We stumbled across this place randomly and stopped to see what it is. We are probably not the target audience as we are not knowledgeable on architecture nor knew who Schindler was. Pros: 1) the site offers a variety of discounts, but military is not one of them. When my mother asked if it was an option, we were able to get in for free which was great and so appreciated. 2) they had some contemporary art exhibits that were pretty cool and that we enjoyed. Cons: 1) we wished we chose an audio tour option or had a guide so we could better appreciate the exhibit. It was unclear outside of reading the guide book what exactly you were looking at/experiencing. 2) this is so random but were the bathrooms real?? They are built into the maps but we thought everything was to not be touched but people were using them?? read more

Schindler House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - West Hollywood, California

I didn't know of this place until we visited the Neutra house. If you are a fan of modern architecture, this is a place you must visit. It's fascinating to learn of the architects and roots of some of the most famous houses in LA. read more

First, align your expectations. The MAK Center (which owns the house) does not have the resources of, say, the Gamble house, Hollyhock house, etc. The MAC center has been able to preserve the house and restore it to its original configuration. Be thankful for that. Second, time your visit to avail yourself of a docent led tour. Our docent was a young architect who really made the visit special, providing interesting details of the architect (Schindler) and original residents, the home/gardens, and construction. Without the tour we probably would have found the visit wanting. With the tour it was an hour extremely well spent. read more

Very cool house, but I agree with several other Yelp reviewers that it's not a great house to tour. You pay $10 for a self-guided tour of the house (they give you a short pamphlet with information about the house). The house is very small, not in great shape, and not furnished. Worse - it was filled with an exhibit that blocked what little of the house you can see. It may be an interesting house, but it's not a great tour, and I don't think it's worth the $10 admission. Too bad. read more

See all

Wouldn't recommend this place.. tour guide is really rude & the place is muddy. Not worth 10$

Interesting house from an architectural perspective - it was built to be a cooperative living space for two couples, with elements drawn from Japanese minimalist design. There are no bedrooms or dining rooms, just studios of similar size. No traditional front facade. The design seemed to challenge the traditional hierarchy of home design and the idea that some rooms are better than others. It's certainly an interesting experiment although I think the traditional concepts of house design have persevered for a reason. Some rooms are grander than others in function (and as a result, aesthetics) and many (including me) prefer it that way. There was also a blurring of lines to be had here, in terms of public/private. Some of the residents held lectures, political events, performances, etc. in the space. From this perspective, as a home/office hybrid, the house makes more sense to me and its drabness no longer feels as jarring. Still, I can see how Schindler challenged convention when constructing this house in the 1920s (especially in Los Angeles, where wealthy homes proliferated). Regardless of personal preference, it can still be interesting to view and try to understand. My boyfriend and I agreed that we did not like the house but had a nice conversation about why. My rating obviously has nothing to do with my view on the merits of the design. As a "historic house museum," it felt lacking. You pay $10 ($7 for students and WeHo residents) and receive an informational brochure. Then you wander around the house. This is all acceptable but the part that bothered me the most? The house was not furnished and it was not representative of the original house that Schindler built. They used it as a vessel for a contemporary art exhibition (they also give you a pamphlet to follow that). While I appreciate the inclusion of contemporary art, I felt like it interfered with my ability to visualize the house as a historical artifact. They could have limited the art pieces to the patio areas (there are two) where they wouldn't encroach. Instead, I think they should try and recreate the house as it looked when it was occupied. I genuinely wanted to understand the house better: What did it look like when it was filled with people? Where did they sleep? Where did they sit and read? What sort of furniture did they use? I think leaving it unfurnished does it a great disservice. I think that the concept would be much easier to swallow and comprehend if it were shown as a "home" and not a prototype. If you want your human visitors to connect to the history and ideas, you've got to humanize the space. Overall, an interesting house (especially if you're a fan of architecture and design) however the execution could have been improved. read more

Ignore the pompous snobs who sniffed at this place. I loved it! It's gorgeous and you can stand there in Schindler's office and stare at his desk and chair. The friendly docent filled in the details. A lovely gem read more

Schindler House - Schindler vibes - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - West Hollywood, California

