City Icons: Amsterdam - Final Call!

An Elementalist and Mediterranean Architecture

MORE MIES - Pure Architecture in Haus Lange Haus Esters

Through a Bauhaus Lens: Edith Tudor-Hart and Isokon

Modernism Week Lecture: 10 Years of Iconic Houses

Aluminaire House Grand Opening

Exhibition Icons of the Czech Avant-Garde

Icon for Sale - Loos Villa: Haus Horner

SPECIAL – Iconic Dreams Europe - Sleep in an Iconic House!

SPECIAL – German Greats!

SPECIAL - Vacances en France!

SPECIAL - Casas Icónicas en España!

SPECIAL – Dutch Delights!

SPECIAL – Iconic Artist Residencies

SPECIAL – Northern (High)Lights!

SPECIAL – Iconic Housing

SPECIAL – Women & Iconic Houses

Winy Wants a World Wonder

Welcome Atelier Volten!

Public Screenings and Private Streaming of Pioneers of the Dutch Modern House

Sleep in a Modernist Gem – Huis Billiet in Bruges

Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - 100 Years Van Zessen House

Exclusive Tour and Film Screening Package

The Last House Designed by Adolf Loos Will Be Built in Prague

Icons of the Czech Avantgarde

Icon for Sale - Casa Legorreta

Rietveld Day: 200 Enthusiasts Explored 3 Utrecht Icons

Hurray! 10 Years Iconic Houses

7th International Iconic Houses Conference A Huge Success

Meet Conference Co-Chair Iveta Černá

Meet Conference Co-Chair Maria Szadkowska

Eighteen Iconic Houses Under One Roof

17 June - 'Pioneers-film' Screening Amersfoort

Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Van Eesteren House Museum

Welcome Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky Zentrum in Vienna!

Welcome Vila Volman! Jewel of Czech Functionalism

Movie Night: Adolf Loos- Revolutionary Among Architects

'Inside Iconic Houses' Case Study House #26 Webcast in Webshop

Inside Iconic Houses at Taut’s Home in Berlin

Rediscovering Forgotten Loos Interiors in Pilsen

'Inside Iconic Houses' - Online Tour Program

Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - The Diagoon House

Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Rietveld Schröder House

Rietveld Houses Owners Association

Corberó Space: New Life for Hidden Jewel

Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Pierre Cuypers' House and Workshops

Reeuwijk Celebrates Completion of Restoration Rietveld Homes!

Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Van Doesburg Rinsema House

Welcome Rietveld's Van Daalen House!

Architect Harry Gessner Passed Away at 97

Watch Pioneers of the Dutch Modern House Now On Demand

Icon Saved: Dorchester Drive House

Welcome Umbrella House!

Iconic Houses in the Netherlands – Berlage’s Masterpiece

Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Het Schip

Inside Iconic Houses - Tour of Maison Cazenave

Inside Iconic Houses Tours Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami

Casa Masó Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Inside Iconic Houses tours Roland Reisley's Usonian Frank Lloyd Wright House

Rietveld’s Experimental Housing in Reeuwijk Saved

Serralves Villa after restoration

Portraits of the Architect - Interview with Gennaro Postiglione

Test Labs for New Ideas - Interview with Natascha Drabbe

Inside Iconic Houses - Isokon Building

Inside Iconic Houses - 16 December: Sunnylands with Janice Lyle

BCN-BXL Coderch-De Koninck - Beyond Time

New Chairman Architect Nanne de Ru on The Perfect Platform

Health and Home - Interview with Beatriz Colomina

A Life Less Ordinary – Interview with Valentijn Carbo

Invisible Women - Interview with Alice T. Friedman

Winy Maas on the Green Dip

Anita Blom on Experimental Housing of the 1970s

Women’s Worlds - Interview with Natalie Dubois

The Culture of Living - Interview with Robert von der Nahmer

Hetty Berens: A Fresh Take on Modernism

Niek Smit on Supporting Modern Heritage

Alice Roegholt on Amsterdam’s Working-Class Palaces

July is Iconic Houses Month

Hans van Heeswijk on The Pioneers of the Dutch Modern House

Wessel de Jonge on Dutch Icons at Risk

Save Maison Zilveli - Sign the Petition!

How a Building Tells a Story - Recorded Event

Toolkit for Owners of a Modern House

13 Aalto Sites Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage

Villa Beer At Risk - Sign the Petition!

