Unique Homes Blog

By Ken Weingartner

A Hollywood ‘Romantic’

This architect views his art as a harmonious experience.

When a client brings an idea to architect Lewin Wertheimer, it is music to his ears.

“It’s such a great gift to bond with someone whose home I’m designing,” says Wertheimer, whose Venice, California-based firm has worked for numerous Hollywood elite. “When that client has something wonderful to offer that wasn’t apparent, it’s great. I’m not a dictator; I’m more the conductor of an orchestra. I’m there to kind of take a piece of music and figure out how to put the orchestra together to make it sound wonderful.”

Wertheimer was born in Los Angeles, but spent his teen years in southern Spain. He studied architecture in Madrid before transferring to USC. He also studied a year in Florence, Italy.

“When I was in Spain, we lived in an Andalucian fishing village and I loved the diversity of forms and shapes with the simplicity of materials,” says Wertheimer. “I guess the word ‘romantic’ comes into play in the way I think about forms and shapes. I like for things to have a very human scale and to be inviting and comfortable. That stretches to whatever style we’re working with.”

Wertheimer never considered a career in architecture until he graduated high school and a friend’s mother, who had seen his drawings of landscapes and buildings over the years, suggested it.

“A light bulb kind of went off; it sounded pretty interesting,” says Wertheimer. “The process is such a joy. The clients make every project different and fresh. Every client is unique and we’re designing what very often is their dream home. It’s very exciting to see our work being built.”

Just like creating a great piece of music.

“There is rhythm and consistency in the mathematics of music and the mathematics of architecture,” says Wertheimer. “I think there are definite parallels.”

• With two decades of design experience, Lewin Wertheimer views his works as the results of passion, detail, collaboration and environment.

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Still Making A Difference

Salt Lake City’s mayor turns to real estate for her post-political career.

During her two terms as Salt Lake City’s mayor, Deedee Corradini got to experience running a community. As part of her new career in real estate, she has seen what it is like to build one.

Corradini, the senior vice president of corporate development for Prudential Utah Real Estate, was involved in marketing and selling Huntsman Springs, a 1,350-acre residential development, with a 500-acre wildlife refuge, in Idaho’s Teton Valley. She also helps executives relocating to Salt Lake City or Park City as part of her duties with Prudential.

“When I was mayor, I wanted our city to be first class and did whatever I could to enhance it,” says Corradini, who was Salt Lake City’s mayor from 1992 to 2000. “To be part of building a new community, only from the real estate side, was very exciting.”

Corradini’s accomplishments as Salt Lake City’s first female mayor included the creation of a light-rail system, the redevelopment of the downtown Gateway District, and leading the effort to land the 2002 Winter Olympics. She also mentored teens and developed a late-night basketball league to reduce gang violence.

“I have people who come up and thank me for what we did and tell me they turned their lives around,” says Corradini. “My time as mayor was eight years of the most challenging, but exciting, times of my life. I’m very proud of having an impact and making changes for the good; not only as mayor, but in my life and the lives of others.”

Born in Rhode Island, Corradini spent most of her early childhood in Lebanon and Syria – her father was on the faculty at the American University of Beirut as well as president of two colleges in the Middle East – before moving back to the U.S. at the age of 14.

“I was raised by parents who always who gave of themselves a tremendous amount,” says Corradini. “I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be of service and give back. That’s what I’ve tried to do my entire life.”

In addition to working in real estate, Corradini is vice president of the International Women’s Forum, which has chapters in 23 countries and seeks to empower female leaders and professionals. She also is president of Women’s Ski Jumping USA and is leading the push for the sport to become an Olympic event.

“I’m very proud of those types of things, that you can make a difference in other people’s lives,” says Corradini.

“I think in real estate you can make a difference as well. Buying a home is a very personal life event. It’s wonderful to be able to help. I get involved in the relocation of executives moving to Salt Lake City or Park City. That’s a major life change for people and I love helping and showing off our area. For quality of life, you can’t beat Salt Lake City if you’re an outdoors person; hiking, biking, skiing. It’s a phenomenal place.”

• Deedee Corradini mentored teens and developed a late-night basketball league to reduce gang violence while Salt Lake City’s mayor.

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