John Lautner facts for kids

John Lautner

John Edward Lautner (born July 16, 1911 – died October 24, 1994) was a famous American architect. He learned from the well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930s. After his training, Lautner started his own architecture business in 1938. He worked there for the rest of his life.

Lautner mostly designed buildings in California, and most of his projects were homes. He is best known for helping create the Googie style. He also designed several unique "Atomic Age" houses in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Some of these famous homes include the Leonard Malin House, Paul Sheats House, and Russ Garcia House.

About John Lautner

His Early Life and Family

John Lautner was born in Marquette, Michigan, in 1911. His family had roots in Austria and Ireland. His father, John Edward Lautner, taught French and German at Northern State Normal School (now Northern Michigan University). His mother, Vida Cathleen (née Gallagher), was an interior designer and painter.

The Lautner family loved art and architecture. In 1918, their Marquette home was featured in The American Architect magazine. A big influence on young John was building their summer cabin, "Midgaard". They built it themselves on a rock by Lake Superior. His mother designed the inside, inspired by Norse houses.

In 1929, Lautner went to college where his father taught. He studied many subjects like philosophy, physics, and art history. He also played music and loved jazz. He continued his studies in Boston and New York City. In 1933, Lautner earned his degree.

Learning from a Master Architect

In 1933, Lautner's mother helped him join Frank Lloyd Wright's special training program, the Taliesin Fellowship. Lautner soon married Mary Faustina Roberts, and they both joined the program. John preferred hands-on work like carpentry and plumbing over drawing plans. He believed this was the best way to learn. From 1933 to 1939, he worked and studied with Wright in Wisconsin and Arizona.

Lautner learned quickly from Wright. By 1934, he was helping design parts of Wright's projects. He also supervised the building of a Wright-designed house for his mother-in-law in Marquette. In 1937, he oversaw the building of "Wingspread" near Racine, Wisconsin, which was his favorite Wright project to work on. He also helped build the Drafting Room at Taliesin West, which later influenced his own designs.

Starting His Own Architecture Business

Lautner left Wright's program in early 1938 because his wife was expecting their first child. He moved to Los Angeles to start his own architecture business. He still worked with Wright on about eleven projects over the next five years.

His first important solo project was his own home in Los Angeles, the Lautner House (1939). This house helped him become known. It was even called "the best house in the United States by an architect under thirty." During this time, he also worked with Wright on the Sturges House.

Lautner supervised other projects for Wright, like the Bell House. This house was finished quickly and brought him much praise. The University of Chicago even asked for its plans to use as a teaching tool. It was featured in many magazines, including House and Garden, which called it "the model house for California living."

In 1943, Lautner joined the Structon Company. He worked on military construction projects during wartime. This gave him valuable experience with new building technologies. This also marked the end of his professional work with Frank Lloyd Wright.

In 1944, Lautner worked with other architects before joining Douglas Honnold's practice. He helped design Coffee Dan's restaurants and remodel the Beverly Hills Athletic Club. He also worked on his own projects, the Mauer House and the Eisele Guest House. A magazine article called "Three Western Homes" featured his Bell Residence, with photos by Julius Shulman. This was the start of a long friendship between Lautner and Shulman, who took many famous photos of Lautner's buildings.

Lautner left Honnold's practice in 1947 and started his own design office. He began many important projects, including the Carling Residence and Henry's Restaurant. His work was often featured in popular magazines like Architectural Record and House & Garden.

In 1948, Lautner married Elizabeth Gilman. His output that year included the Tower Motors Lincoln-Mercury Showroom. In 1949–1950, he designed the Dahlstrom Residence, Googie's Coffee House, and the UPA Studios. In 1952, Lautner received his architectural license.

From the late 1940s until his death, Lautner mostly designed homes. His early projects were smaller, but as his fame grew, his designs became much grander. One of his largest projects was the 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m²) Arango residence in Acapulco, Mexico. He was also named the Olympic Architect for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

John Lautner passed away in 1994. Years later, his work became very popular again. Books were published, and an exhibit was held at the Hammer Museum. In 2009, a documentary film called Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner was made about his life and work.

