THE CASE STUDY HOUSE
As these women discuss their eventful day of cooking and cleaning, the city of Los Angeles shines below them. The bright lights inside and out reflect upon the glass windows that surround them. There is no shielding themselves from the outside world, and the inhabitants of LA cannot hide themselves either. Built on a hill overlooking the vast and occupied land, there is a chance that most people would say this house has quite a view. On the other hand, I would not. My audience should be the people I am speaking with, not the city as a whole. There is no privacy, no escape.
If I were to guess using these women, the furniture, and the lack of lights in the city, I would say this picture was taken in the late 1950’s to early 1960’s. By the looks of these women, their attire, their posture and their stance, each points to this picture being taken decades before this one. The woman “relaxing” in the chair looks older, wearing a dress fit for a homemaker and her hair out of her face. The woman sitting against the window looks younger, more obedient. Her legs are tied together like that of a proper queen.
Trends tend to make a full loop from one generation to the next. The contemporary furniture that is shown in this picture proves this very point. What was fashionable then can be seen in family rooms around the nation now. And it’s not because they were hand-me-downs from their grandparents; they bought these brand new and well overpriced. In this picture, the furniture is neatly placed in a clean living room that can be seen by thousands of uninvited guests.
Although it may seem like a lot of lights, I feel that if this picture was taken recently, the city would be giving off an even more intense amount of light. Throughout the decades, Los Angeles has been developed and it will grow even more. At this point, I bet they couldn’t imagine the city getting any bigger, having more people, but it seems as if this city will never hit full capacity.
The camera is perched upon some sort of balcony of the side of the house. I would enjoy not only learning about this house, but also seeing pictures from different views so I could get a sense of the house and figure out the mystery that is the floor beneath the camera. Since all of these points come merely due to my own logical deduction of the photo, I wouldn’t be completely surprised if the majority of my speculations were wrong.
-- Jackie DiBiase
CASE STUDY HOUSE
Looking off into the horizon, clouds, snow-capped mountains, luminescent waves, and lustrous lights can all be seen by the naked eye. The walls, erected by sheet glass allow for this luxury and incredible view. Perched atop a steep hill in the Los Angeles area, the Case-Study house lives on in its 50th year of existence. Built after the Second World War, the house was modeled after the ideology of modernism and the modern residential blueprint. The house itself emulates the persona of Los Angeles at the particular moment in time as well as today’s day and age. Being one of many similar homes constructed for the sole purpose of providing cheap living for the modern American, the Case Study house (in particular number 22), has been photographed, filmed, and toured throughout the ages.
This idea of a translucent structure gazing across the landscape of LA reflects the concept of LA being this powerful and majestic city; however, like the houses themselves, this perception can be shattered with the slightest movement in any direction. Of course, being nestled atop a perilous knoll overseeing the fast paced lanes of the freeways and even possibly the sailboats floating across the sea, this house seems ideal to any real estate connoisseur or affluent family seeking a potential investment. But, to their dismay or ignorance, the house itself cannot provide refuge for any living being. Because, simply put, the house was not built for living but rather for show. Just like the great city, the house represents a picture-perfect scene, much like a movie set or magazine spread.
The family whom the house belongs to have been quoted saying that almost every weekend, the house was used for the sole purpose of tours, photographs, and possible sets for upcoming films. The furniture within the house was all for show and at the end of the day was returned to the designer store, leaving the family with the pre-existing used and furniture not acceptable to show in “real” life. The portrayal of the Case Study houses illustrates the beautiful Los Angeles only in a theoretical sense. Yes, to the tourist the city might be as glorious as the view from the Case Study house, but what lies beneath the foothills and adjacent from the effervescent ocean is the real Los Angeles. The ruined streets and outdated buildings all encompass the notorious city.
From what meets the eye, the glimpse of the Case Study house demonstrates the modernistic approach of building this spectacular structure with the most impalpable tools and materials. As its 50th year of existence approaches, many wonder how the glass walls, concrete floor, and lifted perimeters have survived throughout the decades. To be quite frank, the only reason the house has lasted to the 21st Century is due to the renovation made in order to keep the edifice standing. The fragile building continues to live on with the times, becoming stronger and stronger with each tour and photograph taken.
-- Chelsea Vogt
(case study house #22, credit: julius schulman via 26.media.tumblr.com)
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