Buff & Hensman: An Annotated and Illustrated Bibliography

(Link to the Bibliography at the bottom of this post)

Introduction

Beth Kudlicki and I have been blessed to have lived in Buff, Smith & Hensman’s Dorsey House in Playa del Rey since 2000. The house was completed in 1983 and received a Pasadena-Foothill Chapter AIA Award of Merit Award in 1984. We never tire of living in this wonderful house as we continue to enjoy fresh nuances which the change of the seasons and weather bring to the lighting patterns and shadows in the house interiors. We did not know that much about the firm when we bought the house, only that we immediately knew we wanted to move in. I soon thereafter began to collect material on Southern California’s modernist architectural history. I quickly learned the importance of the Buff & Hensman legacy while researching a book on Julius Shulman’s cover photos which inspired me to compile a bibliography of the firm’s published work.

A logical starting point for me was to perform Buff & Hensman; Buff, Straub & Hensman; and Buff, Smith & Hensman searches in my 8,000 item “Julius Shulman Annotated Bibliography.” The search resulted in 250 articles with Shulman photos of Buff & Hensman projects. Shulman has logged close to 50 assignments on Buff & Hensman projects over the years for various clients ranging from the architects to book and article authors, magazine editors, newspaper reporters, exhibition curators, homeowners and realtors. He also used his considerable marketing skills and contacts with publishers and editors to help spread the gospel of modernism according to Buff & Hensman to a global audience. Building upon my Shulman listings, exhaustive searches were also done in the Buff & Hensman archives courtesy of Dennis Smith, on ProQuest, Los Angeles Times Historical, RIBA, Avery, WorldCat, WilsonWeb, Art Index, Google and many other databases and sources resulting in well over 450 items discovered to date.

I am also in the process of compiling a Buff & Hensman Project Database which will list all of the firm’s projects, built or unbuilt, by year and job address. I hope that this effort will then make it easier for Buff & Hensman fans to find the still-existant work and foster future preservation efforts of same. My starting point for this effort was the “Chronology of Projects” compiled by James Steele and Alex Moseley included in the back of Buff & Hensman by Donald C. Hensman and edited by James Steele with introduction by Alex Moseley. To complete the work I am in the process of doing a tube-by-tube search of the plans in the Buff, Smith & Hensman office to locate the individual project addresses. Once that effort is finished, I plan to merge that information into this bibliography chronologically by year as described below.

Structure of the Bibliography

Entries in the bibliography are chronological with divisions by year followed by a list of the year’s projects (when the above-mentioned database is complete) and finally, annotated bibliographical items published during the year. I have also included thumbnail images of the covers featuring the firm’s work. I have not taken the time to edit items from the Shulman bibliography that contain work by others in addition to Buff & Hensman. Readers may find it interesting, however, to see what company the firm was keeping in these group articles. Illustrations are from my personal collection, the firm’s archive, or from various internet sources and credited in the adjacent bibliography listing.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dennis Smith who has allowed me unfettered access to the firm’s archives in Pasadena and Don Hensman’s nephew Mark Troughber for sharing his extensive collection.

Link to the Bibliography

Buff & Hensman: An Annotated & Illustrated Bibliography


Other Links of Interest

For a recent post on my blog Southern California Architectural History see “A Case Study in the Mechanics of Fame: Buff, Straub & Hensman, Julius Shulman, Esther McCoy and Case Study House No. 20” at http://socalarchhistory.blogspot.com/2010/01/three-amigos-conrad-buff-iii-calvin.html

For more on the firm go to http://www.buffsmithandhensman.com/

For more on Calvin Straub and his Arizona work go to  http://www.modernphoenix.net/straub/calvinstraubarizona.htm

For more on Case Study House No. 20 and Buff, Straub & Hensman visit the blog http://casestudyhouse20.blogspot.com/

"Modern Patrons" Richard King and Carol Soucek King: Living by Design in a Classic Arroyo Buff & Hensman

Carol Soucek King graciously hosted members of the Southern California Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians for a leisurely tour and conversation with the Society's "Modern Patrons" organizer John Berley last Saturday, May 8, 2010, between 10AM-12PM. Husband Richard King, seen below, was unable to attend due to a prior commitment to attend graduation ceremonies at Woodbury University where he has been a long-time trustee.

 Modern Patrons, Richard King and Carol Soucek King. November, 2005 issue of Arroyo. (photographer unknown)

This event a was nice followup to the March 28th Pasadena Heritage Spring Home Tour "Buff & Hensman: The Art of Modernism", (see tour brochure cover below)

 Tour Brochure for "Buff & Hensman: The art of Modernism", Pasadena Heritage, March 28, 2010 (Cover photo of the Bea Residence by Jim Staub)

SAH/SCC organized this very successful event as part of their "Modern Patrons" series which was a very special opportunity to visit the Buff & Hensman King Residence "Arroyo del Rey" adjacent to not so dry Arroyo Seco beneath the monumental Highway 134 over-crossing in Pasadena. (See image below). Built in 1979, the King Residence is a superb example of Buff & Hensman’s melding of architecture and landscape in a most unusual setting in the Arroyo. In March 2009, the Pasadena City Council officially designated the Kings' home a Historic Monument.

