Schindler Space Architect

Schindler Space Architect is an independently produced documentary examining the works and life of a pioneer of modern architecture, R.M. Schindler, narrated by Meryl Streep and Udo Kier, featuring renowned architects Frank Gehry, Steven Holl, Thom Mayne, Ray Kappe among many others.

Austrian-born and educated, R. M. Schindler changed forever the architectural landscape of Los Angeles and laid the foundation for what now is considered the California lifestyle of indoor-outdoor living. His house on Kings Road, in West Hollywood built in 1922, was the birthplace of the Southern California Modernism so celebrated today, and it is now considered by many historians to be the first modern house built anywhere in the world.

A true original, Schindler, experimented and invented over a period of 30 years: suffering the ups and downs of a creative genius, forging his own vision. This documentary explores Schindler’s richly complex work, with its influences from the turn of the 20th century Vienna, the early work of Frank Lloyd Wright, the pueblos of Taos and the 20th century realities of Southern California. It is an investigation into Schindler’s philosophy of Space Architecture as contrasted with the International Style that ruled modern architecture during most of the architect’s life. It engagingly reexamines Schindler’s complicated relationship with his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright, and his former friend turned rival, Richard Neutra. Neutra became the poster boy for the International style while Schindler further developed Wright’s ideas of space architecture. Both Viennese, Schindler and Neutra became the quintessential California architects—Neutra was the celebrated one and Schindler was overlooked.

The documentary asks key questions about the importance of domestic architecture in creating a national culture and as a living entity that shapes humanity. It affirms the singular genius of one man, and the eternal challenge every artist faces to stay true to their vision in an effort to leave a lasting impact.

"Viennese born Rudolf Schindler transformed Los Angeles architecture with buildings shaped by space, light and interconnection with nature. In Schindler Space Architect, director Valentina Galena draws on rich archival material, cinematography and interviews to vividly tell the story of Schindler's ideas, life, loves, and his complicated relationship with L.A.’s other founding Austrian modernist, Richard Neutra. Fascinating.” ~ Frances Anderton

"Valentina Ganeva’s new documentary on R. M. Schindler turns basic assumptions about the birth of modern architecture upside down. Besides providing a thorough panorama of his architectural career, her film lays out an entirely new (and more accurate) way of understanding the impact of California on the development of modern architecture. Schindler, we discover, embraced California's freedom to experiment with an unmatched joy and daring. His profound lessons echo in his influence on today’s boundary-shattering architects, as the film’s interviews with Steven Holl, Thom Mayne, Wolf Prix, and Mark Mack explain. While many critics over the last hundred years (notably excepting Esther McCoy) were mostly blind to Schindler’s real significance, Ganeva’s excellent film turns the spotlight back on Schindler to give him the attention he deserves.” ~ Alan Hess, architect and historian