Lindsey Adelman residency lights up modernist LA apartment

Moving house is not something most people opt to partake in, but for Lindsey Adelman Studio, the opportunity to take up residency within a historic Rudolph M. Schindler apartment in Los Angeles proved too much to refuse.

The apartment in question, one of Schindler's Mackey Apartments from 1939, which is being operated and stewarded by The MAK Center for Art and Architecture, together with modernist icon Schindler House (1922) in West Hollywood and the Fitzpatrick-Leland House (1936) in the Hollywood Hills, is a two-bedroom masterpiece, complete with a mezzanine floor and generous windows. Lindsey Adelman Studio moved into the premises this month, kicking off a year-long residency that will see the space operate not only as it's Los Angeles showroom, but also as an installation that blurs the line between home and commerce.

‘When this opportunity came up – I couldn’t resist,’ says Adelman. ‘It has been pretty dreamy to exhibit my lighting in Schindler’s architecture. From a practical point of view, our clients can view the fixtures close up from the mezzanine level and also get a view from below looking up as they would in a home. Some of the rooms have very low ceilings, as many of our clients’ spaces do, providing a more realistic installation in a showroom. The manipulation of natural light in all of the rooms is masterful.’

Open until November, the apartment has been installed with all of the studio’s ethereal collections. Set against the rigour of Schindler’s architecture, the studio’s organic, glass forms and its array of materials creates a refreshing dialogue that highlights the individuality of each designer’s visual language.

The MAK’s mission to preserve and promote Schindler’s legacy extends to the architect and his wife Pauline’s flair for artistic and cultural experimentation too. They were avid entertainers with a recurring guest list of actors, poets, musicians and writers, turning their home into a hub of avant-garde discussion. The Schindler’s social influence has also inspired Adelman to pursue unexpected programming and events that will also take place in the space.

Adelman adds: ‘I love the history of the place – Schindler and his wife were known for decadent, bohemian parties and I think you can still feel that spirit’.

INFORMATION

Visits by appointment only. For more information, visit the Lindsey Adelman website and the MAK Center for Art and Architecture website