Architecture speaks to my fondness for sculptural shapes. In Los Angeles there were many modern architects who made their names in Southern California area. I was honored to meet and attend several lectures by architectural photographer Julius Shulman. He was influential in how I approached architectural photography.
In this set you will see photos of Frank Llyod Wright's earliest “Usonian” house, La Miniatura is also the first residence to utilize Frank Lloyd Wright's highly inventive textile block building. It was in disrepair with a leaky roof and overgrown landscaping when the Gamble House lecture series was able to organize a tour.
His Hollyhock House takes its name from Aline Barnsdall’s favorite flower. At her request, hollyhocks were incorporated into the decorative program of the house, and stylized representations of the flower are found on the roofline, walls, columns planters and furnishings.
The Ennis House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built by his son, Lloyd, is the last and largest of the elder Wright’s four “textile block” houses in the Los Angeles area. These homes are noted for their patterned and perforated concrete blocks, which give a unique textural appearance to both the exterior and interior.
I has a unique opportunity to hear a concert inside John Lautner's house called Silvertop in Silverlake as part of the Da Camera societies concerts in historical places.
Griffith Observatory's unique architecture and setting, compelling programmatic offerings, and cinematic exposure have made it one of the most famous and visited landmarks in southern California. It was constructed with funds from the bequest of Griffith J. Griffith. George Ellery Hale, who had overseen the creation of the great telescopes at Yerkes, Mount Wilson, and Palomar Observatories, used his knowledge to steer the overall design. Griffith Trust and Los Angeles Park Commissioners selected architects John C. Austin and Frederick M. Ashley to oversee the final plans for the new observatory building.
Photography Copyright Francesca Scalpi
