The site is very dramatic, a steeply sloping granite cone with the top scraped off (Figure 1). The flat usable area is given over to the patio. To maximize the patio, the house is moved entirely on to the slope and accesses the patio by a short bridge(Fig 2). The house, in Schindler’s words, “balances above the hill”.1
The arrangement on the site seems perfectly logical. The patio is where it is because of the existing topography. The house is on the slope, adjacent to the patio and close to the street for a shorter walk. The garage is located below the living level, down at the street level.A ramp connects the garage level to the patio, gracefully curving up the rounded hill and tying the building to the site. The curve of the hill is repeated in the edge of the patio and the fireplace opening.
I have always liked the Harris House, or at least what I knew of it. That was limited to the Julius Shulman photographs of the front and the living room (Figs 1 & 2). I wanted to learn more about it, and was delighted to discover what a wonderful design it is and how much I didn’t know.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Sarah Sherman, Reference Librarian and the Getty Research Institute for letting me use Julius Shulman’s Harris House photos. Photos 1,2,5, 6 & 8 are copyright J. Paul Getty Trust. Used with permission. Julius Shulman Photography Archive, Research Library st the Getty Research Institute (204.R.10). Figure 7 is used by permission, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles.
Introduction
A good place to start is Schindler’s description of the house, from the January, 1943 issue of arts & architecture magazine 1. Typically for Schindler, he wrote the description all in capital letters.
short bridge(Fig 2). The house, in Schindler’s words, “balances above the hill”.1
it is because of the existing topography. The house is on the slope, adjacent to the patio and close to the street for a shorter walk. The garage is located below the living level, down at the street level.A ramp connects the garage level to the patio, 
gracefully curving up the rounded hill and tying the building to the site. The curve of the hill is repeated in the edge of the patio and the fireplace opening.
