The goal of the project was to design residential dwellings that were simple, stylish, replicable, and affordable for the housing boom caused by millions of returning soldiers. The Case Study House program developed as the result of “endless discussions in the comfortably shabby editorial offices of Arts & Architecture where during WWII John Entenza (editor in chief) and a number of relatively young architectural guns would talk about new ideas in residential design and construction.” The most memorable collection of modern homes in Los Angeles are the Case Study Houses. This new residential style became the buzz in housing. Minimalistic: ornament is crime no mouldings or anything fussy. Indoor-outdoor living: open floor plans and the use of large panes of glass windows and doors help to blur the lines between interior and exterior spaces and unify the structure with nature. Large windows: Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors are popular features that allow for interior spaces to be filled with tons of natural light and provides views of exterior spaces. The living room and, dining room are usually combined with the kitchen opening up to one or both of those rooms. Open floor plan: Unlike Craftsman, Spanish or Victorian style homes the interior spaces offer open floor plans. It was something new in residential construction and showcased key design elements that define modernist architecture:įlat planes: Flat roofs and simple geometric shapes and clean lines. What was most remarkable for visitors that day was how these architects used materials like steel and reinforced concrete to create uninterrupted interior spaces, and simple geometric shapes. Oud, Lovell House by Richard Neutra, and McGraw-Hill building by Raymond Hood. A few of the buildings featured were the Bauhaus School by Walter Gropius, Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier, Tugendhat House by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Kiefhoek housing by J.J.P. The exhibition showcased the work of architects who embraced simplicity with their design and integration with nature. They curated the first architectural exhibition ever held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York called Modern Architecture: International Exhibition.

International Style is a term coined by architectural historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock and architect Philip Johnson. This architectural style stems from International Style and was formally introduced to the American public in 1932. Los Angeles offers some of the most iconic mid century modern architecture in the world.

Mid century architecture