Kesling Modern Structures

topics

Publishers

Architecture

ISBN: 9781890449131
English edition
Princeton Architectural Press/Balcony Press
Softcover, 96 pages
27,9 x 20,3 cm
black & white
July 2002
€19,00 (excl. VAT)

Kesling Modern Structures

Popularizing Modern Living in Southern California 1934–1962

Patrick Pascal

Practically unknown today, William Kesling and his design/build firm, Kesling Modern Structures, played a unique and important role in the development and acceptance of modern architecture in Southern California. For one year, beginning in November 1935, William Kesling was Los Angeles' most successful practitioner of Streamline Moderne design, breaking ground on more than twenty projects. The unschooled Kesling was driven by the noble goal of bringing high quality modern design within reach of the everyday home-buying public. Today his houses and small apartment buildings are considered collector's items for L.A. cognoscenti and while many have been ruthlessly remodeled many others are being carefully restored to their original elegance. Kesling was one of Julius Shulman's first clients. These never-before-published images were taken with Shulman's first vest-pocket camera.