Business Cards of Stone, Timber and Concrete in the Brussels Region 1830-1970

Exhibiting & Visiting Modernist Monuments

Fostering Well-Researched Responsible Design

ICONS AT RISK

Enjoy a virtual visit to the California House and a Q&A with architect Peter Gluck

Exhibition 'Modernism and Refuge'

A Hidden Gem of Postmodernism

New Centre for Historic Houses of India

An Online Chronicle of the Douglas House

Villa Henny, geometric style icon in The Netherlands

A Mendini temple in Amsterdam

IH-lectures USA & Canada Feb 2020 on Melnikov House

Sponsors and Friends

An Afternoon with the Glucks

Chandler McCoy on Making Modern Houses Sustainable

Catherine Croft: Getting Away from the Demolition Mentality in the UK

Patrick Weber on Discovering an Unknown Icon

Fiona Fisher on Iconic Interiors

Jocelyn Bouraly on Villa Cavrois

Mireia Massagué on finding success through a new kind of partnership

Danish Moderns – Looking Back at Our Mini-Seminar

Venturo house complements Exhibition Centre WeeGee’s offering

Lecture report: Remembering Richard Neutra

Hôtel Mezzara and the Guimard Museum project

We welcome 13 new members!

BREAKING NEWS: 8 Wright Sites Inscribed on Unesco World Heritage List!

LECTURE 29 August - Raymond Neutra: My Father and Frank Lloyd Wright

Iconic Reads

Our Badge of Honour

Iconic Houses End Year Message

City-ordered rebuild of landmark house stirs debate: Appropriate or overreach?

Kohlberg House Restoration in Progress

Planned Demolition of Rietveld Homes in Reeuwijk

Renovation Gili House in Crisis

An Iconic Saga

Restoring Eileen Gray’s Villa E-1027 and Clarifying the Controversies

Modernism on the East Coast

Iconic Houses in Latin America

Conference testimonials

House Tours May 2018 

Expert Meetings

Natascha Drabbe - Iconic Houses: The Next Chapter

Terence Riley -KEYNOTE SPEAKER- on Philip Johnson

New era for Villa E-1027 and Cap Moderne

Hilary Lewis on Philip Johnson and his Glass House

John Arbuckle on Great House Tours

William D. Earls on the Harvard Five in New Canaan

Stover Jenkins on Working for Philip Johnson

Frederick Noyes on his Father’s House

Scott Fellows and Craig Bassam on their Passion for Preservation

Jorge Liernur -KEYNOTE SPEAKER- on Latin American Modernism(s)

Fabio Grementieri on Modernism in Argentina

Catalina Corcuera Cabezut on Casa Luis Barragán

Renato Anelli on Lina Bo Bardi’s Casa de Vidro

Tim McClimon on Corporate Preservation

Amanda Nelson on Building Donor Relationships

John Bacon on Planned Giving

Jean-Paul Warmoes on the Art of Fundraising in America

Chandler McCoy on Why Less is More

Katherine Malone-France on Moving with the Times

Anne Mette Rahbæk on Philanthropic Investments and Preservation

Peter McMahon on Saving Modern Houses on Cape Cod

Toshiko Kinoshita on Japanese Modern Heritage Houses

Roland Reisley on Life in a Frank Lloyd Wright House

5th Iconic Houses Conference May 2018

Kristin Stone, Pasadena Tour Company

Restoring the past: The Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Home Studio

