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Tischler House
At once part of, and thrusting out from, its steep hilliside lot, this late Schindler design is beloved by its original owner and countless observers alike.
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In 1993, artist Adolph Tischler wrote a Los Angeles Times tribute to his Rudolph M. Schindler-designed house, an idiosyncratic tri-level residence in Westwood.
Tischler and his wife Beatrice commissioned Schindler to design a house for their steep hillside lot, and the architect responded with an unusual, almost sculptural building that steps up the slope in levels. Due to the modest budget of his clients, Schindler designed the residence to be completed in phases over time.
The house’s primary elevation resembles the bow of a ship thrusting forward through the trees, extending the angle of the roof’s gable with a glass and stucco, irregularly shaped, somewhat cruciform volume placed on the front. The steeply pitched roof is sheathed in panels of blue corrugated fiberglass to give the interior a tent-like feel. The material originally heated the interior spaces and cast a blue light, so the owner partially sheathed the interior in plywood to remedy Schindler's experiment.
At one time, the street-level carport functioned as Tischler's art studio. The middle level contained guest rooms, and the top level served as the family's primary living space. The liberal application of glass created a feeling of spaciousness within the 1,740 square foot house.
The Tischler House is an excellent example of Schindler's late work, completed three years before the architect's death. Unpredictable angles and vertical emphasis make it stand out from its conventional residential neighborhood, and clearly mark it as a late Schindler design beloved by the owner and observers alike.