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Even casual fans of modernism need no introduction to Richard Neutra. The Austrian-American architect was integral to the popularization of mid-century designs with his forward-thinking structures peppering Southern California. It was almost as if he were using human progress itself as a building material. To see some of Neutra’s most iconic masterpieces, set your coordinates for Palm Springs where he’s a revered star, celebrated most emphatically in the city’s annual Modernism Week. But if you want to see where Neutra lived and worked, then you’re better off driving over to Silver Lake. It’s the neighborhood where his legendary Neutra VDL house still stands to this day.
Even Legends Need Loans Sometimes
Constructed in 1932, the Neutra VDL house was distinguished from other Neutra homes in that the architect himself planned to reside in it along with his rapidly growing family. It’s easy to make the mistake that Neutra, being such a recognizable name, was flush with cash. But he was still early in his career. Thus the Neutra VDL house needed to be built on a strict budget.
Using a $10,000 no-interest loan from one of his earliest believers, the Dutch industrial tycoon Cees H. Van der Leeuw, Neutra developed a design that would accommodate multiple families on a modest 60-foot by 70-foot plot of land across from Silver Lake Reservoir. To pay tribute to his benefactor, Neutra added the initials “VDL” to the property’s moniker. It officially became known as Neutra VDL Studio and Residences.
Life in an Experiment
Neutra treated the design and construction of the Neutra VDL house as an experiment in live-work space efficiency. While the home was constructed in three notable phases (the third as a result of a disastrous fire), it grew to become a 2,000-square-foot monument to intelligent design. But aside from forwarding Neutra’s professional themes and philosophies, it served as the home where he and his wife, Dione, raised their children.
Yet, work was obviously important to Neutra and for nearly two decades, he kept it close. Very close. The Neutra VDL house also doubled as his studio where he’d draft designs, meet with clients, and generally manage his architectural business. This lasted until 1950 when the Neutra Office Building opened just around the corner on Glendale Boulevard.
The Themes Expressed in the Neutra VDL House
At the time of designing the Neutra VDL house, Neutra was growing in prominence for his work on the Lovell House in nearby Los Feliz. But the Lovell House was a sprawling behemoth, measuring 4,800 square feet on a 2.5-acre plot of land. Curious to see his concepts filtered through the idealism of the common man, Neutra challenged himself to apply the same creative concepts explored in the Lovell House within the much stricter confines afforded by the Neutra VDL house.
Unable to rely on material extravagance, Neutra committed himself to utilize natural abundance as a feature. By magnifying the elements, he hoped to show that a healthy appreciation for life was available, even to those on a meager budget. Silver Lake Reservoir itself became something of a feature in Neutra’s design as he purposely used glass walls to take advantage of the sun reflecting off the water’s surface for an abundant source of natural sunlight. He incorporated mirrors to further magnify this brightness, flooding the space with light.
Yet, despite its modest lot size, the glass walls created a profound feeling of openness. An open staircase rose from a ring of tiny bedrooms, accommodating the growing Neutra family. Eventually, the rooftop would accommodate gardens and a balcony for observing the lake. In 1940, further additions to the Neutra family meant a need for expansion. A garden house was completed the same year, featuring a sliding wall that revealed a highly space-efficient mini garden.
The Fire of 1963
In March of 1963, disaster struck the Neutra family. A fire consumed the Neutra VDL house, leaving behind little but the footprint and the garden house addition. Even a fair amount of Neutra’s original sketches were lost in the blaze. But rather than move on, the Neutras decided to rebuild. Neutra himself was in the autumn of his life, so the heavy lifting fell on his son, Dion. Yet the senior Neutra was still active in overseeing the project, even implementing improvements to the original design.
The new and arguably improved Neutra VDL house expanded on the original’s themes. More glass panes were incorporated. Pools of water were strategically placed to build upon Silver Lake Reservoir’s splendor. The staircases were even changed to an open tread design, allowing for that added bit of openness. Under his father’s instruction, Dion added two more floors to the home including a sun-soaked solarium on the penthouse floor. Not all critics agreed that the rebuilt structure matched the cohesiveness of the original’s themes. But it continued to serve as a happy home for the Neutras.
The Cultural Impact of the Neutra VDL House
Still, the Neutra VDL house would always be part home, part experiment. And to that point, it served as a beacon for architects working within the modernist scope. It was common for modernists to make pilgrimages to the home to meet with Neutra or engage in regular onsite salons about the principles of modernism. Notable guests over the decades included:
- Gregory Ain
- Alvaar Alto
- Charles Eames
- Ray Eames
- Harwell Harris
- Raphael Soriano
- Frank Lloyd Wright
The chic modernist look of the home also inspired locals to adopt a similar aesthetic. Neutra was commissioned to create 10 similar homes on nearby Argent Place.
Seeing the Neutra VDL House Today
Until his death in 1970, Richard Neutra continued to live and often work out of the Neutra VDL house. In 1980, Neutra’s widow, Dione, donated the home in full to Cal Poly Pomona where the architectural giant had frequently lectured during his life. Today, it continues to be used as an in-the-field research facility for students of Cal Poly Pomona under the guidance of the school’s College of Environmental Design.
However, considerable funds are required to maintain the condition of the structure. In 2008, a concerted fundraising effort began to bring much-needed repairs to the rapidly deteriorating home. The next year, it officially earned its spot on the National Register of Historic Places. By 2016, it was also declared a National Historic Landmark. The much-needed repairs were conducted pro bono by the Marmol Radziner architectural company, restoring the home to its glory.
Thanks to the efforts of Cal Poly Pomona, the Neutra VDL Studios and Residences make up the only Neutra home with consistent public tours. The school’s architecture students host these tours every Saturday. A $15 admission fee goes directly to the maintenance and upkeep of the property. Not only do guests get to experience the legendary property firsthand, but they are also treated to a rare look at Neutra’s plans and historic photographs as well as a guided oral history of the project. As a side note, you can also see the Neutra Office Building still standing just a few hundred yards away on Glendale Boulevard.
Neutra’s Vision Continues to Outpace Reality
Neutra’s ideas of space-efficient living on a budget turned out to be
too lofty for reality. Even without the Neutra name attached to it, the
idea that a home like the Neutra VDL house would be affordable to the
common man is laughable. Or cryable. But this has less to do with
Neutra’s ingenuity and creativity than our systemic shortcomings. Or
possibly Neutra was so far ahead of his time that we just haven’t caught
up with him yet.
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