In celebration of Moderism Week going on now through the 24th in Palm Springs, I felt a re-post of this September entry was in order…
Several years ago, I had the great fortune of meeting the man who arguably, within a single frame, visually articulated an entire architectural design movement. No other image in architecture has come as close to the iconic status of his shot peering into and through the living area of Koenig’s hilltop masterpiece. The image portrays two women seated in conversation, cantilevered between planes of concrete, glass and steel and perched high above the crackling evening glow of a Sixties LA stretching into the horizon… When I met him as a ninety-three year old, he still possessed a personality almost as large as that ionic frame itself. Julius Shulman has passed, but while on assignment in Los Angeles this fall, his image was close in mind, and I decided to make an effort to experience the residence for an evening. Situated at 1635 Woods Drive in the Hollywood Hills, you realize immediately upon passing through the carport’s ornamental gate how incredibly ahead of their time “Buck” Stahl and Pierre Koenig were as the home was finalized in 1960. Over fifty years has passed, and few residences today can claim to be as beautifully sited, proportioned, and designed as Case Study 22. If ever interested, visitations can be scheduled at www.stahlhouse.com , it’s one of the most worthwhile residences one could ever have the opportunity to experience.
