William Kesling (born Kessling; 18 October 1899 - 13 October 1983) was an American architect. Kesling's career was divided into two periods: a Los Angeles period spanning from 1934 to 1937, and a San Diego period spanning from 1939 to 1962. During the former period he designed primarily in the Streamline Moderne style, and during the latter in the International Style. Kesling is recognized as one California's most prolific practitioners of Streamline Moderne.
William Kessling was born on 18 October 1899 to Adolph Kessling and Pauline Heissler, both German immigrants. Adolph Kessling (1854-1928) was born in Germany, had left home and moved to Russia at the age of 13, and eventually traveled to the United States, settling in Kansas City where he met and married Pauline Heissler. William Kessling was the fourth of their five children. The Kesslings moved from Kansas City to Brenham, Texas, where they owned a ranch, slaughterhouse, and butcher shop. In 1911, Adolph and his eldest son left the family without notice. In 1916, however, Adolph contacted his family and informed them that he was living in Calexico, California, where he owned another cattle operation and invited the family to join him. Pauline, with the four children, moved to Calexico and began working with Adolph while maintaining a separate residence. In the 1920s Adolph again left the family to look for gold in the Mojave Desert. He died in 1928 after falling off of a precipice.
Following the First World War, William Kessling moved to Los Angeles and worked as a carpenter, eventually working his way up to superintendent within the Jarboe Construction Company. In the late 1920s he changed the spelling of his last name to "Kesling" and in 1926 married Ehrma Williams (1903-1993). Around this time Kesling left his job with Jarboe and formed his own contracting company.
In the early part of 1934, Kesling founded his company Kesling Modern Structures and began designing affordable modern houses. His first project was begun that summer and completed in 1935. For the next two years, Kesling remained extremely busy, designing and building an extensive body of houses for clients including Hollywood actor Wallace Beery. During this time Kesling designed and built one of the largest oeuvres of Streamline-Moderne houses by a single architect. Arguably his most iconic houses from this period were the Vanderpool Residence and Skinner Residence, located side-by-side on Easterly Terrace in Los Angeles's Silver Lake neighborhood. In November 1936 Kesling was arrested on fraud charges, and in March 1937 was sentenced to two years probation, during which time he was disallowed from working in the building business.
In 1939, after his probation was finished, Kesling moved to La Jolla to start his business over. Throughout the Second World War he designed prefabricated houses and by the late 1940s was again designing privately commissioned houses. Perhaps his most iconic work from this period was a cliff-side house he designed for Walton McConnell. Photographs of the house taken by Julius Shulman were featured in a 1947 issue of Life.[1]
In the early 1960s Kesling had again gotten into financial trouble and in 1962 was forced to sell his business and assets. For the rest of his career, he worked odd handy-man jobs. Kesling died on 13 October 1983, five days short of his 84th birthday.
Legacyedit
Kesling's work was largely unappreciated during his lifetime and forgotten after his retirement. In the 21st century, however, Kesling's buildings have gained a new-found popularity and widespread recognition. Kesling houses now command high sale prices and are desirable due to their historic and aesthetic importance. Among those who own Kesling works is actor Jay Huguley, who lives in Kesling's Wilson Residence.[2] In 2021, the Estes House was listed for $2 million.[3]
Pascal, Patrick. Kesling Modern Structures: Popularizing Modern Design in Southern California 1934-1962. Los Angeles: Balcony Press, 2002.
Referencesedit
^"Life Visits a Cliffside House." Life, 3 November 1947, pp. 154-160.
