The Krisel Residence

Krisel Residence watercolor rendering by William Krisel, from 1955. From the Krisel Archive at the Getty Research Institute.

The positive feedback about this house has been overwhelming since I posted this rendering on my Flickr page a few weeks ago. I also had a fair number of questions about it, and people wondering whether it had ever been built. Well, the answer to that question is a definite YES, and here are the photos to prove it...
I don't normally post many photos from other photographers on this blog. But I don't have any of my own of this wonderful home. And considering the architect and the photographer, I thought it was well worth making an exception here. All of these photos are the work of Julius Shulman, used with permission from the Krisel Archive of the Getty Research Institute. 

View of the north and west elevations, approaching from the driveway.
Photo by Julius Shulman, from the Krisel Archive at the Getty Research Institute.

The architect William Krisel, AIA, started designed and built this home in 1955-57, on a lot that he and his wife, Corinne, had acquired in the hills of Brentwood - not far from where the Getty Center now sits.

This is probably one of the most liveable homes I've ever seen. It flows beautifully and has an understated elegance about it. My favorite feature is the water fountain behind the front entrance screen.


Those walls of windows and clerestories are very effective at conveying the impression that the roof is truly floating. The wood detail on the fireplace and some of the walls is a classic Krisel signature.
 
With the southwesterly views out across Brentwood, Santa Monica, and Pacific Palisades, with the ocean beyond...


And a view from the fireplace in the living area, looking back towards the entrance (on the left) and the dining area.


View of the kitchen, which seems way ahead of its time. I note that we have those same "waterfall" kitchen countertops in our own house! The informal dining area and family room/den are just to the left of this shot.


Here's a view of the informal dining area and family room/den, seen from the kitchen.


And from the family room, into the kitchen.


And here is the master bedroom...


I particularly love this little atrium courtyard area. A great idea for bringing the outdoors and natural light into the area.


And finally the master bathroom...


From this shot of the back patio and yard, you can clearly see another classic Krisel detail, that sunflap, which provides an effective way to shield the sun from the windows. It is a common element on Krisel's work.


Here's a final view of the backyard...