By Benjamin Loyaute

In 1989, James Goldstein had his house remodeled by John Lautner in which he introduces "La Domotique" : (Above) Glass veranda in the dining room and an automatic glass fountain-sink; (Right page) The main room is divided into two distinct spaces, the huge glass windows are activated by remote control. (Bottom right) View of Downtown Los Angeles from the Skypace "window", by James Turrell.

Two cops arrive where the crime took place. Pieces of glass from broken champagne glasses are scattered on the floor. A thick yellow ribbon that says: "caution" is wrapped around an unmade bed. You may think you're in a Hollywood studio, but actually you’re at James Goldstein's house, this amazing modern palace. In between two takes and a few make-up touches, someone explains to us that an American TV, channel is shooting a pilot for a future television series. This house is not only rented out to Hollywood film productions but also to rappers and fashion photographers. "Snoop Dogg shot a video here", says James Goldstein, and the photographer, Phillip-Lorca diCorcia immortalized a few cliches.

The Villa used to belong to the Sheats family in 1963. This house became a star mat all the major Production Companies of the West and East coast would constantly fight over. It sits at the top of Benedict Canyon not too far from the Beverly Hills Hotel, where all of Hollywood has at some point at least made an appearance there. Yet the Villa remains Invisible and inaccessible. It was designed by the architect John Lautner and bought by the American millionaire James Goldstein in 1972. The two men love the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright and James decided to have John Lautner remodel all of it. This process has been a very long work in progress integrating the highest technology without ever taking away the spirit of open space and sparsity. In the process of this work of art, the Master's directions were: "A real architecture needs to be constantly evolving. However this transformation should never ridicule anything, with transformation comes the imagination that creates and builds with great freedom, a living space which is completely flexible yet never lacking in grace and sophistication." This three story vessel integrates glass and metal in a concrete structure. John Lautner varies the heights of the ceiling, choosing gigantic glass windows with a view of the pool or the luminous ocean of the city of Angels. The interior design is highly futuristic and reminds us of the Science-fiction genius Isaac Asimov's novels. The atmosphere is minimalist and meditative. All of its lighting is toward the outside, this interpretation of interior-exterior allows the organic to merge with geometry. The garden is entirely redone with over 200 different types of plants imported from all over the world, like Australia, Brazil and China. And in this sort of tropical jungle, open to the California sky, we discover Turrell’s "Skyspace". Lautner had responded to the Sheats family who had wanted to relax under a star filled sky by incorporating 750 water glasses in the roof of the living room. It is also a homage to Mr. Wright: "One of the main things I have learned from him is that you have to think big. If you don't have big ideas and big imagination then there is no architecture..."

James Goldstein continues his journey now in company of James Turrell and Duncan Nicholson, the new architect in charge, after the disappearing of Lautner in 1994. Turrells’ Skyspace" has been finished for a few months, it is built inside of Lautner's bunker and there is nothing ephemeral about it. It is an empty space cradled in multiple colors which are controlled by different tactile screens. A technology that would make the creators of all the James Bond gadgets pale. A meditation space as well as a relaxing free for all space, the Skyspace of the Villa Goldstein is a Dreamcatcher, an Native American object that catches all of your nightmares and sending back to you your most beautiful dreams.

(Above) The intrance of the Skyspace: Automatic door made of metal hiding a James Bond style electro-computer system. (Right) The metal roof of the bunker opens through remote control. (Left page) A system of colors and lights, signed; James Turrell,
(Bottom right) Known as "Chic Hunter, Wild Jim, or Crocodile Dandy" James Goldstein attracts to himself just as many photographer's flashes as his famous Villa does. John Lautner not only designed his Villa but also the offices in Century City.