The Glendale Historical Society “Icons Of Architecture” home tour is September 29. One of the featured homes was designed by Richard Neutra (1892-1970). Neutra is known for his Modern or Desert Modern architecture. When you think of sliding glass doors, well, think of Neutra. Neutra came to the US from Austria in 1923 and when you trace his story, you see how nature and the indoors/outdoors idea shaped his style. Here are 7 fun Neutra facts.
- There is a typeface named for him: “Neutraface” designed by Christian Schwartz.
- He admired Frank Lloyd Wright, and named his first son after him.
- He designed and supervised the first documented steel-framed house in America: Lovell House (1931).
- He was the first major architect to design a gas station: Norwalk Service Station in Bakersfield (1947).
- Neutra designed homes in some SoCal cities which might surprise: Camarillo, Bell, Bakersfield, Altadena, Northridge.
- He was once commissioned to design an all aluminum bus by the ALCOA company and White Motors Company of Cleveland. Nothing was produced.
- His homes have had a wide variety of owners, including philosopher Ayn Rand who lived in Von Sternberg House, a Neutra built in Northridge.
- Icons of Architecture on September 29, tickets here: https://glendalehistorical.org/2019-home-tour
- For more info on Neutra, go here: https://neutra.org/
