Conner + Perry Architects continues to perfect the legendary Sheats-Goldstein home designed by John Lautner in Los Angeles, a masterpiece of California modernism and lifestyle in the second half of the 20th century.
"The Sheats-Goldstein residence is almost as iconic as the Hollywood sign itself," remind architects Kristopher Conner and James Perry of Conner + Perry Architects from the outset. This spatial marvel by visionary John Lautner (1911-1994) was designed in 1962 for Hélène and Paul Sheats. In 1972, it was purchased by James Goldstein, an 84-year-old American businessman and basketball, fashion and art fair enthusiast. Since then, it has been mythologized in film, television and music videos, from Daft Punk to The Big Lebowski. But also in fashion, books and, of course, architecture and design. For sixty-two years, this famous Beverly Crest mansion has been constantly enlarged and improved. Since 2015, renovations have been overseen by Conner + Perry Architects, who worked with Lautner's apprentice and partner Duncan Nicholson (1958-2015) before his death.
GLASS AND VIEWS
The work included, among other things, the installation of frameless glass, one of Sheats-Goldstein's great idiosyncrasies, with materials such as stainless steel, concrete and leather cladding the spaces and furnishings. Additions also included the entrance to the koi pond and skylights, not to mention renovations to the infinity pool, the master suite and bathroom and the surrounding landscape.
To further enhance the residence, surrounded by vegetation, James Goldstein acquired the neighboring Concannon, also designed by John Lautner. This four-storey project began with the design of a tennis court, placed on the roof with a frameless glass railing, offering an unobstructed view of the City of Angels and the Pacific Ocean.
ART AND CULTURE SPACES
Over the years, plans for the mansion have evolved to include an entertainment complex. Beneath the tennis court is "Club James", a private discotheque. This design includes a bar, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems controlled from a DJ booth, as well as a dance floor, a 7-meter LED display wall and a glass façade with a view of the city.
A VIP room/library is then added to the living room, featuring Goldstein's books on design and fashion, about himself and the house. But also a workspace, adorned with a sloping glass enclosure, with a desk that dominates the room, always offering spectacular views of Los Angeles. Shelves and cupboards hold his basketball memorabilia and photographs with famous friends.
CONTINUING THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Today, the additions focus on the outdoor terrace, located beneath the Club James and the offices. It includes several dining areas, a bar and a kitchen with a barbecue. Nearby is the 30-meter-long infinity pool, separated by an acrylic wall that reveals, on the other side, a triangular-shaped spa.
Current developments include a 20-seat film screening room with VIP lounge seating, a main entrance, a reception area with a glass canopy, and an elevator to access all four floors. And finally, a V-shaped guest house, again with a glass roof supported by a steel grid structure. Featuring a suite with kitchen and main living space, it will be located below the Sheats-Goldstein residence and close to James Turrell's "Above Horizon" installation from his Skyspaces series of architectural works.
Hand in hand with James Goldstein, Conner + Perry Architects reinvent and renew the grandeur of this architectural gem with 21st-century advances, creating spaces that celebrate the modernist heritage and principles of organic architecture.
CONNER-PERRY.COM
@CONNERPERRYARCHITECTS
JAMESFGOLDSTEIN.COM