King Residence, Buff & Hensman, Pasadena, 1979. (Photographer unknown)

Saturday was a rare chance to experience the house and surrounding gardens, pavilion, and creekside gazebo and also to learn firsthand from Carol how she and husband Richard came about hiring the architects to create a place of serenity and refuge in a spectacular setting. In the monograph Buff & Hensman (USC Guild Press/Balcony Press, 2004), author Don Hensman recalls the King Residence as “a deceptively straightforward floor plan (that) is balanced without being superfluous.

Thompson/Moseley Residence, San Marino, 1959, Rick Barnes photo. (from my collection).

Neutral stucco walls complement the natural wood trim of the sunken living room. In fact, the home feels more like sculpture than structure. We designed the artscape and landscaping to connect three structures, blending them into the natural surroundings.” (The above monograph contains a nice 6-page spread on the King Residence). Carol informed the intimate group attending Saturday's event that their 1.5-acre compound was executed in three phases during which the undertaking led to a very close friendship with Conrad and Don.

Also major USC patrons, the Kings hosted a memorable symposium "The World of Buff & Hensman" on November 16, 2008 at which the formal announcement of the donation of their fabulous home, "Arroyo del Rey", a prime example of Buff & Hensman's work, to USC School of Architecture for use as an events center and the acceptance by School of Architecture Dean Ma were made. The Kings are also providing a generous endowment for the compound's maintenance. Thus, the home and surroundings will be preserved in perpetuity and in the future will be known as "The Carol Soucek King and Richard King Center for Architecture, Arts and the Humanities/University of Southern California."

Announcement card for November 16, 2008 Symposium. Photo by Julius Shulman who was in attendance and made an impromptu speech during the event. 

 

 Photo by John Crosse.

In the photo above, SCC/SAH members gathering around in the King living room to listen to Carol and John Berley discuss the King's close relationship with Conrad Buff and Don Hensman and the design process from which their home and grounds evolved.

John Berley and Carol Soucek King in conversation. Photo by John Crosse.

Carol obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (English Literature) and Doctorate of Philosophy degree (Communications) from the University of Southern California.  She also studied at Cambridge University in England.  She later earned her Master of Fine Arts degree (Drama) from Yale University. After graduation she worked as Editor of the Lifestyle Section of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner and Drama Critic for the Santa Monica Evening Outlook. She then became Editor in Chief of Designers West magazine from 1978 to 1993. Since then she has devoted much of her time to writing design-oriented books from the home. Her twelve published books range from her first, Empowered Spaces [PBC International, 1993], to Unique Homes [HarperCollins-Collins Design, 2006]. (See the image below). In her "spare" time Carol also convenes "The Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life."

Photo by John Crosse.

Understandably, many of the above books feature the work of Buff & Hensman. The following link connects you to her impressive Author's Page at Amazon where you will see that most of these titles are becoming quite scarce. Carole Soucek King Author Page

Above is the title page for Carol's soon to be released "Under the Bridges at Arroyo del Rey". Illustration by Miller Fong.

 Designers West, Vol. 30, No. 12, October, 1983. Modesto Lanzone's San Francisco Restaurant, Interior Design by Teresa Pomodoro, Russell Abraham photo.

Back issues of Designers West edited by Soucek King are also becoming increasingly rare and quite collectible. The above issue contains a spread of Beth Kudlicki and my Buff & Hensman home in Playa del Rey, the 1983 Harry Dorsey Residence with Julius Shulman photos. Our home also has a 6-page spread in the above "Buff & Hensman" monograph.

For a compendium of the published work of Buff and Hensman which currently contains over 500 articles see my Buff and Hensman: An Annotated and Illustrated Bio-Bibliography.

For a related link to John Berley, Project Manager of Frederick Fisher Partners Annenberg Community Beach House project in Santa Monica see http://socalarchhistory.blogspot.com/2010/05/annenberg-community-beach-house-at.html.

For a related post I did last January on Buff, Straub & Hensman go to http://socalarchhistory.blogspot.com/2010/01/three-amigos-conrad-buff-iii-calvin.html.

