Mak Center Celebrates Mackey Apartments' Re-opening

Art & Architecture Luminaries Join Republic of Austria to Fête Renovation of 1939 R. M. Schindler Complex

The MAK Center for Art and Architecture represents a unique venture, bonding the art and design communities of Los Angeles and Austria in a continual process of exchange and reinvigoration. In addition to exhibitions, events and publications centered at the Schindler House in West Hollywood, the MAK Center Artists and Architects in Residence program has been a key component of the MAK initiative. R. M. Schindler's 1939 Pearl M. Mackey Apartments, purchased by the Republic of Austria in 1995, have been "home" to the residency program for more than a decade. Because the apartments were put into use almost immediately, the Mackey renovation has been rolled-out in phases, with Phases 3 and 4 finally reaching completion this year.

On Thursday, May 11, 2006 from 7:00-9:00 p.m., the official re-opening of the Mackey Apartments will be celebrated with a private reception and champagne toast hosted by Martin Weiss, Consul General, Republic of Austria and Andreas Treichl, Supervisory Board Chairman, MAK Vienna and president of Erste Bank Vienna. Guests will hear remarks from prominent Los Angeles artists and architects Diana Thater, Eric Owen Moss, Jason Rhoades, Chris Burden, Greg Lynn and Liz Larner, as well as contributions from Mr. Weiss, Mr. Treichl and Peter Noever, C.E.O. and Artistic Director, MAK Vienna.

The Artists and Architects in Residence Program is made available through competition to international artists, architects and students of architecture to live and work in Los Angeles for six-month periods, culminating in a Final Projects exhibition. Many residents have gone on to earn international reputations, including Gelatin, Hans Schabus, Elena Kovylina, Gilbert Bretterbauer, Luisa Lambri, Jun Yang, Swetlana Heger & Plamen Dejanov, Kaspar Kovitz, Una Szeeman, Mathias Poledna and David Zink Yee. Among the prominent art and design professionals who have served on MAK resident juries are Vito Acconci, Renée Green, Jannis Kounellis, Lebbeus Woods, Hans-Ulrich Obrist, Okui Enwezor, Catherine David, and Herbert Muschamp.

Each resident is provided a live/work space at the Mackey Apartments, which also features a penthouse guest apartment and houses the archives of the MAK Center for Art & Architecture. Since 1995, the Mackey Apartments, including the garages, rooftop, windows and gardens, have been a lively center for artistic production, parties, salons, exhibitions, screenings, and more.

The Mackey Apartments (Rudolph M. Schindler, 1939)
Located on a flat lot in a residential, Mid-Los Angeles neighborhood, the originally four-unit (since converted to five) apartment building is one of a series of residential projects Schindler built in the 1930s. Unlike international-style architects, Schindler seldom designed identical apartment units; his apartments are as complex, individual and innovative as his houses. The Mackey possesses typical Schindler characteristics: compact apartment layout, exceptional incorporation of natural light, built-in furniture, variable ceiling heights and private outdoor gardens or mini-balconies.

Restoration work on the Mackey Apartments began in 1995 by the Central Office of Architecture, and continued with architects Space International, thanks to funding by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor. In all phases of renovation, the objective was to recreate room layouts, complex lighting, color schemes and use of materials in keeping with the architect's original intentions. Ultimately, the renovation presents a refreshed building that testifies to Schindler's love of open spaces, airiness and versatility.

Renovation Notes
Architects Space International and contractor Karl Tso completed phases 3 and 4 of the Mackey renovation. The apartments-both interior and exterior-were cleaned-up and fine-tuned to restore Schindler's original intent and invigorate the space for incoming residents and visitors. The building is in good structural shape; diagonal siding-20 years ahead of its time-was found under the stucco system, providing the building with additional strength.

The entire exterior has been re-plastered with stucco, reviving the definition of its geometries. A variety of small but important refinements have been made throughout the interior of the apartments. All walls were patched and painted using a palette based on the original interior colors with some interpretation by Space International and the MAK. Some of the wooden built-ins were highlighted with color to showcase the strength of Schindler's design. New furniture has improved usability for the residents while maintaining the clean edges of the renovation aesthetic. The penthouse received furniture donations in 2005, including original chairs by Rudolph M. Schindler and Franz West.

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