Lautner's Unique Architecture

Lautner designed over 200 projects in his career. Many of his larger building ideas were never built. He designed many commercial buildings like restaurants and motels, but most of his famous work is homes. Almost all of Lautner's buildings are in California, especially around Los Angeles.

His unique way of designing buildings was greatly influenced by his time with Frank Lloyd Wright. Lautner always admired Wright and followed the idea of "Organic Architecture." This means designing buildings that fit naturally into their surroundings.

Even though his early work showed Wright's influence, Lautner slowly developed his own style. He wanted his buildings to be seen as his own, not just like Wright's. Lautner believed a building should be a "total concept." Like Wright, he loved using basic shapes like circles and triangles in his designs. His houses also aimed to blend the inside with the outside, making a smooth flow between spaces. Lautner took this idea even further.

Many of Lautner's houses were built on high places or "difficult" spots, like hillsides or near the ocean. He designed them to make the most of the amazing views. He also followed Wright's rule of building on a slope, not right on top of a hill.

Lautner's work is special because he greatly expanded what was possible in home design. He used the newest building technologies and materials. For example, he was one of the first to use glue-laminated plywood beams and steel. He also explored how to use reinforced and prestressed concrete. His designs often featured open, multi-level layouts, curved concrete shapes, skylights, and huge glass windows that offered panoramic views.

It's interesting that even though his famous works like the Chemosphere are linked to Los Angeles, Lautner often said he didn't like California.

Famous Buildings by John Lautner

Lautner Residence

In 1939, after working with Frank Lloyd Wright, Lautner built his first house in the Silver Lake area. This 1,200 square-foot home had three levels that followed the hillside's shape. The patio was the top level, then the kitchen and dining area, and the living room was at the bottom. The house had a redwood plywood ceiling and mahogany kitchen counters. Lautner lived there for only two years. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Foster Carling House

This was one of Lautner's most important early works. It showed many of his main design ideas. It also brought him together with builder John de la Vaux. Lautner used strong steel beams outside to hold up the roof of the main living area. This created a completely open space inside, without any columns. This design, along with the house's hillside location, gave amazing 360-degree views of Los Angeles.

A cool feature is a movable wall-seat. An entire wall section of the living area, with a built-in couch, could swing open. This opened the room to the outdoor terrace. He used this idea again in other homes. The house also had a swimming pool that partly came into the living area under a sheet of glass. This idea was used even more dramatically in the Elrod House. The Carling House is one of Lautner's most celebrated designs. It also started his great partnership with John de la Vaux, which included building the famous "Chemosphere."

Googie Architecture

While Lautner is known for homes, he also greatly contributed to a style called Googie architecture. This style was for car-oriented buildings in Southern California. Lautner's designs for Coffee Dan's, Henry's, and Googie's restaurants helped define this style.

The name "Googie architecture" was created in 1952 by an editor named Douglas Haskell. He saw Lautner's Googie's Coffee Shop in Hollywood and used the term in a magazine article. The name stuck, even though some serious architects didn't like it at first.

Lautner's Henry's Restaurant in Glendale (1947) was an early example of his car-oriented designs. Googie's Coffee Shop (1949) was known for its huge glass walls, sharp angles, and big roof. It had bright signs meant to catch the eye of people driving by. Sadly, Googie's was torn down in 1989. Another key Googie work was Henry's Restaurant (1957) in Pomona. It had a curved roof like an upside-down boat.

Googie became popular after World War II, but many architects thought it was too flashy. However, later books like "Learning from Las Vegas" helped people understand Lautner's ideas better.

The Chemosphere

Malin Residence ("The Chemosphere"),
Los Angeles (1960)

Lautner's design for the Leonard J. Malin Residence, known as the "Chemosphere" (1960), is one of his most famous and important works. It's located at 776 Torreyson Drive, Los Angeles.

