Cued by the crash of 1929 and the need to put food on his own table, R.M. Schindler built houses for not necessarily rich people, but people interested in his architectural ideas, and integrating the Southern California landscape and lifestyle into their daily lives.
I know from correspondence, between Victoria McAlmon and the architect, that Ms. McAlmon was afraid to sign a cost plus contract as she had $6000 for the mortgage and $1200 for additional costs only. R.M. Schindler compensated with using inexpensive but durable materials (stucco and plaster), but he also gave her a great suggestion.
When Victoria purchased the lot, there was already a bungalow (built in 1923/1911 depending on sources) built near the top of the property, situated on a steep bluff overlooking Glendale and the San Gabriel Mountains beyond. The architect suggested that instead of tearing down the existing structure, he slides it down the hill and wraps it in the same plaster skin that the new house would be made of, enabling Victoria to use it for a tenant, hence offset her mortgage.
He proceeded to add a living room, a patio and garden, and put the old structure on top of a three-car garage. He then wrapped the whole building in a De Stijl like unifying plaster shell, forming a complex and deceptive building out of a bare bone bungalow.
The shingles from the old structure can be seen from certain angles and the blue wood siding is clearly visible, yet if one stands on the sidewalk, the front house looks like a natural companion to the main house, and it even appears to be larger.
*Photo by Julius Shulman
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