JOHN EDWARD LAUTNER JR., FAIA (1911-1994)

Lautner was born in Marquette MI from academic parents at what is now called Northern Michigan University. He briefly attended the University of Michigan and in 1933, he graduated from Northern Michigan University in English and began a six-year job with Frank Lloyd Wright — in the first class of Taliesin Fellows at Spring Green WI. His fiancée Mary (MaryBud) Faustina Roberts Lautner (1913-1995) was also a Taliesin Fellow. They married in 1934.

For Wright, Lautner oversaw many buildings including the Johnson Wax Building in Wisconsin and a Wright design for his mother-in-law Abby Beecher Roberts, the Deertrack House in Marquette MI. Lautner moved to California in 1937 to oversee the construction of Wright's Sturges and Oboler houses. In 1943, he left Wright to work for Structon Company on military projects. Lautner worked in 1944 for and became partner in 1945 with architect Douglas Honnold who was also an interior designer. In 1947, Lautner departed after an affair with Honnold's wife, Elizabeth Gilman (Gilly) Honnold, which ended the partnership although the two architects later reconciled as friends. After divorcing MaryBud in 1950, he married Elizabeth and took on her daughter, also named Elizabeth. MaryBud returned to Marquette MI with their children, Karol (born 1938), Michael (born 1942), Judith (born 1946), and Mary Beecher (born 1944). She remarried another architect and they had four children.

Lautner did not receive his architectural license until 1952. He considered his clients "either rich bastards or poor geniuses," according to stepdaughter, Elizabeth Honnold Harris. Known for his houses, Lautner was also well-known for Googie design, distinctive for its expansive glass walls, arresting form, and exuberant signage oriented to automobiles. Googie became a fixture in 1950s America but was regularly ridiculed by the architectural community. Lautner's reputation suffered, despite the fact his innovative designs were as good as ever. Following some lean years, he rose again in the 1960s with the Chemosphere House in LA and poured-concrete houses like the Elrod and Hope houses in Palm Springs. His wife Elizabeth died in 1978. In 1982, Lautner married her caretaker, Francisca Hernandez, who has since passed. Upon his death, brilliant Lautner protégé Helena Arahuete took over the firm. He has been the subject of several documentaries, including Infinite Space.

The 1950 Leo M. and Lena Harvey House, aka the Harvey Aluminum House, 2180 West Live Oak Drive, Los Angeles CA. 6788 sf. Sold to Chester Barnes, who had Lautner do several renovations. Eventually it was advertised as a teardown. Sold in 1998 to Mitch Glazer and Kelly Lynch, pictured above, who outbid Leonardo DiCaprio. Restored from 1998 to 2001 by Lautner principal Helena Arahuete. John de la Veaux was the original builder and came back to work with general contractor Robin Poirier. George Haney and Son did the mechanica; landscaping by Good Earth Enterprises; lighting by Gilbertson Electrical. House photos by Sara Essex Bradley. Still owned by Lynch and Glazer as of 2023.

The 1964 Reiner-Burchill Residence, aka Silvertop, 2138 Micheltorena Street, Los Angeles CA. Built by Wally Niewiadomski. Originally owned by Ken Reiner, who commissioned it in 1956. Reiner's business got in trouble, his wife left him, and the house sat for a decade, still unfinished. Reiner never lived there. Sold in 1974 to Jacklyn and Phillip Burchill who engaged Lautner to complete it. Sold in 2014 to Sophia Nardin and Luke Wood; renovated by architect Barbara Bestor. Top photo by Michael Locke; photos 2-3 by Elizabeth Daniels.