Currently owned by Edward Norton, the Stevens House (1968) began as an impossible demand: a five bedroom luxury house on a 90’ by 30’ plot with no solid walls on two sides so that the ocean and mountains could be viewed. Six architects turned it down and then John Lautner- to whom crazy challenges were seemingly like smack- took it up.

His answer? Two giant waves of concrete rolling in opposite directions; practical and very seaside! The rest was then built inside, much like a wooden cabin.

Lautner claimed he never put a facade on anything. He started with a simple and practical idea and worked outward. The beauty came from that alone. I think that’s profound wisdom that any creator can learn from. I really do.