Volume 1 — 2020 Issue
GRAY ARCHITEC TURE
Volume 1 — 2020 Issue
As a Viennese architect who moved to America in 1923, Richard Neutra began his American design career at a Chicago firm, followed by a stint of working with Frank Lloyd Wright. Soon after, he made his way west and landed in Los Angeles where he dove into a friendly working relationship with Rudolph Schindler, another Viennese architect who also played a large role in developing the architectural scene of the day. Neutra and his wife Dione actually lived with Schindler and his wife at the Kings Road house in L.A. before
After the disastrous fire, that left unscathed only the 1940 Garden house and basement of the original wing, Richard and his son and partner Dion Neutra had a chance to redesign the main house. Two floors and a penthouse solarium were built on the original prefabricated basement structure. They applied what the practice had learned in the interim about sun louvers, water roofs, “nature-near”, and physiologically motivated design.
considering building his own home
Many stories
in the area. After settling into the
It is a place, which could tell many
city, he was able to secure a no-in-
stories. Over a thirty-year period hun-
terest loan to build his family’s home from a Dutch philanthropist by the name of Dr. CH Van Der Leeuw— and so in 1932, VDL was born on the eastern edge of the Silver Lake Reservoir.
that would house his family, another family, and his offices. In 1940 when his family began to grow, he built a garden house at the back of the lot that was connected to the main house by an open courtyard. Today, this section of the residence is home to Sarah Lorenzen, the Chair of the Architecture Department at Cal Poly Pomona who walked us through the house while sharing an abundance of knowledge. She pointed out that Neutra’s three sons—Frank, Dion, Raymond—could
often
be
found running around in the garden house, which had become a dedicated playroom for the time being. Sadly, disaster struck in 1963 when a fire swept through and destroyed the main house, leaving only the garden house and the basement.
Gray Architecture www.grayarchitecture.com Chief Editor: Sydney Elle Gray Chief Creator: Sydney Elle Gray Supervisior: Hyung Park
were designed there. These included the country’s first modern school, many distinguished residences, and important public buildings. At mid sive. In 1949 a Time Magazine cover story characterized him as “second only to lordly Frank Lloyd Wright”. VDL saw the beginning of the careers of architects who came as apprentices to work there from all over the world including, among others Gregory Ain, Raphael Soriano and Donald Wexler. Photographer Julius Shulman’s career started with this office. VDL played host to cultural figures like Frank Lloyd Wright, László Moholy-Nagy, Jorn Utzon, Charles and Ray Eames; religious figures like Robert Schuller and J. Krishnamurti; scientists like Rene Dubos and Linus Pauling; and to political figures and activists like John Anson Ford, Frank Wilkinson and Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
HISTORY
built a glass house on a small lot
and
dreds of projects on four continents
century Neutra’s influence was perva-
With the funds he gathered, he
1
Redesign the main house
THE
THE
ARCHITECT
“It is a place, which could tell many stories.“
Gray Architecture
VDL The Neutra VDL Studio and Residences (1932, 1939, and 1965) of famed modernist architect Richard Neutra is under the stewardship
TODAY
The primary mission
of the College of Environmental Design (ENV) and Department of Architecture (CPP ARC) at Cal Poly Pomona. The primary mission of the College of ENV and CPP ARC with respect to VDL is to use the house as an educational resource for students and faculty, to preserve and maintain the property, to make the house accessible to visitors through tours given by CPP ARC students, and to host arts and culture programs that strengthen the facility’s mission as a community resource. The property and installation is open to visitors on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm.
Since 2008 Since 2008, CPP ARC Professor Sarah Lorenzen has served as its Resident Director managing programming, educating student docents, and overseeing the resoration of the house. In 2010 Sarah began an exhibition program where artists/architects are invited to spend time in residence and to create in-situ installations that respond to the architecture, the period in which the house was built, or the history of Richard Neutra. The artist David Hartwell (Sarah’s husband) is an active participant in the restoration and programming activities at VDL, and is the house’s resident photographer. His work inside and outside of VDL can be seen on his website doublebang.
2
THE
VISITING HOURS
The Neutra VDL House II is open for tours on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm ––– There is no need to contact us ahead of time to make an appointment. Tours are given by Cal Poly Pomona Architecture students and are typically 30 minutes long. There is street parking in front of the house. Last tour starts at 2:30pm. Tours are $15/person for adults, $10 for seniors/students/faculty. Tours are free for children under 15, press, museum curators, and Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty and staff. All proceeds from the tours go towards the maintenance and restoration of the house. Note that we only take credit cards (no cash or checks). Due to Cal Poly Pomona's holiday and exam schedule the Neutra VDL House Is closed some Saturdays. Holidays when VDL is closed include: New Years, Spring Break, Memorial Day weekend, 4th of July weekend, Labor Day weekend, Veterans Day weekend, Thanksgiving, and the December holidays.
January 4 February 8 May 23 July 4 August 29 November 28 December 19 & 26. Note that on February 8 we will be closed from 11-3pm, but we will be open for Shio Kusaka's installation from 3-6pm.
Neutra VDL Studio and Residence, Los Angeles
In 2020, the Neutra VDL House will be closed the following Saturdays:
Gray 2300 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039