Behind the Scenes: Hendrick de Keyser Association

Crosby Doe, Architecture for Sale

Latin America Special – Focus on Mexico

De Stijl in Drachten

Preserving the Nancarrow House-Studio

Meet the Friends - Nanne de Ru

Latin America Special – Focus on Brazil

Jan de Jong’s House is Latest Hendrick de Keyser Acquisition

Stay in a Belgian Modernist Masterpiece

In Berlin’s Modernist Network

Rietveld-Schröder House Celebrates De Stijl Anniversary

Meet Our New Foundation Board Members

Maintaining Aalto's Studio – Linoleum Conservation

Virtual Tour of a Papaverhof Home in 3D

Getty Grant for Villa E-1027

Plečnik House in Ljubljana

Iconic Dacha

Iconic Houses: A Bohemian Road Trip

Work in Progress: Capricho de Gaudí

11 Le Corbusier Homes now on Unesco World Heritage List

At home with Le Corbusier

Henry van de Velde’s Study in Haus Hohe Pappeln Restored

Lynda Waggoner reports

A Conference to Remember

4th International Iconic Houses Conference

Guest of Honor - Harry Gesner

Fallingwater: European Lecture Tour

Wright Plus 2016 Walk

Susan Macdonald, Getty Conservation Institute

John Mcllwee, Garcia House

Meet the Friends – Elisabeth Tostrup

Iconic Houses: The Story So Far

Willie van Burgsteden, designer Iconic Houses

Buff Kavelman, Philanthropic Advisor

Meet the Friends - Frederick Noyes

Sheridan Burke, GML Heritage

Meet the Friends - Raymond Neutra

Sidney Williams, Frey House

Franklin Vagnone and Deborah Ryan, Museum Anarchists

Meet the Friends - James Haefner

Toshiko Mori, architect

Malachi Connolly, Cape Cod Modern House Trust

Meet the Friends - Penny Sparke

Lucia Dewey Atwood, Eames House

Cory Buckner, Mutual Housing Site Office

Jeffrey Herr, Hollyhock House

Speaking Volumes: Building the Iconic Houses Library

Sarah Lorenzen, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences

Ted Bosley, Gamble House

Keeping It Modern - Getty Conservation Grants

Meet the Friends - Thomas Schönauer

Wim de Wit, Stanford University

Linda Dishman, Los Angeles Conservancy

Jesse Lattig, Pasadena Heritage

Join us in Los Angeles! Update

Work in Progress: Casa Vicens

Work in Progress: Van Wassenhove House

Work in Progress: Villa Cavrois

Work in Progress: The Pearlroth House

Conference calls!

Follow us!

Third Iconic Houses Conference a huge success

Conference House Tours Barcelona

Marta Lacambra, Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera

Natascha Drabbe, Iconic Houses Foundation

Special speaker Oscar Tusquets

Jordi Tresserras, UNESCO Network ‘Culture, tourism and development’

Christen Obel, Utzon Foundation

Elena Ruiz Sastre, Casa Broner

Fernando Alvarez Prozorovich, La Ricarda

Tim Benton, Professor of Art History (Emeritus)

