
For concerts and elegant receptions at the mansion, visit www.dacamara.org or call 213 477 2929

Eames House wikipedia article PHOTOS
MidCentury Modern: Architect: Charles and Ray Eames
203 Chatauqua Blvd
Pacific Palisades CA 90272
(310) 459 9663
www.eamesfoundation.org
Reg.Tours (Exterior only, reservations required)
M-F 10AM-4PM
Sat. 10AM-3PM
Price: $5.00, students free

Albert Frey House
Mid Century Modern: Architect: A. Frey
101 Museum Drive
Palm Springs CA 92262
(760) 322 4800
www.psmuseum.orq
Tours: By appointment

Gamble House wikipedia article
Arts and Crafts: Architect: Greene & Greene
4 Westmoreland Place
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 793-3334
www.gamblehouse.org
Reg. Tours
Thur-Sun 12-3PM
Grp. Tours By appointment
Price $10 Gen, $7, Seniors & Students

Hollyhock House wikipedia article PHOTOS
Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright
(323) 644 6269
www.hollyhockhouse.net
Reg. Tours: Wed-Sun
12:30,1 :30,2:30,3: 30
Grp. Tours: By appt for >10
Price: Gen. $7, Seniors $3
17 years and under, $2.00 (free if accompanied by an adult)

Lanterman House
Arts and Crafts: Architect: Arthur L Haley
4420 Encinas Or
La Canada, Flintridge CA 91011
(818) 790 1421
www.lantermanfoundation.org
Reg.Tours: Tue,Thur and 1st and 3rd
Sundays 1-4PM
Grp Tours: Tue,Thur by appointment
Price: Adults$3, Students,$l

Lovell Health House wikipedia article
1920’s Modern: Architect: RJ Neutra
(seen in “LA Confidential)
Tours: By appointment via
(323) 309 4395
Price: $50/individual, group tours by arrangement.

Richard and Dion Neutra VDL Studio/ Residences wikipedia article
1930,1940,1960 Modern: Architect: RJ & D Neutra
2300 Silver Lake Slvd
Los Angeles CA 90039
www.neutra-vdl.oro
Reg.Tours: Sat. 11AM-3PM (check website for exceptions)
Grp Tours: By appt at website
Price: $10

Schindler House and Studio wikipedia article
1920’s Modern: Architect: Rudolph Schindler
835 N Kings Rd
W Hollywood CA 90069
(323) 651 1510
www.makcenter.org
Reg Tours: Wed-Sun 11AM-6PM
Grp Tours: By appOintment
Price: $7 Gen, $6 Students, Free Friday 4-6PM
Note Access to Schindler Mackey Apts and Schindler Fitzpatrick Leland Houses on first Fridays by appointment above

Koenig’s Stahl House wikipedia article
Midcentury Modern: Architect: Pierre Koenig
(Case Study House # 22)
Tours by Appointment with Mark Stahl
208331 1414
www.stahlhouse.com
Price: $25 afternoon $40 evening

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