Lautner solved the problem of building on a very steep 45-degree slope. He placed the entire house high off the ground on top of a 50-foot (15 m) concrete pillar. This pillar rests on a huge concrete base buried in the hillside. Steel "spokes" spread out from the pillar to support the house. A funicular (a type of cable car) provides access from the driveway up the steep hill.

The house is shaped like an octagon and looks like a "flying saucer." It has no solid outer walls, only eight large windows. This gives amazing panoramic views over the San Fernando Valley. The large wooden roof beams look like the inside of a ship.

Building the Chemosphere cost more than expected, but the owners got help from companies. One company, Chemseal Corporation of America, provided materials and got to name the house "Chemosphere" for advertising. The house was later bought by German publisher Benedikt Taschen in 2000. He restored it, and it won an award. The Chemosphere is now a Los Angeles landmark. In 2008, the Los Angeles Times called it one of the "Top 10 houses of all time in L.A." Its unique design has made it famous in many movies and TV shows.

Reiner Residence ("Silvertop")

Silvertop

As Lautner's career grew, he used more concrete in his designs. The Reiner-Burchill Residence, "Silvertop" (1956–76), was his first big project using concrete in a sculptural way. It was designed to follow the exact shape of its hilltop site. The home has a large, curving concrete roof over the living room. The living room's curved glass wall is made of five hanging glass panels. It also has one of the first "infinity-edge" swimming pools.

The project took a long time to build. The original owner, Kenneth Reiner, faced financial problems and had to sell the house. Lautner also had issues with Los Angeles building authorities. They were worried about the unique concrete ramp that sticks out from the house without any support underneath. They demanded a test to prove it could hold a car's weight. Lautner's calculations were perfect, and the ramp passed the test easily. The house was later bought by Philip and Jacklyn Burchill, who worked with Lautner to finish it in 1976.

Garcia House

Designed for Russ & Gina Garcia, this house was built from 1960 to 1962. Russ Garcia was a music composer for Walt Disney Co. The house was originally planned to have a concrete roof, but the city of Los Angeles was not familiar with Lautner's bold designs. They only allowed wood beams. The Garcia House became famous when it was featured in the movie Lethal Weapon 2. A full-size model of the house was built for the movie scene where it is pulled down a hill.

A real estate agent renamed it the "Rainbow House" in the 1970s because of the colored glass in the living room and its arched roof. The house had several owners before Bill Damaschke and John McIlwee bought it in 2002. They worked to restore the house to its original beauty.

Elrod Residence

The Elrod House (1968), designed for Arthur Elrod, is perhaps the most widely seen of Lautner's works. It became famous after being used in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. Located on a hillside in the desert near Palm Springs, California, its most famous feature is a large circular concrete roof that seems to float above the main living area. This area also includes a natural rock formation, making it feel like the house is part of the rock. The roof has curved glass doors that can slide open, connecting the room to a swimming pool and a large terrace. The hilltop location offers amazing views of the desert.

Desert Hot Springs Motel (Hotel Lautner)

This motel was originally designed in 1947 as part of a larger community plan by Lautner. His client was movie director Lucien Hubbard. Only the first four-unit building and a pool were built. The project stopped, and the motel was used as a getaway for movie stars. It later fell into disuse.

In 2007, designers Ryan Trowbridge and Tracy Beckmann bought the property. They spent three and a half years renovating and restoring it. Their hard work was approved by the Lautner Foundation, which allowed them to rename it the Hotel Lautner, honoring its designer. The hotel reopened in September 2011.

Hope Residence

The 17,500 sq ft (1,630 m²) Dolores and Bob Hope Residence (1973) is near the Elrod Residence in Palm Springs. It has a huge, wavy triangular roof with a large circular opening in the middle for light. The original house was destroyed by a fire during construction. Bob and Dolores Hope made many changes to the second design, which led Lautner to distance himself from the project. It is one of Lautner's largest and most visually striking home designs. In 2016, it sold for $13 million.