^"'12 Years a Slave' actor Jay Huguley at home in Kesling design". Los Angeles Times. 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
^Woo, Jen (2021-09-02). "Estes Residence by William Kesling". Dwell. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
^"756 N HARPER AVE". Historic Places L.A. City of Los Angeles. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
January 01, 1970
william, kesling, born, kessling, october, 1899, october, 1983, american, architect, kesling, career, divided, into, periods, angeles, period, spanning, from, 1934, 1937, diego, period, spanning, from, 1939, 1962, during, former, period, designed, primarily, s. William Kesling born Kessling 18 October 1899 13 October 1983 was an American architect Kesling s career was divided into two periods a Los Angeles period spanning from 1934 to 1937 and a San Diego period spanning from 1939 to 1962 During the former period he designed primarily in the Streamline Moderne style and during the latter in the International Style Kesling is recognized as one California s most prolific practitioners of Streamline Moderne William KeslingBorn 1899 10 18 18 October 1899Kansas CityDied13 October 1983 1983 10 13 aged 83 NationalityAmericanOccupationArchitectSpouseEhrma Williams m 1926 wbr Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Works 4 Further reading 5 ReferencesBiography editWilliam Kessling was born on 18 October 1899 to Adolph Kessling and Pauline Heissler both German immigrants Adolph Kessling 1854 1928 was born in Germany had left home and moved to Russia at the age of 13 and eventually traveled to the United States settling in Kansas City where he met and married Pauline Heissler William Kessling was the fourth of their five children The Kesslings moved from Kansas City to Brenham Texas where they owned a ranch slaughterhouse and butcher shop In 1911 Adolph and his eldest son left the family without notice In 1916 however Adolph contacted his family and informed them that he was living in Calexico California where he owned another cattle operation and invited the family to join him Pauline with the four children moved to Calexico and began working with Adolph while maintaining a separate residence In the 1920s Adolph again left the family to look for gold in the Mojave Desert He died in 1928 after falling off of a precipice Following the First World War William Kessling moved to Los Angeles and worked as a carpenter eventually working his way up to superintendent within the Jarboe Construction Company In the late 1920s he changed the spelling of his last name to Kesling and in 1926 married Ehrma Williams 1903 1993 Around this time Kesling left his job with Jarboe and formed his own contracting company In the early part of 1934 Kesling founded his company Kesling Modern Structures and began designing affordable modern houses His first project was begun that summer and completed in 1935 For the next two years Kesling remained extremely busy designing and building an extensive body of houses for clients including Hollywood actor Wallace Beery During this time Kesling designed and built one of the largest oeuvres of Streamline Moderne houses by a single architect Arguably his most iconic houses from this period were the Vanderpool Residence and Skinner Residence located side by side on Easterly Terrace in Los Angeles s Silver Lake neighborhood In November 1936 Kesling was arrested on fraud charges and in March 1937 was sentenced to two years probation during which time he was disallowed from working in the building business In 1939 after his probation was finished Kesling moved to La Jolla to start his business over Throughout the Second World War he designed prefabricated houses and by the late 1940s was again designing privately commissioned houses Perhaps his most iconic work from this period was a cliff side house he designed for Walton McConnell Photographs of the house taken by Julius Shulman were featured in a 1947 issue of Life 1 In the early 1960s Kesling had again gotten into financial trouble and in 1962 was forced to sell his business and assets For the rest of his career he worked odd handy man jobs Kesling died on 13 October 1983 five days short of his 84th birthday Legacy editKesling s work was largely unappreciated during his lifetime and forgotten after his retirement In the 21st century however Kesling s buildings have gained a new found popularity and widespread recognition Kesling houses now command high sale prices and are desirable due to their historic and aesthetic importance Among those who own Kesling works is actor Jay Huguley who lives in Kesling s Wilson Residence 2 In 2021 the Estes House was listed for 2 million 3 Works editName City Address Year Model Home Los Angeles 1519 North Easterly Terrace 1935 Johnstone Residence Los Angeles 3311 Lowry Road 1935 Hough Residence Los Angeles 2808 West Effie Street 1935 Estes Residence Los Angeles 3817 Broadlawn Drive 1936 Kesling Modern Structures Office Los Angeles 7522 Girard Avenue 1936 Collins Residence Los Angeles 1709 Silverwood Terrace 1936 Vanderpool Residence Los Angeles 1536 North Easterly Terrace 1936 Vernon Residence Los Angeles 11575 Otsego Street 1936 Wilson Residence Los Angeles 1831 Fanning Street 1936 Kaplan Residence Los Angeles 1827 Fanning Street 1936 Evans Triplex Los Angeles 1615 1617 Rendell Place 1936 Dill Residence Los Angeles 4437 Vista del Monte 1936 Beery Residence Los Angeles 947 North Martel Avenue 1936 Beery Duplex Los Angeles 756 Harper Avenue 1936 4 Skinner Residence Los Angeles 1530 North Easterly Terrace 1936 Adams Residence Los Angeles 3217 Fernwood Avenue 1937 Rivero Residence West Hollywood 1347 Miller Drive 1937 Ulm Residence Los Angeles 3606 Amesbury Road 1937 Kibbe Residence Los Angeles 1495 Easterly Terrace 1937 Unknown Pasadena 412 Glen Holly Drive 1937 Kaysor Residence La Jolla 1942 King Residence La Jolla 8208 Paseo Del Ocaso 1947 Gamson Residence La Jolla 1947 Ingle Residence La Jolla 5819 Beaumont Street 1947 McConnell Residence La Jolla 1890 Spindrift Drive 1947 Jamar Dining Room La Jolla 5786 La Jolla Boulevard 1948 Borrego Springs Desert Club Borrego Springs 401 Tilting T Drive 1948 Borrego Springs Mercantile Building Borrego Springs 665 Palm Canyon Drive 1948Further reading editPascal Patrick Kesling Modern Structures Popularizing Modern Design in Southern California 1934 1962 Los Angeles Balcony Press 2002 References edit Life Visits a Cliffside House Life 3 November 1947 pp 154 160 12 Years a Slave actor Jay Huguley at home in Kesling design Los Angeles Times 2013 10 19 Retrieved 2021 12 02 Woo Jen 2021 09 02 Estes Residence by William Kesling Dwell Retrieved 2021 12 02 756 N HARPER AVE Historic Places L A City of Los Angeles Retrieved 25 December 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Kesling amp oldid 1173579790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
