Richard Neutra
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Richard Joseph Neutra (April 8, 1892 – April 16, 1970) is considered one of modernism's most important architects.
Neutra was born in Vienna, Austria in 1892. He studied under Adolf Loos, was influenced by Otto Wagner, and worked for a time in Germany in the studio of Erich Mendelsohn. He moved to the United States by 1923 and became a naturalized citizen in 1929. Neutra worked briefly for Frank Lloyd Wright before accepting an invitation from his close friend and university companion Rudolf Schindler to work and live communally in Schindler's King's Road House in California. Neutra subsequently opened his own practice in Los Angeles with his wife, Dione.
He was famous for the great attention he gave to defining the real needs of his clients, whether he was commissioned to build a simple house or a mansion. This was in contrast with other genial architects, who would often do everything to impose their artistic vision on a client, regardless of what was really needed to create a home. He would sometimes use detailed questionnaires to find out exactly what the owners would need, much to the surprise of many of his clients. His domestic architecture was a blend of Art, landscape and practical comfort.
Neutra had a sharp sense of irony. For example in his autobiography, Life and Shape, he included an anecdote about an anonymous movie producer-client who electrified the moat around the house that Neutra designed for him and had his Persian butler fish out the bodies in the morning and dispose of them in a specially designed incinerator. This was a much embellished account of an actual client, Eric von Sternberg who indeed had a moated house but not an electrified one.
The revival in the mid-90s of mid-century modernism has given new cachet to his work, as it's become (along with Lautner and Schindler's) trophy property for members of the pop culture and media elite like Tom Ford, Kelly Lynch and others. Prices have been topping $4 million for Case Study 20 and $6 million for the Singleton House.
Neutra died in Wuppertal, Germany in 1970.
Neutra's son Dion has kept the office open as "Richard and Dion Neutra Architecture" in Los Angeles.
[edit] Selected works
- Lovell House, 1929, Los Angeles, California.
- Von Sternberg House, 1935, San Fernando Valley.
- Emerson Junior High School, 1938, West Los Angeles, California.
- Strathmore Apartments, 1938, Westwood, Los Angeles, California.
- Kaufman House, 1946, Palm Springs, California.
- Moore House, 1952, Ojai, California. (received AIA award) [1]
- Bond House, 1960, San Diego, California.
- R.J. Neutra Elementary, 1960, Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California (designed in 1929).
- Gettysburg Cyclorama Center, 1962, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
- United States Embassy, 1963, Karachi, Pakistan.
- Kuhns House, 1964, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.
- Delcourt House, 1968-1969, Croix, Nord, France.
- Case Study House programs.
- Ward-Berger House, 1939, Hollywood Hills, CA.
[edit] References
- Hines, Thomas. Richard Neutra and the Search for Modern Architecture.. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
- Neutra, Richard Joseph. Life and Shape. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962.
[edit] External links
- http://www.neutra.org/
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,888091,00.html
- http://www.socalhistory.org/Biographies/neutra.htm
- http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Richard_Neutra.html
- http://davidszondy.com/future/city/neutra.htm
- http://www.isdesignet.com/Magazine/J_F'01/cover.html
- http://www.modernsandiego.com/RichardNeutra.html
- http://www.usc.edu/dept/architecture/shulman/architects/neutra/projects2.html
- http://www.houseind.com/index.php?page=showfont&id=18
- Troxell Residence (LandLiving.com)
- Winkens.ie (Info from the Winkens family with photos)