Arango Residence ("Marbrisa")

The huge (25,000 sq ft) "Marbrisa" in Acapulco, Mexico, is considered a highlight of Lautner's career. It was built for Mexican businessman Jeronimo Arango in 1973. It was designed by Lautner and Helena Arahuete. Perched on a hilltop, it offers amazing views of Acapulco Bay. The main living area has a large open terrace with spectacular views. This terrace is surrounded by a "sky moat" and topped by a massive, curved concrete roof.

Crippled Children's Society Rehabilitation Center

Lautner designed the 11,200-square-foot Rancho del Valle rehabilitation center in 1979. In 2014, a company wanted to buy the site and replace Lautner's building. The Los Angeles Conservancy tried to save the building because of its architectural importance.

Lautner's Impact on Culture

Many of Lautner's houses are now recognized as Los Angeles Cultural-Historical Monuments.

In Movies and TV

His dramatic and unique buildings have often been used as locations for films, TV shows, and photo shoots. They have also influenced set designs:

The Elrod Residence was used in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever.
The Chemosphere has been used in The Outer Limits (1964) and Body Double (1984). Its design is also seen in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and the film Charlie's Angels. It was even parodied in The Simpsons. It influenced the look of space-age homes in The Jetsons and resembles the "Jupiter II" spaceship in Lost in Space.
The Reiner-Burchill Residence ("Silvertop") was featured in Less than Zero (1987).
The Sheats Goldstein Residence has appeared in The Big Lebowski, Bandits, and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. It's also a popular spot for fashion photo shoots.
The Garcia House ("Rainbow") was in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).
The "car cafe" set in the film Pulp Fiction was based on Googie-style diners, including Lautner's Googie diner.
In Twilight (1998), the George Jacobsen House was used as Raymond Hope's house.
The J.W. Schaffer House was the home of the main character in A Single Man (2009).
For the Iron Man movies, Tony Stark's mansion was designed based on Lautner's architecture. The computer-generated exteriors look like Silvertop and Marbrisa, blending Lautner's signature elements like cliffside locations, large glass areas, and curved lines.
Lautner is mentioned by singer Dua Lipa in her 2019 song "Future Nostalgia". This shows her desire to make music that sounds both futuristic and classic, like Lautner's buildings.

Many of Lautner's buildings have been owned by famous people. Actors David Arquette and Courteney Cox owned his Segel Residence. Actor Vincent Gallo owned three Lautner homes. In 2014, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin bought Lautner's Garwood Residence.

Public Access to Buildings

One of the few Lautner buildings regularly open to the public is the Desert Hot Springs Motel, which was restored in 2001. The Bob Hope residence was open for limited public visits between 2008 and 2009.

In 2016, the LACMA received a donation of the Sheats Goldstein House from its owner, James Goldstein. This donation includes the house, land, and money for its upkeep. The museum plans to use the house for events, fundraisers, and occasional public tours.

Documentaries About Lautner

In 1990, a film called The Spirit in Architecture was made, featuring interviews with Lautner.

In 2009, the documentary film Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner was released. It shows many of Lautner's key buildings and includes interviews with his family, colleagues, and clients. It also features architect Frank Gehry and a reunion of the people who built the Chemosphere.

Lautner's Legacy

The non-profit John Lautner Foundation now works to preserve and share his legacy. In 2007, the Foundation donated Lautner's drawings, models, and photos to the Getty Research Institute.

In 2008, a major exhibition about Lautner's life and work was held at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.

In 2011, the city of Los Angeles declared July 16 "John Lautner Day" to celebrate his 100th birthday. A reception and exhibition were held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Awards and Honors

Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, 1970
Architectural Record Award for Excellence, 1971
Distinguished Alumni Award, Northern Michigan University, 1975
Architectural Record Award for Excellence, 1977
Cody Award, 1980
Los Angeles chapter, American Institute of Architects, Man of the Year, 1980
Olympic Architect, 1984