Ilana Gafni

First offering: City of Los Angeles Cultural Historic Monument #380, The Kallis-Sharlin Residence, 1946, by architect Rudolph Schindler, with later additions by Josef Van der Kar, and L.A. Twelve architect Leroy Miller, F.A.I A. Art and Music have always flourished in this dynamic space originally designed for artist Mischa Kallis as a residence and art studio. In 1960 Kallis sold the property directly to his cousin Jacqueline and her husband William Sharlin. Jacqueline was a noted concert pianist who had actually performed at Carnegie Hall. With the Sharlins' love of entertaining, and a growing family, they needed more space, and commissioned Schindler’s associate Josef Van der Kar to ingeniously convert an open patio between the living quarters and art studio to an entertainment/family room. Later, they hired architect Leroy Miller to convert the art studio to a new master bedroom and bath. These changes have not compromised Schindler’s sensibility. Today the building stands as a great space for living, and a fully resolved work of architecture. A sheltering carport at the street level acts as a privacy screen, and the house is covered with vertical split-stake wood fencing to help the house "disappear among the trees." The glassy residence affords dramatic vistas across the Cahuenga Pass to the distant San Gabriel Mountains, and incorporates 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 fireplaces, and original Schindler built-in furniture.