Tour of Silver Lake Homes

Five decades of modern architecture will be celebrated during “Modernist Silver Lake: An Architectural Festival” Oct. 2 and 3.

A highlight of the weekend will be a docent-led tour of six homes by American Modernist pioneers Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, Gregory Ain, Harwell Harris and John Lautner from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 3.

The festival, sponsored by the nonprofit Committee to Save Silver Lake’s Reservoirs, also will feature lectures and a self-guided driving tour.

Tickets are $40. For reservations, call (213) 612-5271.

The home tour will feature the How House (1925) and the Wilson House (1934-35) by Schindler, the VDL House (1933 and 1964) by Neutra, the Scharlin House (1937-39) by Ain, the Hawk House (1939) by Harris and Silvertop (1957-64) by Lautner.

Also on Oct. 3, three of the foremost authorities on American Modernist architecture will speak:

* Lionel March, the former rector of the Royal College of Architecture in England and author of “RM Schindler Composition and Construction.”

* Architectural photographer Julius Shulman, author of “The Photography of Architecture and Design.”

* Robert Winter, professor of history at Occidental College and co-author of “A Guide to Architecture in Los Angeles and Southern California.”

Festival participants will be encouraged to spend Oct. 2 taking a self-guided driving tour of other noteworthy Modernist residential and commercial buildings in Silver Lake. A detailed map and guide have been created for the festival and will be made available with a ticket purchase.