Esoteric Survey

Wolfe Summer House, by R.M. Schindler (1928-1931) Catalina Island, CA Ethel and Charles Wolfe came to Los Angeles, attracted by the boom of the movie industry and the charm of a new world at the frontier of western civilization. In 1920, they opened the Wolfe School of Costume Designing for stage and cinema in downtown Los Angeles. Through Leah Lovell, Ethel was introduced to Schindler and later commissioned him to design several projects, including the graphic identity of her institution, the remodeling of the school lobby, and a residence in Avalon.' In the school catalogue, the house is described as a "studio. home" and "the rendezvous for students during the summer season."?  In Schindler's mind, the Wolfe House was the seed for a new type of architecture on Catalina Island, one which celebrates play, sports and outdoor life, as did his Lovell Beach House.  In 1934, he wrote a letter to Mr. Wrigley, the chewing-gum tycoon who owned the island, to critici...

Flowers for Aline: An Exhibition by Sogetsu Ikebana Los Angeles Branch at the  Hollyhock House  (1921). At Aline Barnsdall's request,  Frank Lloyd Wright Wright incorporated her favorite flower, the hollyhock, into the design of the house. Multiple buildings were planned for the property but after delays and cost overruns, only this main house and two guest houses were completed by Wright.  RM Schindler served as the project manager. In 1927 Aline donated the property to the City of Los Angeles.  The front door.   This composition, in a Frank Lloyd Wright planter box, is by Auralynn Nguyen. This was only my second visit to Hollyhock, which I should be ashamed of. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site. The only one in Los Angeles. In addition to the incredible house, it sits upon a hill with some of the best views of LA.