Sticks and stones (And other materials!) may make great homes (And Cat Caves! That's the sassy, sexy, Elvira Mistress of Felinity!), but it's the mind of Man who designs them! :-D
Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of attending an interesting, and informative, presentation by my old High School classmate, Laguna Beach architect, David M. Parker.
It covered famous architect John Lautner's work and his unique approach to design, and how it has influenced Mr. Parker's own work.
John Lautner (1911 - 1984) studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and later began his own practice in Los Angeles.
While known for his dramatic custom homes which push the envelope of design and technology, it was this same daring that led many folks to be quite critical, and cranky, about his work, for many years.
The homes he designed, even those built over 50 years ago, are daring and visionary even by today's standards and, in his later years, and since his death, his styles have influenced at least two generations of architects.
His homes have appeared in a number of films such as "Diamonds are Forever", "Lethal Weapon 2", and "The Big Lebowski", and music videos, and at least two of his homes exist in Laguna Beach.
It was 630pm, and I found myself in the popular DeBilzan Gallery, on Forest Ave., just east of PCH, downtown.
To say that the Oil/Mixed Media artwork of William DeBilzan is unique, and interesting, is an understatement.
Oh, and expensive, too! No doubt some of the folks I found myself mingling with last night, before the presentation, and at the reception afterward, and half of the residents of fancy homes in the hills above, and around us, could afford these works, that cost thousands of dollars, but as for me, I'll just settle for looking, and enjoying. :-D
Continue reading "Where do Architects get their Ideas, Anyway? An OC Architect's Own Quest" »

