Category Archives: Schindler

Architecture, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Schindler, Uncategorized

Footnote Famous

Thought you’d want to know that my article on Garrott, Schindler and the Bethlehem Baptist Church was mentioned in the new book “Building Art: The Life and Work of Frank Gehry”1 written by Paul Goldberger. It’s right there in the footnote at the bottom of page 128.
Building Art pg 128 2015-10-6

OOPS!!

Unfortunately, there are a few errors in the footnote…

Building Art pg 128 footnote 2015-10-6Mr. Goldberger says the Church was “thoroughy restored in 2014”. In fact, the Church has not been restored at all. The current owners have painted the Church in non-original colors and made a few rough patches. The Church is still waiting for restoration by sympathetic owners.

Careful readers may also notice that my last name is spelled wrong. The correct spelling is “Wallet”, one “t”.

I contacted Mr Goldberger and he kindly apologized and assured me that both would be corrected in the next edition.

Thanks to architect and friend Steve Dalton for bringing the footnote to my attention.

1 Paul Goldberger, Building Art: The Life and Work of Frank Gehry (New York, Knopf, 2015), 128

3D Model, Architecture, Design, Schindler

3D Printing, part 1

steve wallet architect 3D print tile 2015-7-19Recently I have been looking into and learning about 3D printing. It allows me to convert my digital models into 3D models. This is done using a 3D printer, which is a cross between a laser jet printer and a hot glue gun. The model is “printed” in layers of melted plastic. The layers cool and stick together and voila! you have a 3D model.steve wallet architect 3D print schindler mcalmon front lft 2016-6-17

steve wallet architect 3D print schindler mcalmon front rt 2016-6-17When you 3D print buildings from a digital model you need to scale down the model. Your 40′ long wall is translated into a 2″ long plane.This requires interpretation of the design and modification of the model. Thin parts of the actual building get too thin when printed in a scaled-down model.These thin parts need to be thickened, adjusting the model for the limits of the printer while keeping the overall sense of the design. These models are roughly 2″ to 4″ on each side.steve wallet architect 3D print schindler mcalmon top 2016-6-17

Print 1: tile (top image)

I thought it would be easiest to print something that was in flat layers. I chose a tile designed by my friend and architect James B. Guthrie. It is meant to be made from stacked layers of computer cut steel and is inspired by the designs of the architect Louis Sullivan.

It was fun to do and I learned a lot, but not so easy – all those curves and layers!

Print 2: Schindler’s McAlmon Apartment (lower three images)

Feeling more confident, I wanted to try a 3D print of a building. I chose my favorite test Schindler, his McAlmon Apartment. I focused just on the Schindler designed front. I love the way it turned out.

Stay tuned for part 2, 3D printing architectural building blocks

 

Architecture, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Schindler

From South Los Angeles to West Hollywood: James Garrott, Rudolph Schindler and the Bethlehem Baptist Church

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steve wallet architect Bethlehem Baptist Church 2015-5-18How did Schindler get hired to design the Bethlehem Baptist Church? The Afro-American Baptist congregation from South Los Angeles was not a part of his usual crowd of political activists, artists and bohemians. Schindler was not widely known and had never built a church. In 1944, in racially separated Los Angeles, it is puzzling.

In my recent research I have come across information that points to a link between Schindler and the Bethlehem Baptist congregation. In the Architecture and Design Collection at UCSB there are drawings of an earlier design for the church. They were prepared by another architect, James Garrott. Garrott’s drawings are dated May 22, 1944. Three months later, on August 31, 1944, Schindler and the church officials signed a contract for a new design. What happened in between? Continue reading From South Los Angeles to West Hollywood: James Garrott, Rudolph Schindler and the Bethlehem Baptist Church →