California Architecture and American West Coast: A Case Study of R.M. Schindler's Project

This essay explores the relationship between California architecture and American West Coast through a case study of R.M. Schindler's project. It discusses the design characteristics, spatial qualities, materialization, and the role of new industrial technology in the work. The essay also highlights the relationship between abstract art and modernist architecture and the factors that influence the choice of an architectural design.

RUNNING HEADER: Architecture
Name
Professor
Course
Date
1

RUNNING HEADER: Architecture
Introduction
Architecture has existed for centuries. Various buildings designs have been developed
over time and as years go by new designs are being developed.
This essay aims at considering the relationship between California architecture and
American West Coast. Basing our argument from a case-study project by R.M. Schindler a
number of aspects are going to be looked. Some of the aspects that are going to be looked at are;
what were the design characteristic/qualities of early modernist West Coast American
architecture compared to international émigré modernism located along the West coast American
landscape and their situation at hand.1 The means by which this piece of architecture located in
its urban or landscape position, what are some of the spatial qualities that this particular work
has, the role of materialization and geometry in the work, how the new industrial technology was
integrated among others.2
Discussion
The early modernist West Coast American architecture was distinct and had very different
characteristics. For instance the main design tenets of West coast modernism consisted of the use
of beams for construction purposes and also posts. This was a technique was mostly used in early
modernist. R.M. Schindler mentions in his case study that this technique was preferred mainly
1 Bier, Henriette, and Terry Knight. "Digitally-driven architecture." Footprint (2010): 1-4.
2 Collins, Randall, and Mauro F. Guillén. "Mutual halo effects in cultural production: the case of
modernist architecture." Theory and Society 41, no. 6 (2012): 527-556.
2

RUNNING HEADER: Architecture
because it adopted completely uneven surfaces because it needed only footings in the expense of
full foundations that was a common means. During this very time, it was a common feature that
buildings maintained their connection to nature. Most floors were designed based on the natural
terrain and also large but natural rocks were incorporated into the homes to make homes and
buildings look much natural.3
For the international émigré modernism along West coast American on the other hand,
they weren’t quite different from the later. Just a few aspects were different. For instance we
have the Salk institute. 4It comprises of a fine structure that is two mirrored, it appears to be clad
in a raw concrete and a partially unfinished teak. Below is the Salk Institute.There are also a
number of buildings and designs that consists of the international émigré modernism along the
West coast American. One distinguishing about all these pieces of architecture is that they are
fine and unique in a very different way.5
3 Darling, Elizabeth. "Finella, Mansfield Forbes, Raymond McGrath, and Modernist Architecture
in Britain." Journal of British studies 50, no. 1 (2011): 125-155.
4 Park, Jin-Ho. "The Interplay of Modular Idea and Symmetry in Rudolph M. Schindler′ s
Housing." Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering 11, no. 2 (2012): 335-342.
5 Johnson, Donald Leslie. On Frank Lloyd Wright's Concrete Adobe: Irving Gill, Rudolph Schindler and
the American Southwest. Routledge, 2016.
3

RUNNING HEADER: Architecture
According to Schindler, a design site/location is the first step from its emptiness. From
this he meant that the location is very important and should be highly considered before
constructing any architectural design. For the international émigré modernist architecture, most
of them were located within the urban areas and their landscape was specially designed. It was
therefore considered to very relevant to situate these architectural designs in the urban areas.
Rudolf Schindler used complex 3D forms, warm construction materials and striking set
of colors to successfully construct buildings.Schindler work activities normally involves
buildings that are characterized by significant concrete construction materials. Some of the
specific projects oh his architectural work includes the following;
 Kings Road Building
 Pueblo Ribera building as Houses
 Lovell Beach Court House
 Manolla Court House
 Both Wolfe and How Houses. He also specifically turned to the use of Plaster-skin design
to complete his building projects
There are some spiral qualities about these works of architecture. For instance in regard
to materiality, there are some different materials that are used. The use of local materials and
regional materials comes handy in this case. For all these works of architecture, local materials
are used. Schindler mentions that regional materials had various disadvantages; they brought
about crude effects to a building.6 A much simpler, more natural and plain scheme was highly
preferred compared to a complex one.
6 Rudolf Schindler: Aline Barnsdall studio, Los Angeles, CA, 1919-20
4

