John Lautner, FAIA, Architect | Jules Salkin Residence, 1948 | Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1111 | Renovation by Barbara Bestor, FAIA, Architect. Here on more than a third of an acre in the hills of Echo Park, with panoramic views down the canyon all the way to the ocean in Santa Monica, this early mid-century modern work by the architect incorporates elements learned during his six-year apprenticeship with Frank Lloyd Wright, in addition to the bold experimentation that would come to define his personal oeuvre. On one hand, Wright's principles of the low-cost Usonian house are clearly visible: a small footprint, an emphasis on horizontality, a restricted palette of materials, the principles of compression and release, and the use of board-and-batten redwood siding. On the other hand, Lautner was playful in his expression of the overall form: seven pairs of triangular Douglas Fir timbers create a spine for the house, supporting an upside-down triangular truss roof with little need for structure at the perimeter, lifting the ceiling plane up toward the sky, and allowing glass walls and sliding doors to connect directly to the landscape. Commissioned speculatively by polymath (concert violist, contractor, developer, architect, and attorney) Jules Salkin, one of the four studio musicians that founded the Crestwood Hills architectural community in Brentwood, the home was lost to history through decades of ownership by the original family, including additions and remodels that made the home almost unidentifiable. Fortunately, in 2014 the home was rediscovered by the current owner, who painstakingly researched the property's pedigree, removing additions and reducing square footage, to restore the property to its original condition, in collaboration with architect Barbara Bestor. The result is a successful marriage of old and new, where original details have been preserved, alongside new finishes that have been introduced compatibly. Butt-glazed clerestory window conditions have been recreated, woodwork has been stripped, the fireplace and chimney details have been corrected, and the Cherokee red concrete floor retains its patina. Simultaneously, contemporary kitchen and bathroom finishes give the home new life, with black phenolic resin countertops, hand-made ceramic tile, new built-in appliances, and attention to detail throughout. Historic landmark status may allow for Mills Act application in the future, with the possibility of substantial property tax savings.
