Those of you who have been following my journey through the wonderful world of steel for a while will have noticed that I am a big fan of the steel houses of the 1950s and 1960s that were built in the US, and especially in California, by a group of innovative architects. Their legacy has survived to this day, despite the fact that some of the houses they designed have since been demolished or rebuilt. This is mainly thanks to one man: Julius Shulman.
Source: curbed.com; Julius Shulman/Getty Research Institute
Julius Shulman (October 10, 1910 – July 15, 2009) was an American architectural photographer best known for his photograph “Case Study House #22, Los Angeles, 1960. Pierre Koenig, Architect.” The house is also known as the Stahl House. Shulman’s photography spread the aesthetic of California’s Mid-century modern architecture around the world. His vast library of images currently resides at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
Julius Shulman/Getty Research Institute
In 1947, Julius Shulman asked architect Raphael Soriano to build a mid-century steel home and studio in the Hollywood Hills. The building took nine months to complete and was occupied in March 1950. It has remained unaltered, and the Shulman House was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1987.
Source: curbed.com; Julius Shulman/Getty Research Institute
Some of his architectural photographs, like the iconic shots of Frank Lloyd Wright’s or Pierre Koenig’s remarkable structures, have been published countless times. The brilliance of buildings like those by Charles Eames, as well as those of his close friends, Richard Neutra and Raphael Soriano, was first brought to wider attention by Shulman’s photography. The clarity of his work added to the idea that architectural photography be considered as an independent art form in which perception and understanding for the buildings and their place in the landscape is made visible.
About the Author:
Bruno Dursin – Managing Director at Believe in Steel. Bruno has more than 30 years of experience in promoting steel & steel solutions. His clients benefit from his extensive network within the building industry.
