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MAK Center Acquires Third Schindler House

The acquisition of the Fitzpatrick-Leland house was made possible by a single donor, Russ Leland.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 6/17/2008 12:00:00 AM

Three Schindlers are a charm for the MAK Center for Art and Architecture in Los Angeles, which has acquired its third Southern California home designed by modernist architect R.M. Schindler.

Unlike the previous two acquisitions, the recent purchase of the Fitzpatrick-Leland House resulted from the gift of a single donor, Russ Leland. In 1990, he began restoring what was then the rundown Fitzpatrick House, and occupied it for 15 years.

"This breathtaking example of Schindler's work could easily have been lost were it not for Russ Leland's vision and dedication," says MAK Center director Kimberli Meyer. "We share his commitment to 'living architecture,' and we are honored that he has entrusted us with his legacy."

As with its two Schindler properties, the Schindler House and the Mackey Apartments, the MAK Center will both exhibit and occupy the Fitzpatrick-Leland House, which is considered a prime example of modern Los Angeles architecture. Located in Laurel Canyon, the L-shaped, tri-level home was built by Schindler as a showpiece for real-estate developer Clifton Fitzpatrick in 1936. Constructed on a cliff's edge with a front yard swimming pool, the house's facade of interlocking volumes references the International Style.

Previous owners had covered the house's large windows with drywall, walled in the second-floor balcony, and plastered over a fireplace. Leland, a real estate investor, worked for ten years with architect and contractor Jeff Fink to restore the house to Schindler's original vision.

The Fitzpatrick-Leland house as shot by legendary architectural photographer Julius Shulman.

Copyright J. Paul Getty Trust, used with permission of the Julius Shulman Photography Archive Research Library at the Getty Research Institute.