Kallis House | Los Angeles Conservancy
Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group

Kallis House

The Kallis House in Studio City is a classic example of a Modern single-family house design by master architect R. M. Schindler. Completed in 1946, the house sits on a north-facing, sloping lot with a commanding view of the San Fernando Valley. Schindler took full advantage of the challenging site by integrating the building into the hillside and breaking it into several volumes that flow down the slope. The house was originally two separate buildings: a one-bedroom residence and a painter's studio atop a two-bedroom apartment. They were connected by an outdoor terrace, which has since been enclosed, built around standing oak trees.

The design as a whole used other methods to create a sense of flow and unity with the landscape: it is generally linear, with constant changes in the shape, slope, and orientation of the roof to vary ceiling height, allow sunlight in some places, and block glare in others. Schindler's love of industrial materials is reflected in his use of rough split-stake fencing in cladding on parts of the downhill façade. This material acts as a sort of camouflage to help the building blend into the hillside. The Kallis House is one of Schindler's most-cited works, beloved as a dramatic illustration of the architect's design philosophy both indoors and out.

Wirick House
Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group

Wirick House

Its delicate appearance belies the strength and endurance of its structural system, which seems to reflect the attitude of the World War II veterans who came from the USC School: if we can win a war, we can certainly build beautiful houses on this little hill.
Lingenbrink Shops
Photo by Jessica Hodgdon/L.A. Conservancy

Lingenbrink Shops

Its modern bones still apparent under new signage and canopies, this small shopping complex prefigured the now-common typology of the strip mall.
Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group

Rodriguez House

Designed by master architect R. M. Schindler, the Rodriguez House is almost totally intact, serving as a vibrant and beautiful example of the architect’s innovative residential designs.