The Legendary Lechner House Designed by Rudolph Schindler | 11600 Amanda Drive

November 19th, 2025 by thehollywoodhome

The Legendary Lechner House Designed by Rudolph Schindler | 11600 Amanda Drive

“The state in which we found the house was, in a word, bleak, so our mission was clear: save it, restore it, and give it a new life for a new century.” – Pamela Shamshiri on her decade-long restoration of Rudolph Schindler’s Lechner House

The 1948–49 Lechner House, designated Los Angeles Historic–Cultural Monument No. 1024, stands as one of Rudolph M. Schindler’s final and most celebrated residential masterpieces—a true architectural treasure that captures a defining voice of California modernism at the height of his powers. Hugging the contours of its rugged canyon site, the tree top house is seamlessly nestled into the rock, a sublime expression of Schindler’s late-career “space architecture,” where structure and landscape merge into a singular, visionary work of Mid-Century Modern design.

11600 Amanda Drive
Studio City, CA 91604

The four-bedroom residence—one of Schindler’s largest single-family commissions—was originally built for Dr. Richard Lechner and his wife, but after their divorce in the 1950s the home passed through a succession of owners and gradually lost much of its Schindlerian spirit. Its renaissance began in 2008, when the ninth owner, designer Pamela Shamshiri—whose portfolio includes the Ace hotels in Palm Springs, Downtown LA, and New Orleans—undertook a nearly decade-long restoration, guided by architectural plans, notes, and vintage photographs unearthed in UC Santa Barbara’s Schindler archives, to return the house to its original vision while introducing quiet, modern refinements for contemporary living.

As Shamshiri put it, “We had to liberate the Schindler within…the house is not merely a Schindler brought back from the near-dead, but a reflection of its owner’s unique aesthetic of streamlined California cool studded with warm, organic touches and high-low wit.” The restoration involved rigorously stripping away generations of white paint from the Douglas fir ceilings and other surfaces, replacing intrusive aluminum windows and canned lighting, and faithfully recreating Schindler’s built-in furniture from the architect’s original drawings and archival photographs.

Although Shamshiri’s earlier renovation notably stopped short of the swimming pool and spa—once described in The New York Times as “awaiting repairs” and, at the time, filled with graffiti rather than water—the restoration is now fully complete: the current owners have carried the project across the finish line with a comprehensive exterior revitalization by the acclaimed architecture studio Escher GuneWardena, new landscaping by Terremoto Landscape, and the revival of the original pool, resulting in a lush environment that feels timeless, soulful, and wholly alive.

Set on a secluded .37-acre parcel at 11600 Amanda Drive, the V-shaped house is hidden from the street behind a tall, thick perimeter wall, yet opens dramatically on its interior side, where expansive glass panes frame soft, pastoral views of Laurel Canyon.

Once inside, it’s undeniable the home perfectly encapsulates Schindler’s genius. The use of organic materials, spatial rhythm, and seamless connection to the landscape were all inspired by Native American cave dwellings. While walls of glass allow the interiors to open dramatically to the outdoors, framing wide, cinematic views of nature.

The distinct residence, with jagged lines and bands of clerestories, was simply designed to take in its verdant outdoor surroundings, allowing for eye-level views of the surrounding tree-tops.

The dining room opens to a tree-topped dining patio. In other areas such as the breakfast nook, interior walls have been replaced with glass to pull the view further inside.

The galley-style kitchen has been expanded and includes stainless steel appliances, custom cabinetry, and great natural light.

The primary bedroom has stunning jetliner views via large picture windows toward the pool and the hillside, ample closet space.

The primary’s ensuite bathroom has a double vanity, make-up area, luxe chrome fixtures, and a custom-built square soaking tub that enjoys views of the garden.

The second, third, and fourth bedrooms each have unique attributes.

These attribues include wood beamed ceilings, private outdoor patio access, and some with built-in desks (a Schindler signature).

Fully restored to its original vision, the Lechner House stands as both a meditative refuge and a vital piece of Los Angeles architectural history.

Schindler, the Austrian-born modernist who shaped so much of the city’s early design language, left his mark on the landscape with landmarks like the Schindler Chase House, the Lovell Beach House, and the Samuel Freeman House—and his genius is felt in every meticulous line and proportion here. Wrapped in a lush tapestry of landscape that frames patios, pathways, and quiet outdoor rooms, the property radiates a rare harmony between architecture and nature. Every surface speaks to craftsmanship and care, every vantage point brilliantly draws the eye back to the canyon.

Interested in purchasing this fantastic home? I would love to get you a private tour of The Lechner House designed by Rudolph Schindler in Studio City. Call me today at (323) 697-3040 or email me at jacqueline.tager@sothebyshomes.com.

Listing provided courtesy of Stefani Schmacker ‘Stolper’ of Sotheby’s International Realty and George E Penner of Compass.

Jacqueline Tager | DRE# 1476997
jacqueline.tager@sothebyshomes.com | (323) 697-3040
Sotheby’s International Realty – Los Feliz Brokerage
1801 N Hillhurst Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027