Homes of architect Richard Neutra - Los Angeles Times
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Homes of architect Richard Neutra

The Richard Neutra VDL Research House II, the fabled glass box on Silver Lake Boulevard in Los Angeles, faces tough times. The house where midcentury architect Richard Neutra lived and worked has fallen into disrepair, and now the owner, the nonprofit Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, has announced that it might be forced to sell the landmark and close it to the public if supporters can't raise upward of $2 million by the end of next year.

The Richard Neutra VDL Research House II, the fabled glass box on Silver Lake Boulevard in Los Angeles, faces tough times. The house where midcentury architect Richard Neutra lived and worked has fallen into disrepair, and now the owner, the nonprofit Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, has announced that it might be forced to sell the landmark and close it to the public if supporters can’t raise upward of $2 million by the end of next year.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

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New caretakers recently began Saturday tours of the landmark to raise money for its restoration and maintenance.

New caretakers recently began Saturday tours of the landmark to raise money for its restoration and maintenance.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

The mid-1960s design by Neutra and son Dion demonstrates many of the ideas that modern homes still employ today. Here, wide glass doors on the main floor open to the outdoors.

The mid-1960s design by Neutra and son Dion demonstrates many of the ideas that modern homes still employ today. Here, wide glass doors on the main floor open to the outdoors.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

The placement of windows and built-in shelving carefully frames views of nature while shielding the house from neighbors. Part of the house's genius is how it fits 2,100 square feet of living space on a 60-by-70-foot lot without feeling hemmed in by other homes.

The placement of windows and built-in shelving carefully frames views of nature while shielding the house from neighbors. Part of the house’s genius is how it fits 2,100 square feet of living space on a 60-by-70-foot lot without feeling hemmed in by other homes.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

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You could say that architect John Bertram lives and breathes Richard Neutra. In the past decade, he has renovated significant residences by modernist Neutra (1892-1970), one of Southern California's first starchitects. His personal residence is one of Neutra's lesser-known works, the split-level, 900-square-foot McIntosh house, built in 1939 in Silver Lake.

You could say that architect John Bertram lives and breathes Richard Neutra. In the past decade, he has renovated significant residences by modernist Neutra (1892-1970), one of Southern California’s first starchitects. His personal residence is one of Neutra’s lesser-known works, the split-level, 900-square-foot McIntosh house, built in 1939 in Silver Lake.  (Christine House / For The Times)

In her definitive book, "Neutra: The Complete Works," architectural historian Barbara Lamprecht describes Bertram's residence: "This spare, lean house steps back from its quiet Silver Lake street in a series of low, compact volumes wrapped in horizontal redwood siding. The disparity between private and public agendas is extreme: the house is irrevocably closed to the public and exuberantly open on the view side."

In her definitive book, “Neutra: The Complete Works,” architectural historian Barbara Lamprecht describes Bertram’s residence: “This spare, lean house steps back from its quiet Silver Lake street in a series of low, compact volumes wrapped in horizontal redwood siding. The disparity between private and public agendas is extreme: the house is irrevocably closed to the public and exuberantly open on the view side.”  (Christine House / For The Times)

Bertram, left, stands on the front porch with his wife, the actress and writer Ann Magnuson. She purchased the house after the 1992 Los Angeles riots. "The area was still dicey then, but the price was right," she says.

Bertram, left, stands on the front porch with his wife, the actress and writer Ann Magnuson. She purchased the house after the 1992 Los Angeles riots. “The area was still dicey then, but the price was right,” she says.  (Christine House / For The Times)

Along with other modernists, Neutra was driven by a desire to bring in as much air and light into a house as he could and unite indoor and outdoor spaces. Bertram likens this room to a conservatory or screened-in porch.

Along with other modernists, Neutra was driven by a desire to bring in as much air and light into a house as he could and unite indoor and outdoor spaces. Bertram likens this room to a conservatory or screened-in porch.  (Christine House / For The Times)

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