VISION Issue 23 | Page 6

VISION 23 — BACK TO THE FUTURE Modern architecture’s golden age peaked in the mid 20th century, high above the sprawl, smog and celluloid of Los Angeles. It produced the cocktail set Case Study Houses that became talismans for architects the world over. Slabs of stone and glass cantilevered from the precipice trapping sunlight and views with shimmering results. With audacity and a rare lightness, these dream houses put architecture within the reach of a whole post-war generation. Their design elegance and optimism pointed to a streamlined, carefree world. 6