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Collection by Erika Heet

Years of Neutra Architecture

To celebrate 85 years of architecture courtesy of Richard Neutra and his architect son, Dion, who has kept the Neutra practice alive since his father’s death in 1970, a series of events took place in Los Angeles over the weekend, many at the Neutra-designed 1954 Eagle Rock Recreation Center.

Dion Neutra greeted guests at the recreation center Friday, for dinner and a movie on the occasion of his father’s 119th birthday. Saturday he led a symposium on followers of famous design fathers and mentors with Eric Lloyd Wright, Helena Arahuete, Gail Kennard and Karl Whitmarsh. In the afternoon, he hosted a roundtable with Neutra collaborators and owners. As part of an all-day tour of Neutra buildings on Sunday, Dion Neutra opened the doors to his own home in Silver Lake, where he runs his firm and the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design, which is dedicated to the preservation of Neutra architecture, and the proliferation of the Neutra firm ethic. “We found that the original owners of Neutra buildings were dying off and selling, and we were reaching the end of an era,” he says. “We are continually researching techniques to ensure the survival of these buildings…these owners preside over icons of history.”

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The Eagle Rock Recreation Center today; areas that had been sheathed completely in glass have been walled up and wire-mesh screened. The upper roof beyond tops an indoor basketball court, and a well-utilized park now surrounds the building. Photo by Erika Heet.
The Eagle Rock Recreation Center today; areas that had been sheathed completely in glass have been walled up and wire-mesh screened. The upper roof beyond tops an indoor basketball court, and a well-utilized park now surrounds the building. Photo by Erika Heet.
The recreation center, which still bears its mid-century modern lettering, barely escaped the wrecking ball in 2001. It was recognized in an L.A. City Council proclamation issued during the events, on the building’s 57th anniversary, as “the only surviving example, worldwide, of Neutra design for this kind of facility.” Photo by Erika Heet.
The recreation center, which still bears its mid-century modern lettering, barely escaped the wrecking ball in 2001. It was recognized in an L.A. City Council proclamation issued during the events, on the building’s 57th anniversary, as “the only surviving example, worldwide, of Neutra design for this kind of facility.” Photo by Erika Heet.
Though in need of some restoration, the Recreation Center retains its original structure, including its slide-up walls and exaggeratedly extended I beams, a Neutra signature. Photo by Erika Heet.
Though in need of some restoration, the Recreation Center retains its original structure, including its slide-up walls and exaggeratedly extended I beams, a Neutra signature. Photo by Erika Heet.
Dion Neutra speaks to Richard Neutra collaborators, builders, employees and owners at the Eagle Rock Recreation Center. Photo by Erika Heet.
Dion Neutra speaks to Richard Neutra collaborators, builders, employees and owners at the Eagle Rock Recreation Center. Photo by Erika Heet.
An original Neutra rendering for his VDL II research center in Silver Lake, named for the Dutch philanthropist Dr. CH Van Der Leeuw, who financed the construction. Neutra identified it in his own hand as the “Silver Lake Research House, in the metropolitan middle, Richard J. Neutra.” The sketch was auctioned off at the event. Photo by Erika Heet.
An original Neutra rendering for his VDL II research center in Silver Lake, named for the Dutch philanthropist Dr. CH Van Der Leeuw, who financed the construction. Neutra identified it in his own hand as the “Silver Lake Research House, in the metropolitan middle, Richard J. Neutra.” The sketch was auctioned off at the event. Photo by Erika Heet.
Another rendering from the west side of the VDL II research center, which Richard’s wife and Dion’s mother, Dione, left to the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design. Both father and son collaborated on the ’66 rebuilding, which was part of the tour. Photo by Erika Heet.
Another rendering from the west side of the VDL II research center, which Richard’s wife and Dion’s mother, Dione, left to the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design. Both father and son collaborated on the ’66 rebuilding, which was part of the tour. Photo by Erika Heet.
Free Transform, Bush, Daylight Balanced
Free Transform, Bush, Daylight Balanced
Free Transform, HDR, Daylight Balanced
Free Transform, HDR, Daylight Balanced
Another stop on the tour was Neutra’s Ohara house, built 1959–1961 and now owned and faithfully kept up by designer David Netto.
Another stop on the tour was Neutra’s Ohara house, built 1959–1961 and now owned and faithfully kept up by designer David Netto.
The owners of the 1929 Lovell Health house agreed to a rare tour of their home as part of the 85th anniversary celebration.
The owners of the 1929 Lovell Health house agreed to a rare tour of their home as part of the 85th anniversary celebration.