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Neutra was born in
Vienna in 1892, and emigrated to the US in 1929. The
architecture of Vienna left a sense of richness and
elegance that was to emerge in his mature work, but in
entirely new forms. In southern California Neutra
developed an especially appropriate regional
architecture, adding a new dimension and direction to the
several regional design systems in that area. His motifs,
based on simple post and beam construction, were
decidedly modern. In residential architecture, with its
range of design demands, his design philosophy came into
its full range.
Neutra's house for Dr. P.M. Lovell, built in 1928,
brought him international recognition. He called it the
Health House because, beyond having a
differentiated outdoor play and recreation areas, the
structure is brought into a close relationship with the
health factors of nature. Located on a landscaped,
steeply-terraced hill, it has views of the Pacific Ocean,
the Santa Monica mountains, and at night the city of Los
Angeles illuminated in the foreground. Recently the house
was featured in the film LA Confidential.
From Neutra's many outstanding residences, two present
themselves boldly in his adopted California: the Desert
House designed in 1946 for Edgar Kaufmann, set in the hot
arid desert surrounding Palm Springs, and two years
later, the Tremaine House in the sweeping, tree-shaded,
rock-strewn meadowland of Montecito. Both have pinwheel
plans with the living-dining area at the hub; wings of
one-room depth, designed to obtain natural light with
views on at least two exposures, extend outwards and open
to terraces and patios that in turn merge into the rich
garden landscape. They respond quite lyrically to their
natural surroundings, without ever compromising their
architectonic integrity.
Neutra believed that the architect should strive for a
response to space and time that may be only fleeting, yet
in its intensity becomes truly memorable. Both houses
have such: a chance reflection in the pool, or glass in
shadow; the roof hovering above the sunset, or the rustle
of leaves.
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