Susana Landrove, Docomomo Spain

Rossend Casanova, Casa Bloc

Conference Program 25 November 2014

Jordi Falgàs, Casa Rafael Masó

Documentary La Ricarda

Marga Viza, Casa Míla/La Pedrera

Celeste Adams, Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

Conference 25 November 2014 at La Pedrera

Henry Urbach, The Glass House

Victoria & Albert Museum London November 12

Tommi Lindh, new director of the Alvar Aalto Foundation and Museum

Iveta Černá, Villa Tugendhat

Lynda Waggoner, Fallingwater

Kimberli Meyer, MAK Center

Rent a house designed by Gerrit Rietveld

Barragán House on Screen

Gesamtkunstwerk – An Icon on the Move

Triennale der Moderne 27 September - 13 October 2013

Prestigious Art Nouveau mansions in Brussels open

September 14 + 15: Heritage Days in Paris

June's New Arrivals: Museum Apartments

Iconic Houses is now on Twitter and Facebook

Corbu’s Cabanon: Reconstruction and Lecture

Projekt Mies In Krefeld: Life-sized model of the Krefeld Clubhouse

New arrivals: Spain special

MAMO: Le Corbu’s ‘Park in the Sky’ open 12 June

Taut's Home wins Europa Nostra Award

Annual Wright Architectural Housewalk: 18 May

Frank Lloyd Wright Homes on Screen

Message from the Editor

Neutra’s House on Screen

Michel Richard, Fondation Le Corbusier

Symposium The Public and the Modern House

Melnikov House on Screen

Iconic Houses in the media

Message from the Editor

Round Table Review

Eileen Gray House on Screen

Copy Culture

At Home in the 20th Century

New 20th century Iconic Houses website launches

Philippe Bélaval, Centre des monuments nationaux

31 March 2016

A Conference to Remember

Tuesday 16 February – VIP Opening Reception Getty Trustee House

  • Harry Gesner, architect and guest of honor and Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • View from the Getty’s Trustee House aka Scantlin House over Los Angeles.
  • Harry Gesner architect and guest of honor and Susan Macdonald, Head of GCI Field Projects.
  • Keynote speaker Wim de Wit, Adjunct Curator for Architecture and Design at Cantor Art Center, Stanford University and Jean Marie Teutonico, Associate Director of Programs at the GCI.
  • Lead Sponsor Crosby Doe, developer of ArchitectureForSale.com, Ted Bosley, director of The Gamble House and John McIlwee, owner of the Garcia House.
  • Iveta Cerna, director Villa Tugendhat, Susan Macdonald, Head of GCI Field Projects and Maristella Casciato, newly appointed Senior Curator Architecture Getty Research Institute.
  • Raymond Neutra, son of architect Richard Neutra and Harry Gesner, architect of the Scantlin House (now Trustee House) and guest of honor.
  • Zen Gesner, son of Harry Gesner and Willie van Burgsteden, designer of the Iconic Houses website and identity.
  • Natascha Drabbe founder Iconic Houses network, and keynote speaker Wim de Wit, Adjunct Curator for Architecture and Design at Cantor Art Center, Stanford University.
  • Jeffrey Herr, curator Hollyhock House and Linus Adolfsson gallerist at Seomi International based at the Bailey House.
  • Fundraising expert Buff Kavelman, Hetty Berens, curator Sonneveld House and Ted Bosley, director of The Gamble House.
  • Deborah Marrow, Director of the Getty Foundation welcoming Harry Gesner who is ready for his Q&A with Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • Natascha Drabbe, founder Iconic Houses network, introducing guest of honor Harry Gesner.
  • Harry Gesner and Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • Harry Gesner and Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • John McIllwee, Natascha Drabbe and Deborah Marrow.
  • Jim Cuno and Harry Gesner
  • Audience.
  • Sheridan Burke, Partner of GML Heritage and Lynda Waggoner, President and CEO of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Fallingwater.
  • The Getty Trustee House aka Scantlin House, designed by Harry Gesner.
  • Deborah Marrow, Harry Gesner, Susan Macdonald, Natascha Drabbe, Antoine Wilmering, Senior Program Officer of Grant Program Keeping It Modern and Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • Harry Gesner, architect and guest of honor and Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • View from the Getty’s Trustee House aka Scantlin House over Los Angeles.
  • Harry Gesner architect and guest of honor and Susan Macdonald, Head of GCI Field Projects.
  • Keynote speaker Wim de Wit, Adjunct Curator for Architecture and Design at Cantor Art Center, Stanford University and Jean Marie Teutonico, Associate Director of Programs at the GCI.
  • Lead Sponsor Crosby Doe, developer of ArchitectureForSale.com, Ted Bosley, director of The Gamble House and John McIlwee, owner of the Garcia House.
  • Iveta Cerna, director Villa Tugendhat, Susan Macdonald, Head of GCI Field Projects and Maristella Casciato, newly appointed Senior Curator Architecture Getty Research Institute.
  • Raymond Neutra, son of architect Richard Neutra and Harry Gesner, architect of the Scantlin House (now Trustee House) and guest of honor.
  • Zen Gesner, son of Harry Gesner and Willie van Burgsteden, designer of the Iconic Houses website and identity.
  • Natascha Drabbe founder Iconic Houses network, and keynote speaker Wim de Wit, Adjunct Curator for Architecture and Design at Cantor Art Center, Stanford University.
  • Jeffrey Herr, curator Hollyhock House and Linus Adolfsson gallerist at Seomi International based at the Bailey House.
  • Fundraising expert Buff Kavelman, Hetty Berens, curator Sonneveld House and Ted Bosley, director of The Gamble House.
  • Deborah Marrow, Director of the Getty Foundation welcoming Harry Gesner who is ready for his Q&A with Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • Natascha Drabbe, founder Iconic Houses network, introducing guest of honor Harry Gesner.
  • Harry Gesner and Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • Harry Gesner and Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • John McIllwee, Natascha Drabbe and Deborah Marrow.
  • Jim Cuno and Harry Gesner
  • Audience.
  • Sheridan Burke, Partner of GML Heritage and Lynda Waggoner, President and CEO of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Fallingwater.
  • The Getty Trustee House aka Scantlin House, designed by Harry Gesner.
  • Deborah Marrow, Harry Gesner, Susan Macdonald, Natascha Drabbe, Antoine Wilmering, Senior Program Officer of Grant Program Keeping It Modern and Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.
  • All guests of the VIP opening reception at the Getty Trustee House.

Photography by Els Zweerink for Iconic Houses

As our Iconic Houses Conference opened at the Getty Center on February 17, there was some exceptionally good news regarding one of LA’s most iconic houses. The Sheats-Goldstein House, known to a huge public thanks to its starring role in the cult movie The Big Lebowski (and the scene of our conference closing cocktail party), was donated by its owner, the inimitable James Goldstein, to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

The future of the Sheats-Goldstein House is happily assured, but sadly the same is not true for many other important houses of the 20th century. Preserving these places for future generations is our mission at Iconic Houses, and our conference played a key role in promoting this goal. Over three days, we brought together 150 attendees, representing 11 nationalities, to learn from and inspire each other in ensuring an equally happy ending for many more of the world’s unique 20th-century houses.

Conference highlights included our Q&A session with visionary architect Harry Gesner and the tour of his remarkable Sandcastle, and Toshiko Mori’s keynote presentation on working with houses by the likes of Marcel Breuer and Frank Lloyd-Wright. With a program of two expert sessions and 12 talks, plus visits to 15 of California’s most memorable iconic houses, it was a complex event. Yet thanks to the unflagging support of our superb team of organizers, everything went without a hitch. Don’t take our word for it though: check out our press coverage and read what the conference goers themselves thought below!

