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| 2138 Micheltorena St, Silver Lake 90039 - "The Reiner-Burchill Residence" (Silvertop), John Lautner, architect, 1956-1976 - $7,500,000 |
The Reiner-Burchill Residence was originally commissioned in 1956 for Kenneth Reiner,
who made his fortunes through his industrial designs including the spring-loaded Lady Ellen Klippies, a ladies hair clip and a self-locking lightweight aircraft nut. Many refer to the home as "Silvertop" for its expansive concrete domed ceiling over the living area, which seems to rest on walls of glass, as it peers down upon the Silver Lake Reservoir.
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| Aerial View - "The Reiner-Burchill Residence" (Silvertop), John Lautner, architect, 1956-1976 |
With a focus on technology and engineering, the two men were destined to collaborate. Reiner was inspired to build "Silvertop" with John Lautner, F.A.I.A. based on his
experience living in R.M. Schindler's "Wilson House" located just a few doors
away and right around the corner from Lautner's own personal residence. The two set out to accomplish something, no one else had done before. This was to be a smart and thoughtful home design, including faucet-less sinks that automatically filled with water; a dining table
with a hydraulic pedestal that was lowered for cocktails and elevated
for meals; a system for heating and cooling that could not be seen or
heard; and controls for lights and appliances that were discreetly set
into walls and doors jambs. The Reiner-Burchill Residence is truly an example of modern genius.
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| Cantilevered Driveway - "The Reiner-Burchill Residence" (Silvertop), John Lautner, architect, 1956-1976 |
Lautner built
elements into the home specifically according to Reiner's
specifications; in the event that the equipment didn't exist to meet
those specifications, Reiner would often design and make the necessary piece for Lautner. "They really clicked," architectural historian Alan Hess
said of Lautner and his wealthy client. "They were both far-out
thinkers" who believed in technology and invention to improve the world. Some Reiner-designed elements in the home include lights that pivot into the ceiling, and electrically-controlled skylights.
The two men brought in master structural engineer, Eugene Birnbaum to execute the challenging build with a cantilevered driveway up to the residence and a massive concrete domed ceiling over walls of glass that are slotted into concrete.
The home was originally budgeted at $75,000, but rose close to $1,000,000 after many refinements of the design throughout its build. Sadly, Reiner never completed "Silvertop". Thus, never lived in the home. Due to a lawsuit with then business partner, Reiner filed bankruptcy and lost the house. The project then sat unfinished for several years, while Reiner moved to Long Beach without ever having the joy of living in his creation.
Dr. Philip and Jacklyn Burchill
bought the home in 1974. The Burchill's also worked closely with Lautner to complete the home. The Reiner-Burchill Residence was destined to be built and thanks to the collaboration of efforts from many involved with the project, it was finally realized in 1976, when the Burchill's became live-in stewards of the architectural phenomenom until now. Mrs. Burchill would like to spend more time with her grandchildren in northern California and has decided to sell the home she has maintained true pride of ownership and stewardship for 40 years.
The Reiner-Burchill Residence is located at 2138 Micheltorena St in the Moreno Highlands area of Silver Lake and is being offered for $7,500,000. With the construction of "Silvertop" we experience Lautner’s first major use of the monolithic dome, reinforced concrete which spans over a large area while using minimal resources, providing energy efficiency and yielding a longer life span. Thus, creating a sculptural element to the design, as well as, an architectural component creating the Organic Modernist creation.
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| The Reiner-Burchill Residence's infinity-edge swimming pool was one of the first of its kind. |
The 3 bedroom and 4 bathroom design of the main house is made up of a series of interlocking circles, half-circles and ellipsis, creating geometric pattern for which Lautner was genius. The infinity pool, a first of its kind, somewhat mimics the shape of the roof line. With a massive,
arched concrete roof over the living area, the spacious 4,721 of interior living space with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, feels in proportion to the site, which it is built. "Silvertop" rests upon 1.26
acres, comprised of six lots, on the crest of a hill and is reached by a cantilevered curving concrete
driveway that wraps around a circular guest house, called the Round House, which contains a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and a photography darkroom.
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| "Round House" Guest House - "The Reiner-Burchill Residence" (Silvertop), John Lautner, architect, 1956-1976 |
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| Floor Plan - "The Reiner-Burchill Residence" (Silvertop), John Lautner, architect, 1956-1976 |
The home consists of three general areas including the living area, sleeping quarters and guest house. From the
entry, you can enter the home's living area while passing an atrium
filled with plants and into the expansive light-filled open living
space. The sleeping quarters are located somewhat perpendicular to the
living area as it bows away from the central living area.
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| Hallway off of the entry with skylights; Interior Atrium; Library |
Through paneled walls with cut-out skylights providing natural light, you access the three bedrooms. The master bedroom features an amazing fireplace, circular skylight and outdoor private garden area.
There is plenty of wardrobe and closet space with built-in drawers and closets behind wooden accordion doors. The master bath sits off of the closet's hallway.
An additional bedroom features brick walls at an angle along with floor-to-ceiling glass. The wood paneling provides a rustic coziness and warmth.
There are beautiful grounds for which you find mature landscaping, private garden areas and of course, panoramic vistas that look out to the San Gabriel Mountains, Silver Lake,
Downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood Sign
and West to the Ocean. The Reiner-Burchill Residence provides a tennis court and pool for plenty of Southern California outdoor recreation.
If you would like a private showing, please contact me to set up a convenient time. Offers to be reviewed August 25, 2014. There is also an adjoining lot on Redcliff being offered separately for $500,000. If I were you, I would buy the lot along with the residence. It would be very well worth the $8,000,000 total, as this home will surely climb in value over time. The Reiner-Burchill Residence has similar characteristics to Lautner's Palm Springs Bob and Dolores Hope Estate built in 1980, which is currently on market for $34,000,000.
3-D Animation of Silvertop
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| John Edward Lautner, F.A.I.A. (1911-1994) |
John Lautner,
FAIA, was born in
Marquette, Michigan, in 1911 and worked under Frank Lloyd
Wright at Taliesin (Wisconsin and Arizona) from 1933-39.
He worked in private practice in Los Angeles from 1946
where he boldly experimented with new industrial
processes in what he terms his "continual search to
answer total basic human needs, emotional as well as
physical, in shelter." The John Lautner Foundation
INFINITE SPACE: The Architecture of John Lautner - TRAILER
Reiner-Burchill Residence listing and some images courtesy of Crosby Doe - CDA and the John Lautner Foundation.
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