walking in L.A.!

only a nobody walks in L.A.!  (reference, in case you are not a child of the eighties...)

(unless you're out to photograph a simply stunning graffiti scene...)

tank full, grass high

We've had quite a bit of rain lately, so much so that the tank spilleth over. Not enough to come even close to filling our reservoirs, but the rainwater tank, all 5,000 gallons, is full.

That also means the grass has grown...

meanwhile, in the latest issue of Consumer Reports...

A good issue if you are building. Info on counters, kitchen design, flooring, ranges, ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers. Speaking of kitchen design, here's what they list out as "IN" in kitchens these days:

1. Contemporary and transitional styles
2. European-style frameless cabinets
3. Steam ovens
4. Gray, white, and off-white color schemes
5. Quartz countertops
6. Pullout faucets and chrome finishes
7. Pull-out trash/recycling bins
8. LED lighting

Outside of the steam oven, that's our kitchen!

haiku for the book "r.m. schindler: Works and Projects" by Judith Sheine

Loos, Wagner, and Wright...

but speaking with his own voice

his work bumps and grinds

Picked up this book at the Schindler-Chase house while in LA a couple weeks ago. It's published by a Spanish company and includes text in Spanish and English. The first 42 pages offer Sheine's perspective on Schindler's career and the subsequent 200 or so pages catalog various works with Sheine's description of the work/space. If you are primarily visual, this may be a good introduction to Schindler's work. Being an architect herself, it's fun reading an architect's thoughts on Schindler's work.

What’s Fueling Austin’s Edgy Modern Architecture?

Interesting post over at Houzz by Mitchell Parker focused on Austin and its current Modern scene. Can't say I disagree with the conclusions, both negative and positive. With the building bust over, we're starting to see new moderns going up, although not yet at the rate we saw before the bust.

the director's house at Barnsdall Park

While in Los Angeles to attend the re-opening of R.M. Schindler's Bethlehem Baptist Church, we also stopped in to take a closer look at the Director's House (also called Residence A and Cottage A) on Olive Hill. The Director's House was designed by R.M. Schindler for Frank Lloyd Wright, which sounds like Schindler was under Wright's thumb but was really just under Wright's name. Wright was preoccupied with the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and remotely directed Schindler to design the house as Wright might design the house.

In a letter Wright sent to Schindler concerning design duties, Wright wrote: “Regarding prospective clients - “Schindler” is keeping my office and my work for me in my absence. He has no identity as “Schindler” with clients who want “Wright.”... I really do not know quite what a “Schindler” would look like. You know much better what “a Wright” would look and be like and as the clients came to get it. The natural thing would be it would seem to lay it out as nearly as you can as I would do it and send it here for straightening.... Nicht wahr?”

The house sets just off the Hollyhock House, and it's currently something of a neglected mess. Wasn't able to see the roof, but based on the flashing, it appears it has a new(ish) roof, so perhaps it will be restored sometime in the future. The structure was given landmark status in 1965 by Los Angeles (here's the paperwork; history of the house is outdated...), so perhaps there's hope of restoration.

Some historic photos:

100,000 visitors

Das right, das right: 100,000 hits on this humble site as of last Friday! Das a lot of hits!!!

Where are these hits coming from?

Not surprisingly, the United States. As compared to way back when when we had 50,000 hits, France is now outpacing Germany, and Ukraine knocked Poland out of the 10th spot. Come on Poland: we're looking at you!

The Mies-is-miserable post (if it bleeds, it leads...) is still pulling the most hits. And a recent post about the Bethlehem Baptist Church, due to links from others, has entered the top 10 quite quickly. Outside of those two, it's hard to tell why one post pulls a lot of hits and another one doesn't.

Thanks again for reading!