Wednesday 17 February – Pre-conference Tours of Los Angeles house museums

  • The Gamble House
  • First group of visitors at The Gamble House: Nina berre, (…), Elisabeth Tostrup, (…) and Katrin Lesser
  • Exploring The Gamble House
  • Exploring The Gamble House
  • DWELL editors Emma Geiszler and Paige Alexus, (…) Villa Stenersen’s Nina Berre, Tauts’s Home’s Ben Buschfeld and Katrin Lesser, Ted Bosley, Mariet Willinge, Carsten Bauer, Jaap Swart and Pieter van der Meer
  • Neutra VDL Sudios and Residences
  • Toshiko Mori exploring the VDL House
  • Peeking into the kitchen
  • Ben Buschfeld making a shot
  • Roof of Neutra VDL Sudios and Residences
  • Hollyhock House
  • Hollyhock House
  • Exploring the Hollyhock House
  • Hollyhock House
  • Hollyhock House
  • Schindler House
  • Schindler House
  • Liz Cobben and Carsten Bauer
  • Jaap Swart and Pieter van der Meer
  • Schindler House
  • The Gamble House
  • First group of visitors at The Gamble House: Nina berre, (…), Elisabeth Tostrup, (…) and Katrin Lesser
  • Exploring The Gamble House
  • Exploring The Gamble House
  • DWELL editors Emma Geiszler and Paige Alexus, (…) Villa Stenersen’s Nina Berre, Tauts’s Home’s Ben Buschfeld and Katrin Lesser, Ted Bosley, Mariet Willinge, Carsten Bauer, Jaap Swart and Pieter van der Meer
  • Neutra VDL Sudios and Residences
  • Toshiko Mori exploring the VDL House
  • Peeking into the kitchen
  • Ben Buschfeld making a shot
  • Roof of Neutra VDL Sudios and Residences
  • Hollyhock House
  • Hollyhock House
  • Exploring the Hollyhock House
  • Hollyhock House
  • Hollyhock House
  • Schindler House
  • Schindler House
  • Liz Cobben and Carsten Bauer
  • Jaap Swart and Pieter van der Meer
  • Schindler House

Wednesday 17 February – Expert Meetings

  • Jesse Lattig, local conference organizer and Preservation Director at Pasadena Heritage
  • Buff Kavelman and Susan Macdonald kick-off the workshop Keys to Successful Fundraising
  • Buff Kavelman giving her workshop Keys to Successful Fundraising
  • Franklin Vagnone, co-author of The Anarchist Guide to Historic House Museums, reports on Twittter and his blog Twisted Preservation
  • Antoine Wilmering presenting how applications for the Getty Foundation’s Keeping it Modern Grants are reviewed
  • David Falkner presents how Kingston University raises funds for Dorich House, as its director
  • Lynda Waggoner, presents how she raises funds for Fallingwater, as its director
  • Group discussion with Melnikov House's Pavel Kuznetsov left, Raymond Neutra, Sheridan Burke and Isabel Bernard (Maison Bernard)
  • Representatives of 30 houses joined the expert meetings
  • Susan Macdonald, Franklin Vagnone, Sheridan Burke of GML Heritage from Australia leading the CMP workshp. Randy Gragg, Aubrey Watzek House, in the back
  • T.K. Mcclintock representing the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Natascha Drabbe (Van Schijndel House), conference organizer, Gjoril Reinecke (Isokon Building), Fred Noyes (Noyes House) and Randy Gragg (Watzek House)
  • Ton Wilmering making notes from the moderated discussion with Lucia Dewey Atwood (Eames House) and Dana Friis-Hansen and Mark Holzbach (The Plant at Kyle) on the right
  • Gail Ostergren moderates the break out session with Jeffrey Herr (Hollyhock House), Mary Roberts (Darwin D. Martin House), Marita Gomis Betrand (La Ricarda), Tommi Lindh , (Alvar Aalto Foundation), Michael Likierman (Cap Moderne / Villa E-1-27), Paul-Hervé Parsy (Villa Cabrois), Susan Macdonald and Titania Truesdale (Strutt House)
  • David Falkner (Dorich House), (..), Pavel Kuznetsov (Melnikov House), Vicky Mclean (Walsh Street), Raymond Neutra (VDL Studio and Residences), Isabel Bernard (Maison Bernard), Sheridan Burke (GML Heritage)
  • Buff Kavelman, Magnus Englund (Isokon Building), Lynda Waggoner (Fallingwater), Cory Buckner (MHA Site Office), Chandler McCoy (Getty Conservation Institute, Bob Liljestrand (Liljestrand House), Ian Innes (Rose Seidler House) and Fiona Falkner (Dorich House) seen on the back
  • Presenting the outcomes of the case studies in the CMP workshop to each other
  • Wrapping up by Susan Macdonald, Head of Field Projects at the GCI
  • Happy faces in the Getty tram back to the hotel, after a day of intense conversations, Raymond Neutra and Cory Buckner
  • Randy Gragg (Watzek House), Bob Liljestrand (Liljestrand House) and Frank Vagnone (The Anarchist Guide to Historic House Museum)
  • Jesse Lattig, local conference organizer and Preservation Director at Pasadena Heritage
  • Buff Kavelman and Susan Macdonald kick-off the workshop Keys to Successful Fundraising
  • Buff Kavelman giving her workshop Keys to Successful Fundraising
  • Franklin Vagnone, co-author of The Anarchist Guide to Historic House Museums, reports on Twittter and his blog Twisted Preservation
  • Antoine Wilmering presenting how applications for the Getty Foundation’s Keeping it Modern Grants are reviewed
  • David Falkner presents how Kingston University raises funds for Dorich House, as its director
  • Lynda Waggoner, presents how she raises funds for Fallingwater, as its director
  • Group discussion with Melnikov House's Pavel Kuznetsov left, Raymond Neutra, Sheridan Burke and Isabel Bernard (Maison Bernard)
  • Representatives of 30 houses joined the expert meetings
  • Susan Macdonald, Franklin Vagnone, Sheridan Burke of GML Heritage from Australia leading the CMP workshp. Randy Gragg, Aubrey Watzek House, in the back
  • T.K. Mcclintock representing the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Natascha Drabbe (Van Schijndel House), conference organizer, Gjoril Reinecke (Isokon Building), Fred Noyes (Noyes House) and Randy Gragg (Watzek House)
  • Ton Wilmering making notes from the moderated discussion with Lucia Dewey Atwood (Eames House) and Dana Friis-Hansen and Mark Holzbach (The Plant at Kyle) on the right
  • Gail Ostergren moderates the break out session with Jeffrey Herr (Hollyhock House), Mary Roberts (Darwin D. Martin House), Marita Gomis Betrand (La Ricarda), Tommi Lindh , (Alvar Aalto Foundation), Michael Likierman (Cap Moderne / Villa E-1-27), Paul-Hervé Parsy (Villa Cabrois), Susan Macdonald and Titania Truesdale (Strutt House)
  • David Falkner (Dorich House), (..), Pavel Kuznetsov (Melnikov House), Vicky Mclean (Walsh Street), Raymond Neutra (VDL Studio and Residences), Isabel Bernard (Maison Bernard), Sheridan Burke (GML Heritage)
  • Buff Kavelman, Magnus Englund (Isokon Building), Lynda Waggoner (Fallingwater), Cory Buckner (MHA Site Office), Chandler McCoy (Getty Conservation Institute, Bob Liljestrand (Liljestrand House), Ian Innes (Rose Seidler House) and Fiona Falkner (Dorich House) seen on the back
  • Presenting the outcomes of the case studies in the CMP workshop to each other
  • Wrapping up by Susan Macdonald, Head of Field Projects at the GCI
  • Happy faces in the Getty tram back to the hotel, after a day of intense conversations, Raymond Neutra and Cory Buckner
  • Randy Gragg (Watzek House), Bob Liljestrand (Liljestrand House) and Frank Vagnone (The Anarchist Guide to Historic House Museum)

