Architects of Los Angeles

Many people view Los Angeles, the city of angels, as a place where the rich people are only Hollywood stars, and everyone lives in a mansion. Indeed, Los Angeles County is replete with mansions. But the idea that the only major residential properties in the area are mansions would be a misunderstanding. Indeed, some of the world's best designers, old and new, have created some spectacular homes.

For instance, over the course of more than 50 years, John Lautner was one of the top home architects in the Los Angeles area. One couldn't find anything to compare to most of the houses he built, such as the Chemosphere, one of the houses that brought his name into prominence. This fantastic, space aged house was built in 1960, way ahead of its time, built into an octagonal shape while sitting on a thick pedestal in the sky about 30 feet high, so the owner can go into any room and see major areas of the city from any angle.

There's also the house known as the "Sheats-Goldstein House", which is built into massive triangular patterns with a lot of space that also oversees the city of Los Angeles, which was built in 1963.

Of course, if you like stylish triangular homes, you don't have to go much further than Wilt Chamberlain's former house. The great basketball player's house was built in 1973 and was as massive as Chamberlain the man was. Not only was the house built with multiple triangular patterns, but the roof also opened so Wilt could enjoy beautiful nights of the Los Angeles skyline and weather. It was designed by architect David Rich, and was over 7,000 square feet.

Going in a different direction, we have the Fitzpatrick-Leland House, built by the architect Rudolph Schindler.

This is a L-shaped, tri-level home with large horizontal openings, overhanging roof planes, and a subtle composition of interlocking shapes. This house was built in 1936, followed a house Schindler built known as the How House, which was built in 1925 and was way ahead of its time.

Of course, if you want to get into totally stylish and extreme, look no further than the man who's been associated with something known as the "Los Angeles School" of architecture, Frank Gehry, who's alternately praised for his stylish, yet avant-garde architectural style and criticized because many of his creations, in the eyes of some critics, looks "unfinished." He is known for building designs all over the world that shock the eye, yet remain functional while being unique.

However, he has also built some stylish residences around the Los Angeles county area, none as stylist as the Sirmai-Peterson House. This is a 3,000 square foot home, with the basic idea to try to make each room seem like an individual building that's been brought together for something stunning, which this house is. Some have described this as a church-house because the middle stands high in the middle like a church steeple.

There are plenty more wonderful residences around