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| Whitney R. Smith |
Smith opened his own practice in the early 1940s and was joined by Wayne R. Williams in 1946. Williams became a partner in 1949, and for the next 24 years, the firm of Smith and Williams created residences, schools, community buildings and recreational facilities that won state and national awards.
In 1946 Smith joined the Case Study House Program, designing Case Study House #5, known as the Loggia House, and Case Study House #12. Though neither house was built, they were considered two of the most experimental and innovative in the program.
From 1946 to 1950 Smith joined with A. Quincy Jones to design and build the Mutual Housing Association development, a large tract of houses in the Crestwood Hills neighborhood in Brentwood, a district in western Los Angeles. Also participating were architects Doug Honnold, John Lautner, Francis Lockwood, engineer Edgardo Contini and landscape architect Garrett Eckbo. However, because of their exposure in Arts & Architecture magazine while participating in the Case Study House Program, Jones, Smith and Contini eventually received full credit for the project.
Some of the projects of Smith and Williams were the Unitarian Church in Pasadena, the UCLA north campus student union and the UCLA Canyon Recreation Center, the central power building at Caltech, the dining facility and ancillary facilities at Camp Curry in Yosemite, the Griffith Park Girls Camp, the Santa Ana government center, the Buena Park Civic Center and the Japanese teahouse at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge.
In 1973 Smith left the firm of Smith and Williams and opened a private practice, designing the entrance complex and auditorium for the Huntington Library in San Marino, the Pasadena Neighborhood Church and the science building and the art studio and gymnasium at Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena. He retired in the mid-1980s.
Smith also taught architecture at USC and Scripps College in the 1940s and 1950s.
From latimes.com, housing.com, dwell.com
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| Evans house, with A. Quincy Jones unstage.com |
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| Alternate view of Evans house nhit-shis.org |
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| Schneidman house, with A. Quincy Jones historichomesla.blogspot.com |
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| Hamma house, with A. Quincy Jones crosbydoe.com |
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| Interior of Hamma house takesunset.com |
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| Pasadena home designed with Douglas Byles homesbythegretchens.com |
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| One of the original MHA homes, with A. Quincy Jones corybuckner.com |
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| Smith demonstrating moké (rhymes with OK), a method of weaving plywood to form intricate designs dwell.com |
I don't know where to begin with the gushing :)
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting that he hasn't had the fame of some of the other Case Study House designers, even though he is acknowledged to have been one of the real innovators of his time.
DeleteYou are right, I admit I haven't heard of him. I wonder if he wasn't as prolific? The Pasadena house is charming with the trees capping the long lean lines. See I am back on the trees again. **sigh**
DeleteThe Crestwood Hills development was something like 350 houses, and Smith designed all sorts of public buildings. I think he was very well known and respected by his peers. Maybe he just didn't promote himself like some of the others or didn't have a rock star personality.
Delete*Wooow* Those are some gorgeous homes. That first one is absolutely WONDEROUS!
ReplyDeleteI also really like the Pasadena home.
The Evans house looks almost magical in that night shot! And I'm in love with the interior of the Hamma house.
DeleteNice, looks like they could have been designed today. Will need to check out my book
ReplyDeleteon the Case Study houses.
These homes look like they've been well maintained through the years and may have gotten a facelift here or there. Usually I can find pictures of the original structures, but this time, most of what I found came from real estate agency sites.
DeleteIncredible homes! Once again... teaching me about an architect I knew nothing about. I love it! Of course all the glass and the roof lines make me appreciate my own home. It's so great that these homes have been loved and cared for. It's also a perk that all of these have beautiful views to the outside. Perfectly planned! Great eye candy, Dana.
ReplyDelete