Rudolph Schindler

Rudolph Michael Schindler (born Rudolf Michael Schlesinger; September 10, 1887 – August 22, 1953) was an Austrian-born American architect whose most important works were built in or near Los Angeles during the early to mid-twentieth century.

Although he worked and trained with some of its foremost practitioners, he often is associated with the fringes of the modernist movement in architecture. His use of complex three-dimensional forms, "warm" materials, and striking colors, as well as his ability to work within tight budgets, however, have placed him as one of the mavericks of early twentieth century architecture. Reyner Banham said he designed "as if there had never been houses before."

Early history

Rudolf Michael Schindler was born on September 10, 1887, to a middle-class Jewish family in Vienna, Austria. His father was a wood and metal craftsman and an importer; his mother was a dressmaker. He attended the Imperial and Royal High School, from 1899 to 1906, and enrolled at the Vienna University of Technology before attending the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, or Wagnerschule, being graduated in 1911 with a degree in architecture. For unknown reasons, his family changed their surname from 'Schlesinger' to 'Schindler' in 1901. The MAK Center offers a variety of exhibitions and events. The center also sponsors six-month residencies for emerging architects and artists who are housed in the Mackey Apartments.

Selected projects (existing) 1922 – Schindler House, 835 North Kings Road, West Hollywood, California 1922–1926 – Lovell Beach House, Newport Beach, Balboa Peninsula, California 1923 – El Pueblo Ribera Court, La Jolla, California 1925 – How House for James Eads How, Silverlake, Los Angeles, California City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument#895 1926 – Manola Court apartment building for Herman Sachs, Edgecliff Drive, Los Angeles, California 1928 – Wolfe House, Avalon, Catalina Island, California (demolished in 2002) 1928–1952 – Samuel Freeman House (two guest apartments and furniture), Hollywood Heights, Los Angeles, California 1930 – R. E. Elliot House, Newdale Drive, Los Angeles City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument#690 1933 – W. E. Oliver House, Micheltorena Street, Los Angeles, California 1933 – The Rainbow Ballroom, Denver (see also Verne Byers) 1934 – J. J. Buck House, Genesee Street, Los Angeles, California City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument#122 1934 – Bennati A-Frame house, Lake Arrowhead, California 1935 – DeKeyser Duplex, Hollywood Heights, Los Angeles, California 1936 – Ralph G. Walker House, N Kenilworth Ave, Los Angeles, CA 1937 – H. Rodakiewicz House, Los Angeles, California 1938 – Bubeshko Apartments, Los Angeles, California City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument#831 2017 Docomomo Award of Excellence for restoration 1938 – Wilson House, Los Angeles, California City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument#965 1939 – Mackey Apartments, South Cochran Avenue, Los Angeles, California 1940 – Van Dekker House, Woodland Hills, California 1940 – House on Ellis Avenue, Inglewood, California 1940 – S. Goodwin House, Studio City, California 1941 – Druckman Residence, Los Angeles, California 1944 – Bethlehem Baptist Church, 4900 S. Compton Ave., Los Angeles, California 1946 – Roxy Roth Residence, Studio City, California 1948 – Laurelwood Apartments, Studio City, California City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument#228 1950 – Tischler House, Los Angeles, California City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument#506 1952 – Schlesinger House, Los Angeles, California

Quotes

Films and books In 2024 Schindler Space Architect, a feature-length documentary film by Valentina Ganeva on the life and works of Schindler, was released.