The Strathmore Apartments is a historic 8-unit multi-family complex located at 11005-11013 1/2 Strathmore Drive in the Westwood neighborhood of

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. Notable past residents, amongst others, include

John Entenza John Entenza (December 4, 1905 – April 27, 1984) was one of the pivotal figures in the growth of American modernism: in the fields of environmental, architectural, landscape, and product design; and fine arts, and artisan crafts; in post-w ...

Charles Eames Charles Ormond Eames Jr. (June 17, 1907 – August 21, 1978) was an American designer, architect and filmmaker. In professional partnership with his spouse Ray Kaiser Eames, he was responsible for groundbreaking contributions in the field of a ...

Ray Eames Ray-Bernice Alexandra Kaiser Eames (née Kaiser; December 15, 1912 – August 21, 1988) was an American artist and designer who worked in a variety of media. In creative partnership with her husband Charles Eames and The Eames Office, she was ...

, Luise Rainer, Clifford Odets, and

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

. The building is a part of a collection of homes designed by Los Angeles based modernist architect,

Richard Neutra Richard Joseph Neutra ( ; April 8, 1892 – April 16, 1970) was an Austrian-American architect. Living and building for the majority of his career in Southern California, he came to be considered a prominent and important modernist architect. He ...

, and built in North West Westwood Village, which includes the

Landfair Apartments The Landfair Apartments is a historic two-building multi-family complex located on the southwest corner of Landfair Avenue and Ophir Drive in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. They were colloquially known as The Glass House a ...

Elkay Apartments The Elkay Apartments is a historic five-unit two-story multi-family building located at 638-642 Kelton Avenue, in the Westwood, Los Angeles, Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. History Designed in 1948 in the International Style ( ...

, and

Kelton Apartments The Kelton Apartments is a historic 4-unit 2-story multi-family building located at 644-648 Kelton Avenue, in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The building is a part of a collection of homes designed by Los Angeles based mod ...

History

The Strathmore Apartments were designed in 1937 in the

international style International style may refer to: * International Style (architecture), the early 20th century modern movement in architecture *International style (art), the International Gothic style in medieval art *International Style (dancing), a term used in ...

of architecture by Los Angeles architect

. He was commissioned by the landowner to design a 4-unit building and added another four units next to the building for himself when he realized the lot was available. The complex includes a

modern Modern may refer to: History * Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Phil ...

bungalow court. The early occupants, including Neutra's extended family members and actress Luise Rainer, has called the architectural style "cold" and "industrial."

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

Oceanographic and Atmospheric scientists and a mathematician later converted four of the eight units into

condos A condominium (or condo for short) is an ownership structure whereby a building is divided into several units that are each separately owned, surrounded by common areas that are jointly owned. The term can be applied to the building or complex ...

, believed to be the first and only condo conversions done unto a Neutra building. On April 8, 1988, the City of Los Angeles designated the complex a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

References

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External links

Virtual Globetrotting: Interactive street view of the Stratford Apartments and surroundings

Strathmore Apartments on flickr

UCLA Math Dept. photos: Click on each thumbnail to see enlarge
Note: the slideshow feature does not work. *

Richard Neutra buildings Apartment buildings in Los Angeles Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments Residential buildings completed in 1937 1937 in California International style architecture in California Modernist architecture in California Westwood, Los Angeles National Register of Historic Places in Los Angeles