John Lautner, Architect

Book excerpt: In 1937, then apprentice with Frank Lloyd Wright, John Lautner (1911-15) came to Los Angeles to supervise construction of the Sturgess Residence. Two years later he established hiw own office in Hollywood, building a house for himself with Henry Russel Hitchcock called "the best house by an architect under 30 in the US", the first in a long line of unique buildings. Never part of the architectural establishment, John Lautner has always practised what he called >. Among the best-known examples are the Malin Residence (Chemosphere), the Reiner Residence (Silvertop), the Arango Residence in Acapulco, and the Elrod Resdience in Palm Springs. His work ranges from exciting but low-cost houses to finely crafted large residences, to restaurants and educational facilities.