John Lautner, one of the recognized geniuses of California modernism.John Lautner is unique. Without understanding his work, it is not possible to understand fully Los Angeles's contribution to modern architecture. His design staked out new territory and explored ideas the better-publicized Case Study architects avoided.

It is time for John Lautner to be more widely known. Five years after his death he remains a puzzling yet intriguing figure. To some architects he is a cult hero. To others he is a curious commodity known for a few sensational residential structures in Los Angeles. To others he is part of the ambivalent legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright. Little is on the record about his life or general career. The purpose of this book is to present an overview of that career in photographs and words, to show its diversity, and to allow the professional and lay person to see and understand his architecture. Of about sixty houses built throughout his fifty-five year career (not including additions), Alan Weintraub and I feature thirty-four in this book, The dates given for buildings are those of completion; where a project took several years, both starting and completion dates are given. We selected these houses to represent an accurate cross section of Lautner"s work. The primary focus is on the residential work for which he is primarily known, but Lautner"s career cannot be understood without due attention to his substantial commercial work and its impact as well--a task made more difficult because virtually all of his early roadside buildings have been demolished.

Preface

Acknowledgements

The Architecture of John Lautner Introduction

1939-1959 Early Years

1960-1970 Middle Years

1971-1994 Later Years

End Notes

Bibliography

Index