Within Los Angeles’s constellation of modernist homes, few shine as brilliantly as architect John Lautner’s 1963 Sheats-Goldstein house. Perched in the hills of Beverly Crest, the concrete-and-glass pleasure dome has played starring roles in a slate of movies (most notably The Big Lebowski and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle ), music videos, and at least one, um, adult film. Now the iconic—and iconoclastic—marvel bears the distinction of being the first piece of architecture bestowed on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) . The bequest comes from James Goldstein, who has not only owned the landmark property since 1972 but also nurtured it, maintaining its sublime gardens and installing a James Turrell Skyspace and artworks by Ed Ruscha and DeWain Valentine. LACMA’s plan to preserve the home for public visits guarantees that Goldstein’s gift will keep on giving for generations to come.
The living room.
A fishpond with a concrete and glass stepping bridge, in the home's entrance court. A DeWain Valentine glass sculpture can be seen through the glass walls of the living room.
The angular theme of the house is echoed in the concrete, leather cushioned furniture designed by Lautner and the waffle gridded ceiling which is punctuated with glass emits that dapple the room with light.
The home's dining area and open kitchen. The space features motorized skylights and a "floating plane" dining table of glass and concrete designed by Lautner.
The angular theme of the house is echoed in the furniture, designed by Lautner, and the waffle gridded ceiling.
An exterior shot of the home's angular main roof, in which 750 upturned water glasses that act as miniature skylights are encased.
The home's exterior. A corner of the all glass master suite juts out from a steep hill while the rest of the house is concealed by foliage planned by landscape designer Eric Nagelmann.
