Neutra VDL Studio and Residences facts for kids
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Richard and Dion Neutra VDL Research House II
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| Location | 2300 Silver Lake Boulevard 2351 Edgewater Terrace Los Angeles, California |
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| Area | 4,200 square feet (lot size) 3,501 square feet (structures) |
| Built | 1932, razed 1963, rebuilt 1964 |
| Architect | Richard Neutra and Dion Neutra |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000774 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 8, 2009 |
| Designated NHL | December 23, 2016 |
The Neutra VDL Studio and Residences is a famous house in Los Angeles, California. It was the home of a well-known architect named Richard Neutra. He designed it with his son, Dion Neutra.
This special house is also known by other names. These include the Neutra Research House and the Van der Leeuw House. Today, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona owns the house. Students and teachers from its College of Environmental Design help take care of it. The house became a part of the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2016.
History of the Neutra VDL House
The original house was built in 1932. It was about 2,000-square-foot (190 m2) in size. Richard Neutra built it for his family to live in. He called it the VDL Research House. This name came from Cees H. Van der Leeuw. He was a rich Dutch businessman who loved architecture. He gave Neutra a loan to build the house.
Neutra, his wife Dione, and their three sons lived there. Richard Neutra also ran his architecture business from the house. Later, he opened a separate office. That office building is also a historic place.
Sadly, a fire destroyed the first house in March 1963. Many of Neutra's important sketches, writings, and books were lost. Neutra's son, Dion, rebuilt the house. He worked with his father to make sure it kept its original shape. Some changes were made to the design. One person said the new house looked "jumpy" but was still interesting.
In 1980, Neutra's wife gave the house to Cal Poly Pomona. It was worth about $207,500 at that time. The university uses it for its architecture students and teachers. The building needed repairs in 2008. A group started raising money to fix it. An architecture company, Marmol Radziner, helped for free. They fixed the roof, a special reflecting pool, and water problems. These repairs helped save the house.
The Unique Design of the VDL House
Richard Neutra wanted to show something important with the VDL Research House. He wanted to prove that modern design could work for everyone. He used natural light and glass walls. These walls opened onto patio gardens. Mirrors also helped make the space feel bigger. The design made the house feel open and connected to the nearby lake.
Neutra wrote about his ideas for the VDL Research House. He believed that many people could live close together. They could still have privacy and feel happy. He built three family spaces on a small lot. It was only about 60 by 70 feet. He made sure there were lots of plants and nice views. People felt free in the VDL house. Everything was planned so different parts of the house did not bother each other. There were many places to be alone.
Neutra was proud that many people visited the house each year. They were often amazed by its clear and calm design. Many famous architects and artists visited the house. These included Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles and Ray Eames. The house was a place for important discussions about design.
One person described the house as a "nimble experiment in urban living." Neutra had a small budget and a tiny piece of land. Yet, he created something special. The small rooms are built around an open staircase. They have simple, built-in furniture. Everything is in calm, neutral colors. The house's strength came from how it used light, water, and air. These elements were meant to create a healthy life.
This house was Neutra's third project in the United States. He built it four years after his Lovell Health House. The VDL Research House became the center of other Neutra-designed homes. These houses are on Argent Place, overlooking Silver Lake.
The house is very close to the Neutra Office Building. This was Neutra's office from 1950 to 1970. That building is also a historic site. You can visit the VDL house on Saturdays. Students from Cal Poly Pomona architecture program give tours. It is the only Neutra-designed house that is regularly open to the public.
