Above: Located in Los Angeles the Sheats Goldstein House, designed by John Lautner and completed in 1963.
Located in Los Angeles the Sheats Goldstein house was designed by American architect John Lautner. An exemplary example of Organic Modernism the home is built into the sandstone ledge of a hillside creating a cave-like dwelling that takes full advantage of the surrounding nature as well as stunning views. Lautner was a master of the ‘challenging site’ (The Chemosphere, 1961 is certainly a good example) and this home’s design is an ideal solution to its steep hillside lot.
Floor plan of John Lautner’s Sheats Goldstein House, Los Angeles, 1963.
Model of John Lautner’s Sheats Goldstein House located in Los Angeles, 1963.
Originally built for Helen and Paul Sheats and their three children the construction of the house began in 1961 and was completed in 1963. Built from poured-in-place concrete, steel, and wood the most striking feature of the five bedroom 4,5000 square home has to be the living room. Completely open to the exterior terrace the expansive room blurs the line between interior and exterior spaces and is covered but an inverted v-shaped, deeply coffered concrete ceiling which is pieced by 750 small glass skylights which illuminate built in, leather-cushioned concrete seating.
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The Sheats Goldstein House is one of John Lautner’s most iconic works and like so many of his homes has been shown in films and TV – and almost always as the villain’s house. Many may recognize the Sheats Goldstein House playing the part of Jackie Treehorn’s beach house in the film ‘The Big Lebowski’.
The Sheats Goldstein House in 1980. All of the changes done to the house during the 1970's have since been reversed. Click inmage for full view.
Architect John Lautner (1911 – 1994)
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