Julius Shulman (1910-2009)

Jul 2009

By David Basulto — Filed under: Architectural Photography ,Architecture News , California, Case Study Houses, Julius Shulman

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Case Study House #22, (playboy), 1960 Los Angeles, CA / Pierre Koenig, architect © Julius Schulman

Case Study Houses was a residential experiment sponsored by the Arts & Architecture magazine, introducing the modern movement ideas for affordable and efficient housing during the post-war years in the US.

The result? Amazing houses by Richard Neutra, Raphael Soriano, Craig Ellwood, Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig and Eero Saarinen, built between 1945-1966 mostly in LA.

Most of you already know about this… mostly due to the incredible photos that registered this houses, reflecting more than just pure architecture, a lifestyle. And the man (genius) behind the lens was Julius Shulman, who passed away yesterday July 16th, 2009.

A selection of his photos after the break.

Spencer Residence, 1950 Santa Monica, CA / Richard Spencer, architect © Julius Schulman

Recreation Pavilion, Mirman Residence, 1959 Arcadia, CA / Buff, Straub and Hensman, architects © Julius Schulman

Case Study House #22, (daytime pool), 1960 Los Angeles, CA / Pierre Koenig, architect © Julius Schulman

Case Study House #21, 1958 Los Angeles, CA / Pierre Koenig, architect © Julius Schulman

Case Study Home #20 / Bass House, 1958 Altadena, CA / Buff, Straub and Hensman, architects © Julius Schulman

Kaufmann House, 1947 Palm Springs, CA / Richard Neutra, architect © Julius Schulman

Kramer House, 1953 Norco, CA / Richard Neutra, architect © Julius Schulman

Frey House, 1953 Palm Springs, CA / Clark & Frey, architects © Julius Schulman

Drake House, 1952 Phoenix, AZ / Blaire Drake, architect © Julius Schulman

Singleton House, 1960 Los Angeles, CA / Richard Neutra, architect © Julius Schulman

Case Study House #22, 1960 Los Angeles, CA / Pierre Koenig, architect © Julius Schulman

Chuey House, 1958 Los Angeles, CA / Richard Neutra, architect © Julius Schulman

Case Study House #9 / Entenza House, 1950 Pacific Palisades, CA / Eames & Saarinen, architects © Julius Schulman

About David Basulto: Graduate Architect. Co Founder and Executive Editor of ArchDaily.com. Architecture geek.

Cite:
Basulto , David . "Julius Shulman (1910-2009)" 17 Jul 2009. ArchDaily. Accessed 04 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/29457>

Comments (13)
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Terry Glenn Phipps says:

Julius Schulman and Marvin Rand were both personal friends of mine, if not each other. 2009 is a year of profound loss as both have died. The best of California photography goes with them.

It is incredible to think that JS changed the world with his “snapshots”. What makes his work great is that he saw space in exactly the way it was intended by the architects. That is to say, usually flowing away fromt he viewer and around corners. This is “dynamic symmetry” as opposed to the monumental symmetry that was favored by Rand.

Architecture and photography are all about what is going on in the frame and outside of the frame at any given point. JS was in perfect synchronicity with his age and always able to depict the tension that made a building work.

Truly, this is a great loss.

Terry Glenn Phipps
http://web.me.com/tgphipps

# July 17, 2009 at 18:44

Robert M. Allen says:

well … actually if you bothered to look at the negative space in all of his photographs you see nothing but ‘Monumental Symmetry’. Though it’s slapped over and against the many other Monumental outlines like a city skyline.
It’s the absence of effort and building with fish bowl glass to rely heavily on preexisting natural exterior landscapes to divert the eye from a (then) bleak nuclear sanitized future. Yet another futurist misstep.

# July 10, 2010 at 17:20

David Basulto [tricky] says:

Terry,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

David Basulto

# July 17, 2009 at 18:59

Wyman Brent says:

Julius Shulman was truly one of the world’s greatest photographers. He managed to revolutionize the field of architectural photography from something dull to something truly beautiful and alive. I have the amazing 3 volume set Modernism Rediscovered put out by Taschen. How I would have loved to have an original print for the Vilnius Jewish Library. The problem is that I am as about as rich as Tevye. Still I can look again and again at the lovely books of his outstanding compositions.

Wyman Brent
shammes
Vilnius Jewish Library

# July 18, 2009 at 02:34

MC says:

Fabulous photos, a kind of catchy Bond style you always want to jump in.

# July 18, 2009 at 09:18

Zaki says:

And these great images shall not be forgotten. As Terry said: “What makes his work great is that he saw space in exactly the way it was intended by the architects”- I second that! You really can see how “deep” was the perspective of these images.

# July 18, 2009 at 09:30

Tom in London says:

I heard “Uncle Julius” as he called himself, give a lecture, just a few years ago, where he revealed many of his secrets. That young lady sitting upright inside Case Study House no. 22? She was a student he asked to sit in exactly that position. And he had to pose her several evenings in a row, because there was a particular moment when he had to take the shot: just at sundown and just as the city lights were coming on.

All of his pictures were carefully stage-managed by him, so that people were always doing interesting things in important corners of the photograph. I remember him describing how he got the janitor of one building to hose down the parking lot so that its surface would reflect the building in his picture.

What a guy. One of the greatest architectural photographers.

# July 18, 2009 at 10:03

Phil says:

I had the great opportunity to meet Julius Shulman a few times back in 2003 in his house in Laurel Canyon – almost a case study place itself. While elderly and hard of hearing, he was a gracious host and an highly intriguing person to speak to about his life and the moments and elements of built form he captured.
He will be greatly missed. RIP Julius!

# July 19, 2009 at 18:14

theDude says:

Nuff respect, I had recently bought his 3 volumes collections of images, and thought how wonderful each photo was where every shot tells a wonderful story. We’ll miss him, but what a lifetime achievement!
Thx for sharing the experiences, hopefully some other keen lens-junkies will take note and step up to the challenge…

# July 20, 2009 at 00:44

David Brayton says:

Julius Shulman’s house is up for sale. I just took many pics of the house and the tour can be found online at http://www.TheShulmanHouse.com for anyone interested in seeing his personal home designed by RaphaelSoriano for him in 1947 and completed in 1950.

# December 20, 2009 at 02:33

Tomás says:

Im sorry this will be an off topic comment, but throwing a party (chill atmosphere) in the living room of case study house #22 must be something different…

# May 15, 2010 at 09:20

Jason says:

is this modernism or minimalism or a dream for the moment-ism ?
interesting how when you visit these homes they feel stale today compared to the rich feeling you get from entering a lavish 30′ – 40′s era Spanish home in Hollywood or Beverly Hills. You know the type they never age / are timeless and are coveted as homes to actually ‘live’ in rather than architectural curios purchased for hipster prestige value.
argue all you want but the market and those who can buy anything they want know the truth – Villas ( preferably in Europe ) are what stay continually current. Now that’s modern ..er uh… Timeless.

# July 10, 2010 at 16:54

Stephen O says: