STAHL HOUSE
The Stahl House, also known as Case Study House #22, was constructed from 1957 to1959 by architect Pierre Koenig in collaboration with the property owner's Buck and Carlotta. The Stahl's had already begun the transformation of their hillside lot after purchasing it in 1954 for $13,500. Together they were investing their weekends in the Hollywood Hills to shape the lot and plan their future home. [ 1 ]
Then along came a 32 year old architect named Pierre Koenig.
Pierre was born in San Francisco, the son of a salesman. The family moved to Southern California after Pierre returned from WWII in 1939. He received his Bachelor's of Architecture degree from the University of Southern California, and is described as a 'precocious talent.' He was also a recruited participant of the Case Study House program by the editor of the Art's & Architecture magazine, John Entenza. [ 2 ]
photo by Julius Shulman
"Koenig suspended disbelief along with gravity when he designed the daring, transparent structure, capturing in a single building what modern life in a modern house could be."
The iconic 2,200 sqft hillside home sits above famed Sunset Boulevard. It is a two bedroom residence composed with a 'L'-shape plan to separate private and public functions of the program.
"As much as architectural modernism is associated with the materials and methods of construction, the juxtaposition of program and organization are important design principles that evoke utilitarian characteristics." [ 3 ]
A pool rests in-between the two rectilinear volumes as a threshold and interstitial space diffusing the barrier between home and hillside. The home continues by cantilevering the programmatic public volume above the hills to provide a living space which floats in the clouds as seen in this iconic image captured by photographer Julius Shulman in 1960.
''Until the end of his life he remained an ardent believer in industrial materials and prefabricated systems -- the idea that life could be improved through architecture,'' said Elizabeth Smith, who was curator of the 1989 Case Study show, ''Blueprints for Modern Living'' at the Museum of Contemporary Art here. [ 4 ]
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1. ^ Stahl House (August 22 2015)
"About Us" Stahlhouse.com
2. ^ Ouroussoff, Nicolai (April 6 2004)
"Pierre Koenig, 78; Architect's Designs Personify Modernism" Los Angeles Times.
3. ^ Kroll, Andrew (October 22 2010)
"AD Classics : Stahl House / Pierre Koenig" Archdaily.com
4. ^ The Associated Press (April 7 2004)
"Pierre Koenig, Architect, 78, In Los Angeles" New York Times.