Building the Iconic Houses Toolkit
Our expert sessions explored fundraising and conservation management plans (CMPs), two topics of crucial importance to our members. A total of 30 people spent the day working hard in break out sessions to establish the USPs of their houses, challenges and opportunities in a series of case studies in order to identify new funding partnerships and create CMPs. Practical toolkits allowed them to analyze the houses’ strengths and weaknesses. The experiences of the expert sessions are being used to help develop the forthcoming Iconic Houses Toolkit, which will be made available to all members.

Conference Videos Now Online
Our conference content is now online - a new resource for Iconic Houses fans. Our video footage is packed full of ideas, information, inspiration and entertainment – including a playful presentation from our ‘museum anarchists’ Franklin Vagnone and Deborah Ryan, featuring some fun footage courtesy of Jacques Tati, to name just one example. So check out our videos to see what you missed, or to refresh your memory of this unique event. What’s your own favorite conference moment? We’d love to hear from you.

Praise for the Iconic Houses Conference at the Getty Center

‘This has been a fantastic conference! I have learned so much, both from presenters and our fellows.’
Lucia Atwood – Eames House

‘You definitely got everyone's attention here in Los Angeles! Harry Gesner was a real discovery for many people, and with the timing of the Los Angeles Times article it almost seemed to some as if you were the one who brokered the deal between LACMA and Jimmy Goldstein.’
Ted Bosley Jr – The Gamble House

‘It was such an inspiring and educational event. I met so many incredible people based all around the world; many of whom I intend to keep in touch and hope to see in two years.’
Cory Buckner – MHA Site Office

‘It was an incredibly rich week in so many ways – wonderful people, places and ideas – and such a privilege to have the opportunity of visiting so many private homes.’
Fiona Fisher – Dorich House

Your vision and organisation is so important to the world of architecture and the future of it.’
Harry Gesner – The Sandcastle