First and foremost do not go here if you are looking for restored house ! This is about being one of the first tilt up kind of construction houses and the architecture. I felt that we are lucky to have this in the area and is defiantly worth the visit. This is one of the earliest modernist open style houses that is still standing! Schindler owned a lot of real estate but this is a place he lived in and there is a lot of history here. If you are lucky enough to get a guild I would suggest trying to time it so you get a tour. This place is about the history and style for which it stand for. read more

Schindler House - Back Yard - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - West Hollywood, California

See all

I've seen this house plenty of times in my textbooks and finally got a chance to see it in person. The fact that they allow you to touch and interact w/ such a monumental (to me at least :)) piece of architecture is well worth the visit. I've visited places like The Hollyhock House by FLW and CSH No. 8 by Eames and the experience was just not the same. I'm so appreciative they've set up and allowed visitors to tour the space in this way knowing the possibilities of wear and tear. Still a beautiful planned home w/ an even more exceptional landscape. The uses of bamboo and hedges create interesting alcoves and pathways that make you want to stay there forever. Left feeling inspired! read more

Schindler House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - West Hollywood, California

An unique hidden gem last year I visited in West Hollywood. Artistic architecture design. Reminds me of a Japanese style house. read more

Schindler House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - West Hollywood, California

Cool home. I had a wonderful docent leader who guided me through the history of the construction, as well as Schindler's background. She provided a lot of insight and color into the architect's background and the motivation behind his stark modular construction choices. read more

See all

I'm glad I came here during the free admission period which is on Fridays between 4pm and 6pm. This is a unique place nestled in the midst of West Hollywood, but to charge the fee they charge is a little much. The grounds are okay and the house is great to walk through, but I cannot imagine spending more than 15-20 minutes there. The staff is friendly and the "bookstore" small and cramped. If you are hardcore into architecture, this might be your place, otherwise, come during the free time and leave a nice donation. read more

Spent a wonderful morning here exploring this space architecture gem. The self guided tour was lovely and leisurely with literature to supplement! read more

It's been a few years since I saw this place and for the most part it was a wonderful visit. There were only a few people around so this made for a contemplative experience. My impression of this place is that it has an organic quality that seems slightly unreal. In today's world something like the Schindler Residence would never be built. It feels like an experiment in living, one that is a testament to an more innocent time. There are no pretentious elements here, just a moderately decorated compound that suits the local climate. The wind was blowing on the afternoon of my visit. The sound of the tall bamboo rattling was ethereal and evoked a pleasant timelessness -- I temporarily forgot that I was in Los Angeles. An interesting factoid from Wikipedia: Richard Neutra lived in one of the apartments from 1925 to 1930, along with his wife and son. read more

Despite our bad rap brought on by all of the posers, LA is a world class city for architecture. Most wouldn't think so, but many of the modern greats have worked/resided here. The list is a who's who of modern masters and even contemporary ones like Gehry, who I think is over-rated but nonetheless has that standing, and Eric Owen Moss's "space visions" in Culver City. Stunning in its simplicity, The Schindler Kings Road/House is a great example of modernism, clean design and a stunning use of the environment courtesy of the LA light. One thing stands out; Schindler was small. Watch your head if you're tall. Bottom line, if you're sick of all the over-developed tract housing (ie: Playa Vista), "Starbucks architecture" (if you don't know what I mean by that, go downtown and look at all of the crap condos around the Staples center), and are into classic, timeless modern design, then the Kings Road House is a can't miss. read more

The staff is very friendly and inviting. The grounds are very well-kept. Fair prices. Roaming freely has got to be my favorite "rule" there. Bring your good cameras, just no tripods. Ohh and Concrete. Concrete. Concrete!! Thanks for keeping this gem alive MAK Center. Diego read more

