The Fitzpatrick-Leland House R.M. Schindler, (1936) on the corner of Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills was donated to the MAK Center in 2007. Today the house serves
as an active hub for research, contemplation, and conversation about modern architecture, contemporary art, and urban space.
The Fitzpatrick-Leland House commands a strong presence along the slope of Laurel Canyon and Mulholland Drive, as the 3-story
terraced scheme captures the eye with its interplay of protruding canopies beneath. Schindler’s subtle composition of
interlocking volumes dominates the experience of interior spaces.
The dramatic L-shaped home was originally commissioned by developer Clifton Fitzpatrick as a spec-house, i.e. a real estate
promotion to attract buyers to the area. Following numerous changes of proprietors and various modifications Schindler’s
architecture would scarcely be recognizable today, had it not been acquired by Russ Leland in 1990 who—in 10 years—restored
the building and recovered much of its original design. Through his efforts, Leland successfully recaptured the spirit of
Schindler’s vision. In 2007, he donated the building and property to the MAK Center, insuring its legacy as a historically
significant work of architecture.
The home’s light-filled spaces and expansive grounds provide an ideal setting for a residency program. The Fitzpatrick-Leland
House first served as a base for the MAK Center’s Urban Future Initiative (UFI): In the fellowship program that was supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department
of State with a grant of $410,000 for two years, cultural thinkers from diverse nations entered into a dialogue to cultivate
visionary conceptions of urban space and created new networks. Since then, the MAK Center has dedicated the house to small-scale
events and the lodging of international cultural researchers visiting Los Angeles for artistic and scholarly pursuits.
Registration
SHARE:
Fitzpatrick-Leland House
Laurel Canyon Boulevard/Mulholland Drive Los Angeles, CA 90046, USA T +1 323 651 1510
every first Friday of the month, or by appointment, advance reservation required.
Admission
incl. Schindler by MAK guide: Suggested donation $34 / $32 students and seniors / $20 for Friends of the Schindler House and Friends of the MAK Center
Related
Expositur
The Schindler House
The home and studio of the Austrian-American architect Rudolph M. Schindler on Kings Road in West Hollywood serves today as the homebase of the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, Los Angeles. This seminal building was declared an architectural landmark by the World Monument Fund in 2002. Today Schindler counts
as one of the most important modern architects.
The Pearl M. Mackey Apartments (R.M. Schindler, 1939) in the Mid-Wilshire District of Los Angeles are home to the MAK Artists and Architects-in-Residence program MAK Artists and Architects in Residence Program]. The Republic of Austria purchased the building on the initiative of the
MAK in 1995 and the program designed for visiting emerging international artists and architects was launched in the same year.
Since his emigration to the USA in 1914, the experimental Viennese visionary has given direction to a modern architectural
percept in California. After completion of his own Kings Road house in 1921/22 designed as live-work space, Schindler primary
planned and built private residencies, like the Mackey Apartments and the Fitzpatrick-Leland House.
