Rudolph Schindler’s Fitzpatrick-Leland House hosts an array of design-centric exhibitions
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

The famed Fitzpatrick-Leland house, perched at the top of Mulholland Drive, has been billed a ‘theatrical’ structure by historians – as well as, frankly, ‘a come-on’.
Built as a spec house to attract similar development in the 1930s, it sits at the intersection of the city’s notorious mountain drive and the twisting thoroughfare of Laurel Canyon, an area today hosting many impressive homes.
This year, the Rudolph Schindler creation, now owned by the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, will welcome a series of design exhibitions and programming related to the home’s history. The series begins with ‘Pin-up: A Designed Tribute to Schindler’s LA’, juxtaposing the work of LA-based designers and artists with that of Schindler, who hailed from Austria and moved to LA in 1921.
’Chene’ desk and stool by Atelier de Troupe
Schindler’s innovative designs utilised the interplay of indoor and outdoor space as well as uncommon materials, making him one of the city’s vital architectural voices even today. A former collaborator of Richard Neutra, he built more than 150 homes in the LA area from the 1920s onward. Participating designer Pamela Shamshiri, a former film set designer, lives in the Schindler-designed Lechner House, which she recently restored. Shamshiri, behind the look of spots like the Ace Hotel Palm Springs, made pieces on display in collaboration with artist John Williams. Brendan Ravenhill, also on view, has too made the Schindler legacy part of his design practice, restoring the Southall House in Echo Park and designing fixtures for Schindler’s Bethlehem Baptist Church in South Los Angeles.
The design group Atelier de Troupe, led by Gabriel Abraham, has created an on-view group of light fixtures and furniture that takes cues from 1920s aesthetics; while a kidney-bean shaped wood table and chair set were designed in collaboration with MOC Woodworking. Also contributing designs is Marmol Radziner, a long-time Schindler supporter, with a recreated Schindler sofa, ottoman and sling chairs. The talent on display may well be a contemporary come-on for those tempted by LA’s booming design scene.
’Pin-up: A Designed Tribute to Schindler’s LA’ juxtaposes the work of LA-based designers and artists with that of Schindler
A recreation of Schindler’s dining table and chairs for Beata Inaya’s Apartment, and the ’Long Church’ chandelier, all by Brendan Ravenhill Studio
Rudolph Schindler’s sling chairs, built by Marmol Radziner, and trolley by Pamela Shamshiri, who resides in the Schindler-designed Lechner house
Left, ’Kings Road’ collection by Marmol Radziner and ’Tempo’ chandelier by Atelier de Troupe. Right, Schindler lamp by Studio Shamshiri alongside ’Kasbah’ sideboard by Atelier de Troupe
INFORMATION
‘Pin-up: A Designed Tribute to Schindler’s LA’ is on view until 11 February. For more information, visit the MAK Center website (opens in new tab) and the Atelier de Troupe website (opens in new tab)
ADDRESS
MAK Center for Art and Architecture, Los Angeles
835 North Kings Road West
Hollywood CA 90069
VIEW GOOGLE MAPS (opens in new tab)
-
The best London art exhibitions: a guide for March 2023
Your guide to the best London art exhibitions, and those around the UK in March 2023, as chosen by the Wallpaper* arts desk
By Harriet Lloyd Smith • Published
-
Craig Green on his ‘decorated men’ and those hand-moulded leather accessories
‘They are almost like a relic,’ says British designer Craig Green of the hand-moulded leather objects that appeared as part of his S/S 2023 collection, a musing on functionality and decoration
By Jack Moss • Published
-
Wadi AlFann, AlUla’s new land art destination, is stirring creativity in the desert
Wadi AlFann – Saudi Arabia’s Valley of the Arts – hints at the scale of its ambition with an event in the desert for curators, artists and cultural leaders ahead of the completion of its site and first five artworks
By Simon Mills • Published
-
This futuristic ski house is born of its sloped locale
A ski house with a contemporary twist, this is House at 9,000ft by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple in the Intermountain Region of Western USA
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Lasting Joy Brewery injects design sophistication to Hudson Valley farmland
Lasting Joy Brewery by Auver Architecture brings contemporary energy and sophistication to the growing Hudson Valley craft beer scene
By Pei-Ru Keh • Published
-
Khanna Schultz’s House in Michigan is an exercise in balancing contrasts
House in Michigan by Khanna Schultz was conceived to fulfil contrasting needs – and does so with poise and efficiency
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Marfa’s El Cosmico campground hotel is getting a 3D-printed revamp
El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas, is being reimagined by BIG, 3D-printing specialist Icon and hotelier Liz Lambert
By Pei-Ru Keh • Published
-
Sonoma home gets dramatic flowing studio extension
Mourning Dovecote by Schwartz and Architecture is a Sonoma home’s eye-catching studio extension for an architect
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Black Creativity in architecture celebrated in Chicago exhibition
New exhibition in Chicago is centred on honouring Black Creativity in architecture through the ages
By Audrey Henderson • Published
-
Highgrove House is an architect’s own home embedded in Malibu nature
A family home in tune with its surroundings, Highgrove House by Lorcan O'Herlihy is sensitive architecture embedded in Malibu nature
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Palm Springs Modernism Week 2023: architects reveal desert’s best-kept secrets
As Palm Springs Modernism Week 2023 unfolds, we’ve spoken to architects and designers participating in the festivities to pick their brains about the desert city’s hidden gems
By Ellie Stathaki • Published