About the VDL Research House

Neutra at 75 Introductory Remarks April 8, 2001

Remarks made by Dion Neutra on the occasion of the office reunion celebrating 75 years of practice by the Neutra architectural family; first started by his father and continued on by him since 1970, an additional 31 years to date. The remarks were made on Sunday afternoon, April 8, 2001 at the Neutra Office Building on Glendale Blvd.

Welcome to the first event of Neutra at 75. Today is Richard and Dion Neutra Day in Los Angeles as proclaimed Friday at a council meeting at which we were presented with a proclamation of this honor! We've mounted this on the wall over there. Some honor!

I had the idea of this event last year as the work on the Neutra Complete Works book was nearing an end. I realized that much of what we were illustrating in that tome, had already passed into history. Original owners were selling and dying off, and I was presiding over what appeared to be the end of an era.

I wondered what could be done to save something of this legacy. It occurred to me that the practice would be marking its 75th year in practice in 2001, as would I. I checked the calendar and noted that my dad's 109th birth anniversary fell on Sunday, April 8. What better time to convene a celebration. And so Neutra at 75 was born, and after months of preparation and hundreds of hours of effort, the big day is finally here; WE'RE HERE! And the sun is out!

Settle back in your seats and let me tell you a bit about the background that led up to this day; what it took to create it, and what we hope to accomplish by convening you all here today. I'll conclude by making some introductions, giving greetings by those who could not attend, awarding some prizes and having an auction of three Neutra sketches. We'll try to conclude this by 4:00 so late comers will still have a chance to tour the interiors out in the field.

Last year at this time we commemorated the 30th anniversary of the death of my father Richard Neutra. I was full of hope that this would become the first of a series of open houses for the Research House leading to it's being embraced by the public and creating an atmosphere of support for its restoration. Unfortunately that has yet to be realized. We are again applying to the Getty for planning funds in hope of getting some support ultimately from their "Preserve LA" program. I hope under a new director, there can be ways found to integrate volunteer help on that site to move things forward and to find ways to hold that house open to the public on a reliable and regular schedule.

As mentioned, as we concluded work on the book, I did a rough essay, and concluded that fully a third of all the gorgeous images you see in this book no longer represent what happens at the address given in the book. This is NOT to be used as a guide if you wish to see representative examples of the work.

I determined to see if I could use the occasion of this anniversary to attract as many Neutra owners as possible to come together and form the neucleus of a sort of 'Neutra Community' unified by the notion that they preside over icons of history; the last remaining examples of a remarkable practice. A practice whose work is only now achieving its due recognition, long after it's founder is gone, as is so often the situation. In this case, I have the rare privilege of having lived long enough to witness this on behalf of my father and the firm.

We created a data base of known addresses and names of Neutra owners. By early fall last year, we were ready for our first snail mailing. About a third of these letters came back as undeliverable; many because of the literal mindedness of the postal carriers. We had a second mailing to the failed addresses in November; again a third came back. But we did get notice to a majority of known Neutra addresses. About 10% responded. This method of communication seemed not to have been that successful.

Does this mean people don't care? Who knows. One of the new Institute projects then has to become: "Personal contacting of last known Neutra addresses to complete our Data Base". I have been doing this in the Bay area, and the San Fernando Valley. We are expanding this to the west side and other areas in the LA basin. We need as much help as possible on this, and I welcome volunteers to visit photograph and ring the doorbells of known Neutra buildings.

Another purpose for this celebration is to focus on the Institute as a means of carrying forth into the future the philosophy of the Neutra practice after I have left the scene. There is no official third generation architect standing in the wings to take over the firm as I depart. The only hope is the Institute, which was formed in the 60s and represents the greatest hope for the future of what I'll call 'the Neutra movement'. I would say this movement is characterized by its interest in the application of scientific insights to the built environment with a special emphasis on responsiveness to the needs and health of the user.

I've been trying to attract a cadre of young people to get involved with the activities of this Institute with varying results. All of them have made their mark and helped me immeasurably from time to time. I'd like to mention a group of them by name, alphabetically with apologies for any that I've omitted inadvertently:

Carole Boyajian; Jim Capece; Myriam Fares; Jaeson and Liz Kay; Roel & Traci Kuiper; Richard Longstreth, Christine Madrid; Miltiades Mandros; Nick Matonak; Kari Maijala; Rita Miller; Lorri O'grady; Cindy Olnick; Caroline Pham; Don Reece; Brian and Susan Wakil; my son Nick; nephews Brendan, Matthew and Justin; I'm sure I'm forgetting key people.

