Von Sternberg House facts for kids

The Von Sternberg House was a unique home designed by a famous architect named Richard Neutra. It was built in 1935 in Northridge, California. This house was special because it was made for the movie director Josef von Sternberg. It sat on a large piece of land, about 13 acres, in the San Fernando Valley. Later, in 1972, the house was taken down. The land then became a place where new homes were built. Before it was demolished, much of the land had been sold. Its final size was about four acres.

A Unique House Design

The Von Sternberg House looked very different from most homes. It had only a few rooms and was not very big inside. It did have some fancy parts, like a special garage for a very expensive car called a Duesenberg. Most homes back then only had one or two garage spots.

Special Features of the House

The outside of the house was made of steel and glass. It had curvy, flowing lines that matched the garden around it. But inside, the rooms were straight and square. This made it easy to place furniture. Richard Neutra often used materials like industrial windows and metal siding. These materials looked cool and also helped with privacy and blocking the wind.

Funny Stories from the Architect

Richard Neutra, the architect, always listened to what his clients wanted. Even if he thought their ideas were a bit strange! He used to tell a funny story about Mr. von Sternberg. The director asked that none of the bathroom doors should have locks. He wanted to stop his party guests from locking themselves inside. Mr. von Sternberg knew a lot about how actors in Hollywood behaved. Neutra also knew many artists.

Famous Owners and Its Fate

In the 1940s, a writer and thinker named Ayn Rand bought the house. She worked in Hollywood as a screenwriter. The house was about 20 miles (32 km) from her job. Even so, Rand and her husband, Frank O'Connor, paid $24,000 for it.

Selling the House

In 1963, Rand and O'Connor sold the house for $175,000. This sale was helped by the person who lived there after Rand. This was an author named Ruth Beebe Hill. She and her husband, Buzzy Hill, rented the house from Rand for many years. Rand had moved to New York by then.

Why the House Was Demolished

The house was bought by the neighbor next door. The day after the Hills moved away, the neighbor had the house torn down. They were worried that "hippies" might trespass or live there without permission.

Documenting the Demolition

Andy Moore lived across the street from the house from 1961 to 1972. He knew the Hills and filmed the demolition of the Von Sternberg House. He used a Super-8 camera for his film, called "Destruction." You can find this film online. Other films by Andy Moore also show the Von Sternberg House in the background. He often visited the house and later helped take care of its grounds.

See also

In Spanish: Casa Von Sternberg para niños