Born in Buenos Aires Argentina, Leonardo received a master’s degree in architecture from the Univercidad Nacional de Buenos Aires in 1981. In 1982 Leonardo moved to Los Angeles, a year before the end of a military dictatorship that was ruling Argentina at the time. The regime was conducting a “dirty war” that resulted in the disappearance of approximately 50,000 citizens.

After working for an engineering firm in Burbank, followed by several “pay the bills” jobs, Leonardo opened his own practice doing small remodeling jobs as well as graphic design and art projects. In 1990, after obtaining the California Architect’s license, Leonardo started getting larger commissions and focused his practice on custom residential architecture.

Moving to Silver Lake in 1993, Leonard continued his architectural practice as well as focusing on art projects. More architectural commissions and art shows followed. He started focusing on sustainability on his projects as well as on his own residence, and that led to obtaining a LEED accreditation in 2008.

Since 2003, Leonardo and his partner Michael Saint-Onge have been volunteering for local organizations. While Michael serves as president of the “Friends of the Silver Lake Library”, Leonardo volunteers his time with the “Green Committee of the SL Chamber of commerce,” the local Library, as well as “Sustainable Silver Lake,” an organization dedicated to advance local sustainable issues.

Leonardo presently (2010) serves on the Governing Board of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. He has a strong commitment to the environment as well as interest in public transportation, bicycle advocacy and green communal spaces. On the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, he participates in the Urban Design & Preservation committee and also is part of a group of volunteers working to bring an organic fruit & vegetable community garden at Micheltorena Elementary School, the local Title 1 school, (80% enrollment is by kids of low income families). Construction of the garden began in November 2010 with the demolition of the garden’s asphalt surface.

“I'm interested in projects that encourage communal participation. When there is a need and a group of committed volunteers bringing their individual talents, neither money nor bureaucracy will stand in the way of achieving our goals”.

Interested in Leonardo’s work? Visit www.chalupowicz.com

I took this portrait of Leonardo at the Micheltorena Elementary School in Silver Lake where he has been a key figure in the development of a community garden. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Tags:   Leonardo Chalupowicz

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Yesterday Donna Locke and I had the pleasure of attending the annual Music Box Steps celebrating the film "The Music Box" an hilarious short comedy film starring Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy which won an Oscar for Best Comedy Short Film in 1932. Beginning in 1995 and for every year since, film buffs of every stripe, including members of the International Laurel and Hardy Society (based in Birmingham, England) have made a pilgrimage to a small park in Silver Lake to attend “Music Box Steps Day” a community-organized event that commemorates the film, “The Music Box”, a Laurel and Hardy short film that was filmed on location there back in 1932. The hilarious film depicts the famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy trying to move an upright piano up one of Silver Lake’s steep stair streets located right across Vendome Street.
To our great surprise, Dick Van Dyke, a close personal friend of Stan Laurel made a guest appearance and shared many happy remembrances of his old pal who passed away in 1965, including a poem he read at his memorial service.

Laurel & Hardy Park is located at 900 Vendome Street in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Tags:   Michael Locke Michael Locke, Photographer Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Silver Lake

© All Rights Reserved

Yesterday Donna Locke and I had the pleasure of attending the annual Music Box Steps celebrating the film "The Music Box" an hilarious short comedy film starring Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy which won an Oscar for Best Comedy Short Film in 1932. Beginning in 1995 and for every year since, film buffs of every stripe, including members of the International Laurel and Hardy Society (based in Birmingham, England) have made a pilgrimage to a small park in Silver Lake to attend “Music Box Steps Day” a community-organized event that commemorates the film, “The Music Box”, a Laurel and Hardy short film that was filmed on location there back in 1932. The hilarious film depicts the famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy trying to move an upright piano up one of Silver Lake’s steep stair streets located right across Vendome Street.
To our great surprise, Dick Van Dyke, a close personal friend of Stan Laurel made a guest appearance and shared many happy remembrances of his old pal who passed away in 1965, including a poem he read at his memorial service.

Laurel & Hardy Park is located at 900 Vendome Street in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Tags:   Michael Locke Michael Locke, Photographer Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Silver Lake

© All Rights Reserved

Yesterday Donna Locke and I had the pleasure of attending the annual Music Box Steps celebrating the film "The Music Box" an hilarious short comedy film starring Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy which won an Oscar for Best Comedy Short Film in 1932. Beginning in 1995 and for every year since, film buffs of every stripe, including members of the International Laurel and Hardy Society (based in Birmingham, England) have made a pilgrimage to a small park in Silver Lake to attend “Music Box Steps Day” a community-organized event that commemorates the film, “The Music Box”, a Laurel and Hardy short film that was filmed on location there back in 1932. The hilarious film depicts the famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy trying to move an upright piano up one of Silver Lake’s steep stair streets located right across Vendome Street.
To our great surprise, Dick Van Dyke, a close personal friend of Stan Laurel made a guest appearance and shared many happy remembrances of his old pal who passed away in 1965, including a poem he read at his memorial service.

Laurel & Hardy Park is located at 900 Vendome Street in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Tags:   Michael Locke Michael Locke, Photographer Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Silver Lake

© All Rights Reserved

Yesterday Donna Locke and I had the pleasure of attending the annual Music Box Steps celebrating the film "The Music Box" an hilarious short comedy film starring Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy which won an Oscar for Best Comedy Short Film in 1932. Beginning in 1995 and for every year since, film buffs of every stripe, including members of the International Laurel and Hardy Society (based in Birmingham, England) have made a pilgrimage to a small park in Silver Lake to attend “Music Box Steps Day” a community-organized event that commemorates the film, “The Music Box”, a Laurel and Hardy short film that was filmed on location there back in 1932. The hilarious film depicts the famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy trying to move an upright piano up one of Silver Lake’s steep stair streets located right across Vendome Street.
To our great surprise, Dick Van Dyke, a close personal friend of Stan Laurel made a guest appearance and shared many happy remembrances of his old pal who passed away in 1965, including a poem he read at his memorial service.

Laurel & Hardy Park is located at 900 Vendome Street in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Tags:   Michael Locke Michael Locke, Photographer Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Silver Lake

© All Rights Reserved