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Beyond the Photograph: The Real Story Behind Case Study House #22

Long-time Stahl House docent Andrew Edelstein unpacks the true story behind Case Study House #22: an "unbuildable" lot, a landmark mortgage and the night Julius Shulman made it famous.

The Stahl House looks effortless in every photograph, but almost nothing about getting it built was easy.

This presentation traces the real story behind Case Study House #22, the Stahl House—a couple who bought a piece of land nobody else wanted, a homeowner who spent years preparing the site by hand, a search for an architect willing to take on an "impossible" project and a financing story most people have never heard.

We'll also look at how a single night of photography turned a private family home into one of the most recognizable images in architectural history—and how that image shaped the public's idea of midcentury Modernism for decades to come.

Andrew Edelstein has led tours of the Stahl House since 2009 and served as a docent at the Eames House from 2008 to 2013. A 30-year advertising industry veteran, photographer and published author, he brings both an insider's eye for design and a storyteller's instinct for the human details that rarely make it into the architecture books. stahlhouse.com

Photo Credits: Andrew Edelstein

Location & Attendee Information

  • What are the appropriate ages for this activity?Person Ages 13 and older
  • Are pets, animals, or service animals permitted?Dog on a leash No pets, service animals permitted
  • Are food and drinks permitted?Food and drink No outside food or drinks
  • What are the mobility considerations for this activity?Person walking Seated activity
  • What type of parking is available?Car Parking & handicap parking available
  • Are restrooms available?Restroom sign Restrooms available
  • Is this an indoor or outdoor activity?Sun Indoor activity
  • What is the policy regarding smoking?Cigarette with smoke No smoking or e-cigarettes
  • What type of ADA accessibility is available?Wheelchair Wheelchair accessible
The organizer of this event is: Modernism Week CAMP Theater Activity

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