Los Angeles

Lezione 1

Relationship between the city and the architecture in Los Angeles.

Elizabeth Gardner didn't like the frst parte of the “International style” because she was
looking for an american style.

Schindler didn't like the second part because it is just about aesthetic and not about
functions.

Los Angeles is also a county. San Diego, Palm Spring, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara are
the most important places for architecture.
In the area live 20 million people. Car is almost the only way of moving.
Los Angeles is the second largest in US. In the early XX century it becomes larger than
San Francisco.
People living in LA come from diferent backgrounds. The languages are english (the
ofcial one) and Spanish ( the most spoken one).
The interesting architecture and places are occupied by white men.
There is no more space for agriculture in the city now: There are only houses and
buildings.
Downtown, the centre, is for administrative district. There is a large harbour and now it is
the largest of US.
The climate is dry, warm and healthy. But in California there is Saint Andrea's fault which
causes earthquakes.
Reyenr Banham is the author of an architecture book among the most appreciate in LA
and he also produced a movie.
In the city there is not so many parks but that it is compensated by beaches.
There are many pears and the most important is in Santa Monica. In Malibu there is no
public access to the beach. The houses divide the beach from the high way.
The Santa Monica mountains include the Hollywood hill. That area is quiet savage and
healthy.
In the Korea Town houses are cheaper, there is not so many comercial functions.
“Autopia”: in LA there I s the culture of the car and there is a lot of air pollution.
LA city centre is not much important, but is the place of gentrifcation.

Lezione 4

Revivals: In US but especially in California we fnd “style revivals”. One of these is the
“colonial style”.
Another style is the “mission revival” used in hotel and city.
The reference are Italian and Spanish architectures.
Many railway stations are built in “mission style”.
From the mission style comes the “pueblo revival” that spreads quickly.

Lezione 8

Neutra: his intent was to connects nature to the buildings. He studied in Wien with
Schindler and he is a follower of Adolf Loos theories.
He was really impressed by the houses of Frank Lloyd Wright and he develops interest to
Japanese architecture in the '30s. He is also infuenced by Mendelsohn.
He was really interested in structure systems.
In 1925 he arrives in LA and lives with Schindler, who was the reason of his movement.
After the second world war he travels a lot because of his job.
His life could be divided in two part: since his arrival in LA in 1925 to 1941 and since 1942
until his death.
Lovell health house: built in 1929. It is included in the Hitchcock and Johnson book
“Internationa Style”.
According to Neutra architecture should adapts to nature and climate.