Architectural UFOs

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Happy Thursday and welcome back to The Midmod Corner: Your go-to buddy for all things interior design and architecture here, ready to bring some style and pizzazz to your space. Let's get started 🚀

In today’s edition:

• Design Story: John Lautner's architectural legacy

• Snippets: DIY cleaning tricks

• Around The Web: Your futuristic floating sanctuary

📰 The Story

Last week marked another spin around the sun since the birth of the inimitable John Lautner. Who? Well, if Frank Lloyd Wright and a UFO had a love child, it would be Lautner's architecture. Grab a drink, drop into your favorite armchair, and allow me to take you through eight fascinating facts about this incredible man that will make your architectural soul tango!

1. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Acolyte

Before his name became synonymous with revolutionary design, Lautner played the diligent student under none other than the venerable Frank Lloyd Wright. Lautner worked with Wright on a variety of projects, including Fallingwater and Wingspread. According to photographer Julius Shulman, Wright considered Lautner to be the “Next Best Architect on Earth.” Lautner thought Wright was a genius.

2. The Jetsons Vibe

While Lautner is most known for his residential designs, he was crucial in the emergence of the "Googie" style. Remember the buildings in Orbit City, where the Jetsons lived in the year 2062? Those were full-on Googie styles—a trademark style of the midcentury California zeitgeist—with exaggerated angles, dramatic roof forms, and the bold use of glass, steel, and neon signage. Lautner designed a number of renowned Googie icons, including the now-demolished Googie's Coffee Shop, Coffee Dan's, and Tiny Naylor's.

3. Chemosphere House

Lautner started work on the Malin Residence, also called the "Chemosphere," in the late 1950s. At first, the steep 45-degree slope made the site unbuildable according to several architects and contractors. Lautner envisioned installing a 5-foot-thick, 27-foot-high reinforced concrete pole into the hill to support a floating octagonal pod. Diagonal bracing from the concrete post's base supported the floorplate's cantilevered points. The 2,208-square-foot residence is accessible by funicular and was a remarkable engineering accomplishment at the time.

4. Pop Culture Stardom

Over the years, a number of Lautner's buildings have been used in film, TV, and photography. Here's just a small sample:

• The Chemosphere was featured as a futuristic residence in the 1964 episode "The Duplicate Man" of ABC's TV show "The Outer Limits"

• The Elrod House, got its 15 minutes of fame, starring in the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever"

• Sheats- Goldstein House was featured in the Coen brothers' film, "The Big Lebowski"

• The video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" includes a Chemosphere-like building close to the 'VINEWOOD' sign.

5. Caveman Chronicles 

In an echo of our early ancestors, Lautner designed spaces often referred to as "hillside caves". He studied the shelters of prehistoric cliff dwellers, fascinated by the safety and outlook these spaces provided. He aimed to reconnect inhabitants with this primal sense of sanctuary, believing this connection deeply embedded in our psyche. His houses are more than homes - they're echoes of our collective past.

6. Sheats-Goldstein House

Lautner's Sheats-Goldstein house stands as one of his most significant projects, commissioned in 1961 by businessman James Goldstein. Situated on a sloping Beverly Hills hillside, the house boasts stunning views of the Los Angeles skyline, surrounded by lush vegetation that gives it a jungle-like feel. To maintain the captivating landscape, Goldstein employed four full-time gardeners.

Over 35 years of dedication by James Goldstein went into perfecting the house, and as a gesture of generosity, he recently donated it to the city of LA. Moreover, the home became the venue for the 27th birthday celebration of the renowned Hip Hop artist Rihanna, attended by stars like Jay-Z, Mick Jagger, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

7. Human-Centric Visionary

On October 24th, 1994, Lautner passed away in Los Angeles, leaving behind an unmatched architectural legacy. While some critics found fault in his lack of scale and control in his spaces, citing imprecise drawing skills and exceeding client budgets, Lautner undeniably made a significant contribution to architecture, particularly in Southern California.

What set Lautner apart and garnered widespread acclaim was his ability to craft the user's experience from the interior. His design process prioritized how users would feel in the space, the views they would enjoy, and the seamless connection between the architecture and each site's unique features. In contrast to the prevailing trend of viewing buildings as mere objects, Lautner firmly believed that architecture existed for people to experience.

So, there you have it, friends - a delightful dive into the captivating world of John Lautner. Let's raise a glass to his architectural brilliance, and a nod to his monumental creations that continue to redefine the boundaries of space.

Stay curious, stay inspired, and never stop journeying through what brings you joy!

🗃 Snippets

AI-Powered Interior Styling: Wayfair debuts Decorify, a cutting-edge virtual room styler. Powered by generative AI, this digital marvel is set to transform your décor dreams into visual reality, right before your eyes.

Art and Space Dance: In Valencia, Spain, the innovative Casa Axis by Felipe Pantone isn't just a building—it's a spectacle of color and form! Serving as a bustling creative hub, this architectural wonder is a showcase of Pantone's kinetic art, harmoniously merging structure and immersive experience. A must-see!

DIY Moment: 10 life-changing cleaning tricks to make home cleaning less daunting and more efficient. It's about making your life a little easier!

Barbie craze goes on: HGTV has pulled a real stunt, making over a real house to match Barbie's Dreamhouse. With chic design and an overdose of pink, it's as if Barbie's playset grew up with her. Question is, can we handle all this pink?

Embracing Nature: The Koonya Triptych House in Tasmania, by Room Eleven, is a testament to thoughtfully crafted design. With its unique form that offers glimpses of the stunning landscape, this residence beautifully intertwines the indoors and outdoors in a serene dialogue.

🌐 Around the Web

• 🛥️ That’s interesting: This contemporary floating sanctuary on Australia's Lake Eildon will make you want to trade land for water in an instant.

• ☀️ Weekend plan: From secluded beaches to thriving cultural hubs, these lesser-known gems offer unique experiences away from the typical tourist crowd.

• 🏘 On the market: The Wolff Residence is on the market for a hefty $6.5m. Still, you do get a lot of bang for your buck.

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