These are representatives of the younger generation, some of whom will represent the future of this Institute. Will those of you preset please stand?

I can't leave this without mentioning at this point my late wife Jackie, who would have so enjoyed participating in these festivities. She passed from us just over six months ago from lung cancer. She served on the board of the Institute, and would have been a great asset to it had she lived. A memorial section to her exists on our website.

The Institute's aims and purposes are published on our website: Neutra.org which tracks the various activities in which we are engaged these days. Included is the 'Traveling Exhibition' of which a few sample panels are on display here today. Altogether there are 29 such panels which comprise the show which travels with its custom crate very inexpensively to remote sites. Again, details on the website.

Another program of the Institute newly launched in this year of Neutra at 75 is a scholarship program to support worthy young people who wish to enter the planning field. We will be presenting six of these in June at a lunch in Pasadena. We hope to build on this in the future.

In 1970 just after the death of my father, and long before advent of the internet or microwave transmission, I had a vision. It was that the library of the future would have the technology to reach out and capture knowledge the world over and bring it back in for it's local constituency. I expressed that in my design for the Huntington Beach Library and Resource Center with a microwave tower as part of the design, altho no one yet knew what form that should take. See photos of the study model we made at that time.

We are only now, 30 years later, launching an ambitious program to digitize the Neutra collection at UCLA. We will start with a few pilot projects to ascertain costs, and then apply for grant money to move into a broader coverage. This is a life-time activity of enormous cost, but of potentially great benefit to future researchers. My vision continues to be that someday a person in Australia would have the ability to know what resides in our collection by viewing documents on their home computer instead of packing up and planning a 3-5 day investment of time to come to town and view the original documents at UCLA. We are graced today with the presence of the new director of Special Collections there, Vicki Steele, who will ultimately decide if this program gets implemented or not. Vicki will you stand?

The creation of a Neutra Community similar to what has been done by the Frank Lloyd Wright foundation, is one of our major goals for this year. Enlisting you as new members will enable you to help us achieve this in any way you can imagine. We hope to start publication later this year of an E-zine to be distributed from time to time with news of the Neutra Institute to those with computer capabilities. We need story ideas and case studies pertaining to our program, so please start sending those to us.

Preservation of our work is a metaphor for the situation in the country for the plight of all valuable historic examples. This matter emerges as one of the cornerstones of the Institute's focus. We are researching techniques to assist owners of Neutra buildings to ensure their survival in their authentic form. Included are strategies such as Cultural Monument recognition, preservation easements, reverse mortgages, restrictive covenants. These are some of the methodologies we are exploring for various cases. I continue to offer my services in support of authentic restoration and maintenance of buildings as they age, change ownership and adapt to new situations.

Our architecture has the ability to adapt; sometimes much more than new owners can imagine, but the impulse has to flow from the original source to maintain authenticity. If you have problems to solve, give me an opportunity to consult with you. I don't bite and offer a special discount for my services on Neutra projects!

And now, I'd like to pay homage to those who have passed before, starting with my father who passed away in April of 1970 a week or so after his 78th birthday. Today would have been his 109th birthday anniversary! My mother, Dione, passed away in 1990 having lived happily and productively for an additional 20 years in the Research house after the death of her husband. Her 100th birthday celebration would have been next week, April 14! My wife Jackie celebrated her 70th birthday just a month before she passed last September 30.

As we prepared for this event, I've had many letters of support and regret at not being able to attend. I'll mention a few names of these folks: Revered Robert Schuller, Bernt Jores, architect from Sweden, Bernard Buehler, and Guttersohn, architects from Switzerland, Magda and Zeno Winkens from Ireland, Herbert Everist, client from Sioux City, Iowa, who at 91 was intending to come, but withdrew at the last moment. Ed Killingsworth, architect, of Long Beach, Desmond Henley, draftsperson of England, Stan Elliott, client from Cleveland, Ohio area, Jack and Maurita Clinton of South Africa. Some examples of these are mounted on the walls of this space.