‘It was a fantastic conference. In fact, I think it is the best conference I’ve ever attended and you are to be congratulated. I’ve expressed this view to other attendees who were equally enthusiastic.’
Jeffrey Herr – Hollyhock House

‘The presenters, representing an array of expertise, were universally well versed, well organized, talked concisely and to the point….The size of the conference was also just right - small enough so that you saw new acquaintances repeatedly, but large enough so that others were untapped. And the attendees list, with so much overlap and yet diversity, was itself enriching.’
Fred Noyes – Noyes House

‘It was a wonderful combination of lectures, tours, and social events.’
Bob Liljestrand – Liljestrand House

‘…Such a wonderful group of passionate conservationists and heritage celebrants.’
Titania Truesdale – Strutt House

Thursday 17 February – Lectures and House Tours to private homes

Friday 18 February – Lectures and House Tours to private homes

  • Keynote address ‘Frank, Paul, Marcel and me’ by architect Toshiko Mori
  • Another day with a packed Museum Lecture Hall at the Getty Center
  • Another day with a packed Museum Lecture Hall at the Getty Center
  • Jeffrey Herr and moderator after his presentation ‘Hollyhock House Redux: an Opportunity to Reboot’. Moderator of the day was Trudi Sandmeier Director, Heritage Conservation Graduate Program, USC.
  • Kimberli Meyer, director of the MAK Center at the Schindler House, 'Taking Cues from the Schindlers'
  • Sarah Lorenzen, Director of the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, presents 'Activating the Neutra VDL Research House: a Means of Preservation’
  • Q&A by Trudi Sandmeier with our guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Q&A by Trudi Sandmeier with our guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Q&A by Trudi Sandmeier with our guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Q&A by Trudi Sandmeier with our guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Closing words by Natascha Drabbe, pointing out how thankful she is that Harry Genser draw a new plan of his Sandcastle for the conference publication
  • Dearture for the afternoon house tours
  • The Bailey House, now the gallery Seomi International
  • The Garcia House by John Lautner
  • Arrival at Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Entering the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Roberta Leighton gives us a tour at the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Roberta Leighton gives us a tour at the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Checking out the view over Los Angeles at the pool
  • The water is temptingly warm
  • Tennis court at the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Closing cocktail at Club James, LACMA’s Matthew Thompson on the left
  • Closing cocktail at Club James
  • James Goldstein and Natascha Drabbe
  • James Goldstein, owner of the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Natascha Drabbe and LACMA’s Matthew Thompson
  • The merriment continous
  • John McIlwee and friends
  • Its a club...
  • Raymond Neutra and Fredrick Noyes, both sons of their fathers
  • What a week and what a view...
  • Keynote address ‘Frank, Paul, Marcel and me’ by architect Toshiko Mori
  • Another day with a packed Museum Lecture Hall at the Getty Center
  • Another day with a packed Museum Lecture Hall at the Getty Center
  • Jeffrey Herr and moderator after his presentation ‘Hollyhock House Redux: an Opportunity to Reboot’. Moderator of the day was Trudi Sandmeier Director, Heritage Conservation Graduate Program, USC.
  • Kimberli Meyer, director of the MAK Center at the Schindler House, 'Taking Cues from the Schindlers'
  • Sarah Lorenzen, Director of the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, presents 'Activating the Neutra VDL Research House: a Means of Preservation’
  • Q&A by Trudi Sandmeier with our guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Q&A by Trudi Sandmeier with our guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Q&A by Trudi Sandmeier with our guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Q&A by Trudi Sandmeier with our guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Guest of honor Harry Gesner
  • Closing words by Natascha Drabbe, pointing out how thankful she is that Harry Genser draw a new plan of his Sandcastle for the conference publication
  • Dearture for the afternoon house tours
  • The Bailey House, now the gallery Seomi International
  • The Garcia House by John Lautner
  • Arrival at Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Entering the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Roberta Leighton gives us a tour at the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Roberta Leighton gives us a tour at the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Checking out the view over Los Angeles at the pool
  • The water is temptingly warm
  • Tennis court at the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Closing cocktail at Club James, LACMA’s Matthew Thompson on the left
  • Closing cocktail at Club James
  • James Goldstein and Natascha Drabbe
  • James Goldstein, owner of the Sheats-Goldstein Residence
  • Natascha Drabbe and LACMA’s Matthew Thompson
  • The merriment continous
  • John McIlwee and friends
  • Its a club...
  • Raymond Neutra and Fredrick Noyes, both sons of their fathers
  • What a week and what a view...

