Valuing the past

For an architect, a very real measure of skill and success must be when his designs are still considered to be progressive many years after his projects are completed and when updating them calls only for sympathetic restoration work.

The home shown here was originally designed between 1938 and 1940 by Rudolf Schindler, an Austrian architect who emigrated to the United States and who is considered one of the foremost practitioners of the Modernist movement in architecture.

Schindler was interested in space and form, and he used volume to integrate the interior and exterior of the homes he designed. Concepts such as open-plan and communal living were explored in his work. He is also recognized for contributing to the creation of new styles to suit the Californian climate and for designing homes to meet tight budgets.

Architect Steven Ehrlich had long admired the Viennese architect's work and with his daughter and son-in-law, Onna and Joel Bell, jumped at the chance to buy a modest 1000sq ft home designed by Schindler, one of a neighboring pair. After only two owners during its 70-year history, the house was still largely in an original state, but derelict. The other house in the pair had already been restored.

"First, we made a strategic decision not to freeze the house in time. Rather, we wanted to restore it to suit the lifestyle of a young family today. We didn't want it to be a museum, but a real, liveable and comfortable environment. Our intention was to honor and conserve the vocabulary of Schindler's work and, at the same time, to add modern amenities," says Ehrlich.

The flat-roofed house has clerestory windows and large panes of glass that bring in light and open the interior spaces to the front and back gardens.

As part of his commitment to the home, Ehrlich preserved as many of the original materials as possible, restoring window and door frames and replacing the original glass with new tempered panes.

"Where the original elements were damaged beyond repair as was the case on the exterior with the roof and inside, with the floor and baseboards we asked ourselves what Schindler would do in the circumstances," says Ehrlich.

In order to respect the integrity of the original exterior, a dilapidated porch hanging off the back of the house was removed. Modern products and technology enabled Ehrlich to replace the old leaky roof, repair the stucco exterior walls and restore the crisp wall-to-roof lines that had been spoilt over the years by metal capping added to keep the rain out.

Inside, old baseboards were copied and the rotten oak floors were ripped up and replaced with new oak boards in the same width as the originals. Existing plastered interior walls were retained, and the walls, roof and floor were all insulated with modern products. Old asbestos underfloor heating was removed and replaced by a new heating and cooling system located on the flat roof.

One of the signatures of Schindler's work is his subtle manipulation of space. In this home, visitors walk up five stairs to the front door, and step into a small entry area with a 7ft-high ceiling. Two stairs lead down to the main living area, and the change to an 8ft ceiling immediately creates the illusion of a much larger space.

"As well adding drama, the subtle variation in the ceiling height creates both an entrance and spatial diversity for the living area," says Ehrlich.

A fresh, white color scheme and plenty of natural light from the large windows and sliding doors ensures the open-plan living areas feel as spacious as possible.

In the living area, layers of paint were stripped off the brick fireplace surround. A built-in redwood display cabinet between this wall and the kitchen was also restored.

Built-in furniture was a feature of Schindler's work and when Ehrlich discovered a small desk had been part of the original living room plan, he restored it using the cabinetry from the old kitchen.

The house still had its original kitchen, but it was closed off from the living room. In recognition of a modern lifestyle, new cabinetry was designed and the kitchen alcove was opened up to the living area, separated by a small breakfast bar. New angled drawer pulls reflect Schindler's original handle design, and white painted walls open up the small space.

To the left of the front door, a hall leads to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Built-in bedroom furniture was restored and the bathroom updated. A laundry and utility area off the kitchen have outdoor access.

Story by: Trendsideas