Over these many years there have been draftspersons and collaborators without which the work which we admire today could never have been done. So many of these are now gone, but I wanted to pay homage to them as best we can, even at this late date.

Of the triumverate of Neutra collaborators in the golden years of the 50s and 60s we pay respect to names like Benno Fischer, Sergei Koschin, and John Blanton. Of that group only John survives; I'd like to recognize you John, if you'd stand to be seen. He is veritable walking archive of memories and first-hand experience in regard to many projects over a 20 year association with the office.

Benno just died last year; his widow Agnes was invited; she's spending Passover with her daughter Tessa in Maui. Benno, a camp survivor, too, was associated for over 20 years. Sergei passed away some years ago; I was unable to find his widow.

Others who were to join us from years back include Max Starkman with whom I worked a half century ago in the office; he's been a support ever since on too many levels to even enumerate, but last year his major contribution of $10K to this Institute made it possible to produce the 'Traveling Exhibition', samples of which you see here today. I'm sad to report that Max is in hospital with pneumonia; we all send fervent best wishes for his safe recovery. Would his son stand Rob along with your family? Other support people from that period include Bob Meyerhof, Don Polsky, Don Wexler, Guy Zebert, Cynthia Johnson, widow of Bob, and his daughter ….would those of you here stand to be recognized?

Someone whose name has become synonymous with the Neutra practice over 65 or those 75 years has been the firm's photographer, Julius Shulman, now over 90 years young. Another nonogenarian is Red Marsh, contractor, who built some 24 of the best quality Neutra structures including this building in which we meet. Would you recognize Julius and Red?

An endless list of others is displayed on the five boards we've started on the walls. If you have knowledge of others or can fill in dates or particulars we invite your contribution. It is amazing how many individuals have come through this practice who went on to achieve success on their own. Included are names like Gregory Ain, Harwell Hamilton Harris, Raphael Soriano, C.Day Woodford, Edward Killingsworth,

Others who are here, deserve to be recognized; Frank McNamara, Ron Erland, Glen Jarvis, Paul Wolfe, all draftspersons; who am I missing?

For the oldest Neutra client in attendance; please acknowledge Esther Sommerfeld, MD, psychiatrist who will celebrate her 100th birthday this July 8! She's a shoo in for one of the prizes we have today; 'Oldest Neutra Client to attend this event! My dad consulted with her on a library interior to her Sumner Spaulding house right here in Silverlake in 1946! She told me she just followed a bit of advice dad gave her in that period; "Paint your front door red!" She just did that a couple of years ago; better late than never, right?

Gloria and Don Heryford; John Clark; Josette Crawford Schwind; Janice Atzen; Aida Hafely, Kimi Inadomi, James and Barbara Byrnes …are some of the original clients who commissioned the work starting in the 50s. Other more recent Neutra owners include Frank Devine, Susan Camiel, Ed Barlow and Patrick Convey, Jerry and Alan Katz, Scott Cort, Joyce Syme, John Solomon, Alan Lindgren and Ken Carlsten, are some of the newer owners who are joining in with us on this occasion. Please any of you present do stand.

Our firm has been known for its educational projects since dad's prototypical design for a ringplan school in the 20s. He had designed a host of educational projects from kindergartens to Universities before he finally got the chance to replicate his ring school in the early 60s at a Naval Base in Lemoore, Ca. The project involved many hundreds of navy housing units and a school to support them. The school ultimately became known as the Richard Neutra School, and we have today the visit of the principal of that school until just this past year, please help me to welcome Robert & Lee Marienau all the way from Hanford, Ca.! I might add that the housing units have been demolished, but the school still prevails; let's hope that is not also slated for the wrecking ball!

A cornerstone of our approach to practice has been from the beginning, "What does the user think?" This applies also to the gracious occupants of todays tour venues. These people are those generous souls without whom we would have nothing through which to tour. Some of them are here, but this is the list. Brian Watson, Suzette Belouin and David Hays, Chris and Annie Flanders, Miguel Arteta, Charlotte Croson, Matt and Lynn Leipzig, C.J. And Pat Bonura, Eli Bonerz, Darrin Johnstone of Cal Poly Pomona. If any of you are present, please do stand and let us see you. Thanks so much for sharing your Neutra interiors with us all.

