Schindler

Taschen Basic Architecture

by James M. Steele

Hailing from Vienna, Rudolph Michael Schindler (1887-1953), like his colleague Richard Neutra, emigrated to the US and applied his International Style techniques to the movement that would come to be known as California Modernism. Influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and taking cues from spatial notions found in cubism, he developed a singular style characterized by geometrical shapes, bold lines, and association of materials such as wood and concrete, as seen in his own Hollywood home (built in 1921-22) and the house he designed for P.M. Lovell in Newport Beach (1923-24).

Genres: Architecture, Art, Design

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

Dr. James McLeod Steele Jr. is a Professor of History and Theory of Architecture at the University of Southern California School of Architecture. His work focuses on the key issues that effect architecture and urban planning.

Reviews

[Alberto Segovia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great introductory essay, but too much projects crammed into its 96 pages, which makes feel there are projects that should have more introspective elements such as pictures or plans.

[Topaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a brief overview of Schindler’s most famous buildings. It is very short and the text is very basic as is to be expected of the books in this series. To can read this all in one sitting, and don’t expect more than an overview of his work. This is not even close to being a monograph.

What’s nice about this book is it provides 3-5 photos of each building, mostly contemporary color photos but also some older archival photos in bloc and white. There are a few floor plans which are very small and not very useful. There are some reproductions of renderings by Schindler which are also very nice.

The text is very brief giving very little info on the design/background/development of each project. Each house gets 2-4 pages of mostly photos. There is also a career timeline and a map at the end showing locations of all the featured buildings.

This book is more of a primer or possible coffee table book that leaves you wanting to find more in-depth books that span Schindler’s whole career and portfolio.

You can see photos of the actual book at Amazon

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came at this book knowing nothing about Schindler, but I knew I wanted to learn more about the architectural pictures in the book. And I've always got a soft spot for local architecture, and this book abounds with superb photos of mid-century buildings in the Los Angeles/Hollywood/Studio City areas. These homes are nothing but space and windows. Straight, clean lines everywhere. Natural materials, wood, cement, glass. Lots of sharp angles, which I can easily see morphing into the smaller cramped apartment houses of the 1970s which litter the landscape here. There's a lot of "bringing in the outdoors" with floor to ceiling windows, walls of windows, and skylights galore. Tons of niches and small bump-outs on the walls for texture. Multi-levels and terraces outside on the carport, inside on the stairs, open lofts, and everything is built in. Truly the modern house of the future... As seen in the 40s and 50s.

[Tarin · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting take on Modern Architecture