Due to its Spartan and crude appearance, I kept reminding myself to not be so critical because this 1922 structure is old and experimental. Being inside the house was uncomfortable, not only because military barracks feel like those from the WWII Japanese internment camps, but because the ceiling was too low. Those over 6 feet tall need to constantly duck under the overhead cross beams. Taking inspiration from fellow short architect Frank Lloyd Wright, R.M. Schindler is another short architect who used low ceilings. Without hallways, the floor plan is a little confusing, but layout is probably dictated by the configuration of the yard. Like staying at a high-end resort with private casitas, every couple of rooms of the house has a private garden. During our visit, the Mak Center used the house for art gallery space with works by Harry Dodge and Steve Roden. $7 admission for a 20-minute stay. read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the minimalism, simplicity, and grace that this place gives off. A beautiful architectural piece hidden on a little road in the middle of a bustling city. It is VERY VERY small, but the beauty and peaceful vibe that it gives off its spetacular. Walking through the house, you can almost feel as if you are transported into another city, or state. Very hard to beleive such places still exist in LA. A must see gem for those that are interested in minimalism, and simple yet dynamic architecture! =] read more

This is considered to be the earliest modernist house in LA, one that set the trend for all those to follow. It was Schindler's own house, where he and his wife lived with another couple. It is an essential stop on a tour of SoCal architectural sights, but you should appreciate that it's quite odd, so don't have any preconceived expectations. Once you walk in the dirt driveway, you are transported into an earlier era, even though the house is now surrounded by midrise West LA. The house was one of the very early open-plan designs and had multipurpose rooms without a specific function. Schindler was intrigued by new construction methods. The house was the first residence constructed with tilt-slab concrete walls. Lots of fireplaces, but no central heating system. For summers, there was an open-air sleeping roof. Perhaps most fascinating are the bathtubs and bathroom vanities, which are all monolithic poured concrete. Poured concrete countertops became common in the 1990s, but this was 70 years earlier. What you can't help noticing however is that the maintenance has been very poor. The place is seriously run down and unfortunately there are no plans to restore it in any serious way, just to fix major things that break. read more

I can't believe they ask $10 for this! I love architecture and old houses but this one is not even maintained! You'll just visit concrete walls and an awful backyard. They clearly don't care and steal your money. Furthermore, the house itself is just a bad imitation of the traditional Japanese house. What a shame. read more

built in 1922, this house by r. m. schindler is an esthetic dream of a dual resident live/work space. as schindler was an architect interested in playing with the spatial relationships defined by interior and exterior spaces, the house features long, clean lines that are of organic wood, cold cement and sheets of metal. the landscaping is also quite lush and lovely. a shining sample of schindler's work, this house at the MAK center is a fun little visit on a sunny afternoon. read more

Super glad I accidentally went during Friday PM free hours. Glad I went but it is very small and odd. I toured half the house before I realized I was actually IN the house! Thought it was a garage or accessory unit or something. Ceilings are low, most is unfurnished with little information about the building (decent booklet with info but no signs throughout the property). The two bathrooms in the house are open for use I think but it feels so wrong to use them? But there was toilet paper and soap so pee I did! Interesting from a historical perspective but a short visit. The whole place feels like concrete Japanese tatami rooms. I had trouble finding it--it's the wall of bamboo, walk down the dirt path on the right. Not very well signed. read more

It's stunning that this house was designed in 1922 in modern aesthetic and is seemingly an oasis in the middle of an urban wasteland, but it cost $7 freaking dollars to tour the 2,500 square feet house. $7 freaking dollars. I stretched my stay and wandered throughout the entire house even watching the squirrels in the bamboo groves..... but 20 mins, okay 25 mins tops and you're done and out $7 dollars! read more

Interesting architectural icon. 7$ to see it is a bit pricey. The docent was quite peculiar. All in all though I'm glad I did it and if you an architectural aficionado you should do it once. read more

The self guided tour made this an easy LA landmark to check off! The architecture and history are fascinating and the gardens very peaceful--especially considering it's just a stone's throw from Sunset Blvd. read more

Tucked away on Kings Road in West Hollywood, we came to Schindler House because my architect friend was in town from San Francisco. I am really glad to have gone. This is an excellent example of lived-in modernishm, which even retains some of the original furnishings. If you are a fan of the modernism movement in Los Angeles, you should make sure to check out Schindler House. There is another neat example of this era about a block and half north on the east side of the street (a private residence, but beautiful). Parking in the area is tough, but it's free if you find a spot. read more