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kaufmann desert house

The home was commissioned by Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr., a Pittsburgh department store tycoon as a desert retreat from harsh winters. A decade earlier, Kaufmann commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to build Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. This five-bedroom, five-bathroom vacation house in Palm Springs, California was designed to emphasize connection to the desert landscape while offering shelter from harsh climatic conditions. The influence of the Kaufmann House extends beyond its immediate visual and spatial attributes; it has permeated various realms of culture and design.

Iconic Mid-Century Kaufmann House For Sale In Palm Springs - LAist

Iconic Mid-Century Kaufmann House For Sale In Palm Springs.

Posted: Mon, 19 Oct 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Eight home interiors where mezzanines maximise usable space

“Legend has it that Mr. Neutra had the pool built first so he could stand in it to cool off while directing construction during the hot Palm Springs summers,” Sotheby’s Bisignano explains. "The home that inspired the iconic images of Julius Shulman and Slim Aarons is an investment in one of the world's most important treasures of modernism." In 2008, the property was named as one of the best houses in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times. The rear facade of the house opens to the landscape and garden, while the facade overlooking the street appears closed, with its facade of ashlar stone. Kauffman visited Taliesin West, the summer study of Wright, located in the middle of Arizona, but was not particularly impressed. Weekly updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs.

Famed Kaufmann House in Palm Springs on market for $25M - Desert Sun

Famed Kaufmann House in Palm Springs on market for $25M.

Posted: Fri, 16 Oct 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Contemporary architectures

The central hub of the pinwheel plan is the living area to the right of the entrance hallway. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass panes along the right side and the far end fill the room with abundant light, unless the curtains are pulled, and, depending on the weather, open it to the outdoor swimming pool. Forming the center of the room is a fireplace set into a wall, as well as an adjacent sofa. Behind the fireplace a passageway leads along another full-height glass wall to the eastern wing, which accommodates a master bedroom with bathroom, a dressing area, and a small study or den. A covered, outdoor walkway leads from the enclosed living area along a low water channel, or lily pond, to two guest bedrooms in the northern wing. Along its eastern side, the walkway widens into an outdoor terrace between the living area and the guest rooms.

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Square footage expanded, the courtyard was covered, and air conditioning was added to the roof—but as a consequence of those "improvements," the house began to crumble and lose its soul. Material choices in the Kaufmann House also reflect Neutra’s innovative approach to architecture. He employed lightweight steel for the framework, which allowed for slender yet strong supports, and used native stone and glass extensively to enhance the connection to the environment. The integration of these materials was not only aesthetically striking but also functionally significant, aiding in the thermal comfort of the residence through passive cooling techniques that were ahead of their time. From the center point, each wing branching out has its own specific function; the most important features are oriented east/west, while the supporting ones are oriented north/south. Additionally, the Harrises were able to have a long-closed section of a Utah quarry reopened, in order to mine matching stone material destined to replace what had been removed or damaged.

HEDS architects' wraps residence in the woods in corten steel corrugated to an owl's hoots

The collaboration between the client and architect was grounded in a mutual appreciation for cutting-edge design and technological advancement, setting the stage for creating a landmark in modernist architecture. Richard Neutra, an emblematic figure of 20th-century Architecture, excelled in blending technology, aesthetics, and the nuances of the natural environment into his designs. Among his illustrious works, the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, California, is the quintessential example of his approach to modernist architecture. Designed by architect Richard Neutra for department store king Edgar J. Kaufmann in 1946 the Southern California home has a history of famous owners, including musician Barry Manilow.

Palm Springs is celebrating its status as a modernist mecca from 15 to 25 February 2018, when the annual Modernism Week takes place. Wright tended to just do whatever he wanted, and badger his clients into accepting it. Neutra, on the other hand, took a great deal of time and effort to grasp the visions of his clients and to construct homes that fit within their needs.

Beside the house, in a somewhat lower level, a swimming pool reflects its structure. The Kaufmann House is one of the most famous buildings by Neutra, who was a key figure of the modernist architecture movement. He was lauded for designing homes that were tailored to the warm California climate, using ample glazing, boxy constructions, light facades, and outdoor living areas. It is one of the most important examples of International Style architecture in the United States and the only one still in private hands.

kaufmann desert house kaufmann desert house

Another essential feature of the home is the use of the “wings.” The house is prominently focused on being east- and west- concentrated for sunset and sunrise purposes. The west wing is used for the kitchen and service rooms and the east wing is used for the master bedroom. The family and dining areas located at the center of the home are square to conform to the boxy design of the property. The plan of the house was tailored to the always-warm California climate, which at times can be rather harsh. It's boxy design, flat roof, covered outdoor spaces, and slatted metal walls all cater to the desert environment, making it a comfortable living space year-round.

Architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Neutra were the first to introduce the style in the United States starting in the 1920’s. However, it wasn’t until after World War II that it saw its rise in popularity, with the escalation of more industrial materials being used in construction. The style was based on the use of new production technologies that generally included steel, concrete, and glass. It also used cleaner, more fluid lines that harmonized with its surrounding environment.

This technique allows the eye to travel from the inside to the outside with minimal interruption, visually connecting the two spaces. Palm Springs, California undoubtedly has some of the most lavish and beautiful homes in North America. A visit there is like being transported back to the Golden Age of Hollywood where you may just find Bing Crosby playing a round of golf or Marilyn Monroe sipping a martini by the pool. The area has remained landmarks of historical, modern architecture, and the Kaufmann Desert House (or simply “Kaufmann House”) is no exception. The garden permeates almost inadvertently throughout the house with smooth oscillations.

After purchasing the house and its more than an acre of land for about $1.5 million, the Harrises removed the extra appendages and enlisted two young Los Angeles-area architects, Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner, to restore the Neutra design. When Brent and Beth Harris first saw the Kaufmann House, it was neither a pretty palace nor an obvious candidate for restoration. Strikingly photographed in 1947 by Julius Shulman, it stood vacant for several years after Kaufmann’s death in 1955. Then it went through a series of owners, including the singer Barry Manilow, and a series of renovations. Along the way, a light-disseminating patio was enclosed, one wall was broken through for the addition of a media room, the sleek roof lines were interrupted with air-conditioning units, and some bedrooms were wallpapered in delicate floral prints. Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr. (1885–1955) and Liliane Kaufmann (1889–1952), Neutra’s clients, had been patrons of modern art and architecture for many years, mainly in the Midwest, where they owned a department store in Pittsburgh.

The resulting time-lapse photo is famous, not only for the multiple images of the running "ghost" puppy, but also for Shulman's request that Lilliane position herself on a mat to block the pool light from over-exposing the photo. Built in 1946, the boxy two-storey residence has many defining elements of modern architecture – a flat roof, pale exterior and shaded outdoor spaces – tailored to the arid climate of the California desert. Constructed in 1946, this residence was designed for Edgar J. Kaufmann, a discerning client known for patronizing exceptional architectural works, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. The flow from interior to exterior space is not simply a spatial condition, rather it is an issue of materiality that creates the sinuous experience. The glass and steel make the house light, airy, and open, but it is the use of stone that solidifies the houses contextual relationship.

The Kaufmann House has gone through several owners after the Kaufmann’s owned the house, which led to the house to fall in disrepair and a lack of concern and preservation of the modern dwelling. However, a couple that appreciated 20th Century modern homes restored the house back to its original luster with the help of Julius Shulman. The Kaufmann House is now considered to be an architectural landmark and one of the most important houses in the 20th Century.

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