Modern Patrons: Buff & Hensman in Pasadena

SAH/SCC Tour & Talk: Pasadena
Saturday, May 8, 2010, 10AM-12PM

 Modern Patrons, Richard King and Carol Soucek King. November, 2005 issue of Arroyo. (photographer unknown)

For a nice followup to the March 28th Pasadena Heritage Spring Home Tour "Buff & Hensman: The Art of Modernism", (see below)

 Tour Brochure for "Buff & Hensman: The art of Modernism", Pasadena Heritage, March 28, 2010 (Cover photo of the Bea Residence by Jim Staub)

the Southern California Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians is sponsoring  "Modern Patrons: Buff & Hensman in Pasadena." Following is an excerpt from the latest SAH/SCC Newsletter http://www.sahscc.org/SAHSCC%20News%20MaJu%202010.pdf.

"SAH/SCC is offering another signature event in our Modern Patrons program with a very special opportunity to visit the Buff & Hensman King Residence in Pasadena. Built in 1979, the King Residence is a superb example of Buff & Hensman’s melding of architecture and landscape in a most unusual setting in the Arroyo, beneath the monumental Highway 134 overcrossing.

King Residence, Buff & Hensman, Pasadena, 1979. (Photographer unknown)

This will be a rare opportunity to enjoy the house and surrounding gardens and also learn firsthand from the owners who hired the architects to create a place of serenity and refuge in a spectacular setting. In the monograph Buff & Hensman (USC Guild Press/Balcony Press, 2004), on his partnership with Conrad Buff III, author Don Hensman recalls the King Residence as “a deceptively straightforward floor plan (that) is balanced without being superfluous. Neutral stucco walls complement the natural wood trim of the sunken living room. In fact, the home feels more like sculpture than structure. We designed the artscape and landscaping to connect three structures, blending them into the natural surroundings.” Executed in three phases, the undertaking led to a close friendship among the homeowners and architects. Make your plans to join us for another truly remarkable example of our region’s extensive architectural heritage."

Note: Modern Patrons events are a perk of Patron level membership.

Buff & Hensman (and USC) patrons Richard King and Carol Soucek King also hosted a memorable symposium "The World of Buff & Hensman" on November 16, 2009 at which the formal announcement of the donation of their fabulous home, a prime example of Buff & Hensman's work, to USC and the acceptance by School of Architecture Dean Ma were made.

Announcement card for November 16, 2008 Symposium. Photo by Julius Shulman who was in attendance and made an impromptu speech during the event.

I have work in progress on a Buff & Hensman project database and am nearing completion on a 500 item annotated and illustrated Buff & Hensman Bibliography. Stay tuned.

Buff & Hensman: Building California Dreams

Conrad Buff III (1924-1988)and Donald Hensman (1924-2002), and associates Calvin Straub (1920-1988, partner from 1956 to 1962) and Dennis Smith (40 year employee, partner since 1988 and president upon Hensman's 1998 retirement), have been a major presence of modernist understated elegance on the Southern California landscape for the last 60 years. Buff & Hensman's first of many cover appearances in the L.A. Times Home Magazine was an August 31, 1952 three-page spread of their mountain A-frame cabin for Buff's well-known parents. They shortly thereafter burst onto the scene (with Calvin Straub) with their iconic post-and-beam Case Study House No. 20 for designer Saul Bass in Altadena in 1958. (see below).

Oct. 15, 2005 Tour Brochure (28 pp.), Friends of the Gamble House, Pasadena & Foothill Chapter - AIA, and USC School of Architecture, Julius Shulman Job 2675, Getty Research Institute. (from my collection).

This house, so expertly captured for the pages of ten separate issues of Arts & Architecture magazine in 1958 by Julius Shulman, was featured in at least 150 other publications over the years according to my Buff & Hensman Annotated Bibliography. It has been featured on numerous books and magazine covers and is included in any book featuring the Case Study House Program. Case Study House No. 20 (with Julius Shulman's assistance) firmly established Buff & Hensman's legacy.

Another publication that fans and collectors should seek out is "Buff & Hensman" edited by James Steele with photographs by Julius Shulman published by the USC Architectural Guild Press in 2004.

Thompson/Moseley Residence, San Marino, 1959, Rick Barnes photo. (from my collection).

This compilation remains the most in-depth monograph on the firm's work to date and includes an introduction by two-time B&H homeowner Alex Moseley, and a preface by USC School of Architecture Dean Robert Timme and highlights the history of the firm's almost exclusively residential work. An illustrated year-by-year chronology of projects and index are included in the back-matter. The partner's post-war years as student's and faculty at USC are discussed as is the importance of Julius Shulman's photographs in preserving and enhancing the firm's standing in the pantheon of Southern California Architectural History. Being a Buff & Hensman homeowner, you can expect many mare posts on this blog on their work.

Two links of note are included to direct the reader to the Buff & Hensman website http://www.buffsmithandhensman.com/
and  Buff & Hensman Facebook Fan Page which I established today to provide a forum for discussion and display of the firm's work. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buff-Hensman/247064621136?ref=ts