#art, #architecture, Let’s Talk a Bit of Pierre Koenig…

Architect Pierre Koenig was a Californian, born in 1925 in San Francisco but relocated to the San Gabriel Valley in 1939… Koenig served in WWII and upon his return, with the aid of the GI Bill, he studied architecture at the University of Southern California and graduated in 1952… In 1957 he became a licensed architect and in 1961 began teaching at the University of Southern California and also had his private practise… Koenig is well known for his projects within the Case Study Houses, principally number 21, The Bailey House and number 22 the Stahl House, both built in spectacular locations where it was thought nothing could be built. Photographer Julius Shulman photographed the Stahl House for Arts & Architecture magazine. These houses are icons of Los Angeles for it almost seems as if Koenig had built them to include the incredible view of L. A. beneath and visible through a wall of glass… In 1983 he embarked upon his last project, the Gantert House, built for Michael Gantert, the developer. He built the house without modifying the location and as a result the house has the unique appearance of hanging on the side of the mountain. The south side of the house is made entirely of glass offering phenomenal views of the city below and the only window on the west side looks on to the Hollywood Bowl…

All of his houses, naturally had fabulous swimming pools a characteristic icon of Los Angeles… Koenig died in L. A. in 2004… This architect constructed some of the most iconic houses in Los Angeles, used in many series and movies and is a must for all art students, be they architecture majors or fine art. I would encourage you to delve deeper into his life an art.

CHEERS