Gesner Shines as Guest of Honor
An architect whose life and work embodies our conference theme, ‘A California State of Mind,’ Harry Gesner took the stage as our conference Guest of Honor, seated in conversation with Trudi Sandmeier while images of his beautiful buildings formed the backdrop to a lively discussion. For much of his career, Gesner told us, “It was a very small percentage of the population that understood my work.” His inspiration, he explains, was always “nature, not other architects.” Happily, his warm reception at the Getty Center showed that the world has finally caught up with this visionary architect and thinker, who is responsible for some of LA’s most original houses. Gesner kept us entertained with his accounts of current projects such as a lodge and huts for The Wave, the Lake Huron-based initiative of his good friend, surfing legend Kelly Slater, who has developed a continuous artificial wave for surfers. Another current project, the Autonomous Tent, is a way to circumvent bureaucracy and building regulations with an off-the-grid design (a house with no foundations, it is classed not as a house but as a tent). After listening enthralled to his enthusiasm for medieval castles, surfing, round houses and the quirks of some of his more colorful clients, the audience gave him a resounding ovation. He responded, “I never got applause before!” Shining a light on this pioneering environmental architect’s wonderful body of work for our Iconic Houses members was one of the proudest achievements of our conference.

 

Watch the video and read the interview made by our media partner Dwell to take a personal tour with James Goldstein—who has lived in the Goldstein Residence for more than 40 years.

Double Celebration
Our closing cocktail party at Lautner’s wonderful Sheats-Goldstein House was a double celebration. We were raising a glass not only to the success of the conference, but also to James Goldstein’s generous gift of the house to LACMA to ensure, as he said at the party, that it would remain for the world to enjoy for the next 100 years and more. To mark the occasion, Iconic Houses founder Natascha Drabbe presented him with an Iconic Houses plaque, and LACMA’s Matthew Thompson made a speech in which he thanked Goldstein, saying that it was “difficult to overstate the significance of the gift to LACMA and the people of LA”, and that the house is an important example of “the experimental domestic architecture that is the city’s great cultural legacy.” It’s perhaps hard to believe, but this will be the first Lautner house to become a house museum – an important step in preserving the legacy of this important architect, and something to celebrate indeed.

Saturday 20 February – Post-conference Tour to Palm Springs

  • In the bus on the way to Palm Springs
  • Grace Miller House by Richard Neutra
  • Owner Catherine Meyler gives a tour of her meticulously restored Grace Miller House
  • Owner Catherine Meyler gives a tour of her meticulously restored Grace Miller House
  • Edris House, designed by E. Stewart Williams
  • Edris House, interior
  • Edris House, view from the pool
  • Edris House owner, J.R. Roberts gives a tour of his meticulously restored house
  • J.R. Roberts demonstrates the sliding doors in the Edris House
  • Albert Frey House II
  • View over Palm Springs from the Albert Frey House II
  • The famous rock with light switch in Albert Frey’s house
  • From the visitors center on the way to A. Quincy Jones’ designed Annenberg Estate, now Sunnylands
  • Sunset at Sunnylands with the San Jacinto Mountains in the background
  • A closing reception hosted by The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands
  • Janice Lyle, director at Sunnylands, welcomes our group
  • Janice Lyle, director at Sunnylands tells engaged about Sunylands and her involvement with the Iconic Houses network
  • Sunnylands was one of the sponsors that made it possible to organize the conference
  • A moment of contemplation, enjoying wine and each others company. David Falkner, Penny Sparke and Pavel Kuzentsov
  • Happy faces, a lasting impression of the conference
  • In the bus on the way to Palm Springs
  • Grace Miller House by Richard Neutra
  • Owner Catherine Meyler gives a tour of her meticulously restored Grace Miller House
  • Owner Catherine Meyler gives a tour of her meticulously restored Grace Miller House
  • Edris House, designed by E. Stewart Williams
  • Edris House, interior
  • Edris House, view from the pool
  • Edris House owner, J.R. Roberts gives a tour of his meticulously restored house
  • J.R. Roberts demonstrates the sliding doors in the Edris House
  • Albert Frey House II
  • View over Palm Springs from the Albert Frey House II
  • The famous rock with light switch in Albert Frey’s house
  • From the visitors center on the way to A. Quincy Jones’ designed Annenberg Estate, now Sunnylands
  • Sunset at Sunnylands with the San Jacinto Mountains in the background
  • A closing reception hosted by The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands
  • Janice Lyle, director at Sunnylands, welcomes our group
  • Janice Lyle, director at Sunnylands tells engaged about Sunylands and her involvement with the Iconic Houses network
  • Sunnylands was one of the sponsors that made it possible to organize the conference
  • A moment of contemplation, enjoying wine and each others company. David Falkner, Penny Sparke and Pavel Kuzentsov
  • Happy faces, a lasting impression of the conference



Photography by Els Zweerink for Iconic Houses

Publication date 31 March 2016