Closer look: DSH Architecture restores Rudolph Schindler's historic Bubeshko Apartments

Cascading down a sloped site in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood, the iconic Bubeshko Apartments were first completed in 1941 for mother and daughter Anastasia and Luby Bubeshko. The project is one of Rudolph Schindler's few multi-residential projects that was ever realized and remains intact. 

The current owners, public radio host Madeleine Brand and her husband filmmaker Joe DeMarie, wanted to sensitively restore the apartment complex to its original architectural spirit, while mindfully updating it for contemporary residents — including themselves, with the intention to pass on the apartment complex to their children. So, they turned to a team comprising Eric Haas and Chava Danielson of DSH Architecture to do the job. The project was recently honored with a Residential Design Award of Excellence in the 2017 Modernism in America Awards.

Anastasia and Luby Bubeshko were impressed with Schindler’s Sachs Apartments nearby, and were lucky to be introduced to him thanks to a family connection. Built during the Great Depression era to provide financial security for the Bubeshko family, the original project only had the following requirements from the clients: a home that would provide rental income and offer flexible, accommodating living spaces for its residences.

In response, Schindler designed the communal complex based on the layout of a Greek hillside village. The five units are divisible into a possible seven, and they share similar architectural themes but have distinct sizes, configurations, orientations, and finishes.  

“Restoration of the Bubeshko Apartments is interesting not only because of what was done but because of what was not done, commented juror Justin Davidson. “Instead of transforming the complex into luxury condominium pods, the owners and restoration team gave careful consideration to both the original intent of the architect and original owners thus insuring this unique addition to the cultural life of Los Angeles will be admired and enjoyed for years to come.”