RUNNING HEADER: Architecture
Materialization played a very important role in the work. As we all know, materialization
and the choice of materials to be used comprises of a very important aspects in any architectural
work. Form the look at these two architectural works, we see that materials that were used
portrayed their original appearance, there are common facings that are applied to pieces of
materials to make them look illusion and quite different, this is not the case here.Formal
geometry has played quite an important role too. Generally all architectural works relays on
geometry. Ancient architectures always relied on imitating natural forms that already existed to
come up with totally new designs or improve on the already existing ones. 7The same case here,
formal geometry involved the application of mathematical operations to design buildings and
their outlay.8
There has always existed a relationship between abstract art and modernist’s architecture.
Back in the days, many local painters paid homage to various architectural principles in almost
all of their abstract compositions. These two works of architecture drew their heart and nature
from these common abstract arts. The new industrial technology was integrated into these works
of architecture in quite a considerable manner. It was considered to be very important and that it
would help these works obtain a totally new phase. There is a relationship to both American and
European modernist precedent lineages that the work engaged in. The relationship is so vivid
although they can be easily told apart. For instance, most buildings in Europe and American are
7 Schindler, Robert M., and Barbara Bickart. "Perceived helpfulness of online consumer reviews:
The role of message content and style." Journal of Consumer Behaviour 11, no. 3 (2012): 234-
243.
8Rudolf Schindler (1887-1953): First Lovell house, Newport beach, CA, 1922-26
5

RUNNING HEADER: Architecture
considerably tall. For instance, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Big Ben in London among others.
9The same case applies to buildings from this work. They are also considerable tall and quite
distinct and unique in a special kind of way.
Conclusion
Looking at the various aspects discussed above in regard to the case-study by R.M.
Schindler, It is clear that architecture draws its heart and originality from ancient times. Various
aspects have been changing in relation to the way buildings are designed, the materials use, the
location/landscape among others but with all these changes, the originality and unique nature of
architectural works stands out. Generally, it can be concluded that various things influence the
choice of an architectural design. There are so many architectural designs that can be used and
each and every design is influenced by a number of factors such as the history of a particular
place, the person of interest among other factor.
9 Rudolf Schindler: Manola Court (Sachs) Apartments, Silverlake, Los Angeles, CA, 1926
6

RUNNING HEADER: Architecture
CLARIFICATION: Chicago Referencing style used
Bibliography
Bier, Henriette, and Terry Knight. "Digitally-driven architecture." Footprint (2010): 1-4.
Collins, Randall, and Mauro F. Guillén. "Mutual halo effects in cultural production: the case of
modernist architecture." Theory and Society 41, no. 6 (2012): 527-556.
Darling, Elizabeth. "Finella, Mansfield Forbes, Raymond McGrath, and Modernist Architecture
in Britain." Journal of British studies 50, no. 1 (2011): 125-155.
7

RUNNING HEADER: Architecture
Johnson, Donald Leslie. On Frank Lloyd Wright's Concrete Adobe: Irving Gill, Rudolph
Schindler and the American Southwest. Routledge, 2016.
Park, Jin-Ho. "The Interplay of Modular Idea and Symmetry in Rudolph M. Schindler′ s
Housing." Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering 11, no. 2 (2012): 335-342.
Rudolf Schindler: Aline Barnsdall studio, Los Angeles, CA, 1919-20
Rudolf Schindler (1887-1953): First Lovell house, Newport beach, CA, 1922-26
Rudolf Schindler: Manola Court (Sachs) Apartments, Silverlake, Los Angeles, CA, 1926
Schindler, Robert M., and Barbara Bickart. "Perceived helpfulness of online consumer reviews:
The role of message content and style." Journal of Consumer Behaviour 11, no. 3 (2012): 234-
243.
8