We are today launching a video record of these events which we hope one day will become a full fledged documentary film on the practice. I am co-producing this epic with EJE productions; Elaine Jamon-Escovar, executive producer. Are you here, Elaine? If so, please stand so we can meet you!

We both thank all of you and especially those who are or will be granting us video interviews about your impressions and experiences with the Neutra practice, as well as allowing our cameras to traverse some of your sites.

It occurred to me to devise a series of prizes to award to various categories of visitors.

I. Prize for the oldest surviving original Neutra Client who commissioned a design.
II. Prize for the client who traveled the furthest to join us here today.
III. Prize for the oldest surviving draftsperson or consultant to be here today.
IV. Prize for the newest owner of a Neutra project
V. Prize for the oldest surviving constructor of Neutra projects.

And the winners are!

I. Esther Sommerfeld; a shoo-in at 100 (this July 8)!
II. Josette Crawford from Hillsborough, near San Francisco; Josette is late 70s; a client on whose house in Hillsborough I was project architect on in the early 50s.
III. Richard Bradshaw, Structural Engineer; he's now early 80s.
IV. Tiberio P. Lizza whose escrow on the Wise house in San Pedro just closed last week!
V. Red Marsh, 91, has built some 26 of our structures including this one!

We will get your certificates and prizes to you after this program, and congratulations! Let's give all these winners a big hand?

I consider your presence here a personal recognition to me for the incredible effort that it has taken to put this glorious affair on, and I want to recognize other members of the Neutra family who have journeyed from as far away as New Mexico, to be with us today, Included are my sons Greg, Nick, their mother, Vicki, Greg's wife Joni, my son and daughter Haig and Wendy, my nephew Brendan, and not least my brother Raymond; the latter have come all the way from the bay area; would you all please stand?

My ex-wife Vicki was in labor at this very moment 49 years ago with our eldest, Greg. He was supposed to have arrived yesterday, but when he didn't make it, she tells me she decided by golly he was NOT going to arrive on the same day as his grandfather's birthday! So she hung in with him for another 24 hours and he appeared on April 9, 1952! Let's all give a hand for my eldest son's 49th birthday which we'll celebrate tomorrow!

As we reach the end of this part of our day, let me bring you up to date on the status of some of our preservation efforts on behalf of the Neutra practice. We made a recent run around LA to check the status of Neutra projects. Of four buildings visited, only one could be said to be in any sort of reasonable condition; one was gone entirely, two others were in advanced stages of desecration.

I learned recently that our only major example of public design in the LA civic center has been fenced off; is abandoned, and slated for demolition; that is the LA County Hall of Records of 1962; a project my dad on which lavished nearly five years of effort, to where in the end, Neutra and Alexander along with the other two firms involved who were still around, each had to ante up $5000 to make up the losses for the privilege of being associated with this project, and that was after more than $600K in gross fees; an astronomical amount for those days. Translated, that meant there was actually NO PROFIT for the principals of these firms! I heard recently that the Sheriff may ride out of the west to rescue this building; stay tuned.

The Nelson house in Orinda in pristine condition was slated for demolition. Fortunately the downturn in the market discouraged this course, and these owners put the house back on the market. This time the new owners tell me they have an appreciation and may preserve this rare example. A similar story can be told about many other examples, to where I've thought of a next book which would illustrate what has happened to the pristine images so beautifully presented in the newest blockbuster book which we've taken to calling te 'Big Book' by Taschen, which blithely skips over everything and makes you think you'll see something when you go to the address given in this book. I thought of calling this new book 'Lost Neutra' but people tell me no one wants to publish such a downer subject.

The star story like this still has to be the Gettysburg Cyclorama Center. After three years of effort on the part of scores of dedicated professionals, the National Park Service is still resolute in its plan to demolish our building at its historic site despite the fact that nothing is to be built there to replace it. We are still considering our strategic options in the face of a new national administration. We have had the services of a lobbyist in Washington up to the time of the elections last fall. We need funding to continue this effort into the future.

As our final event of this part of the formal program, we present an opportunity to bid on three original Neutra travel sketch previews. These are unique in that they represent a glimpse of what dad first put down as the general outline of what in most cases he would then further develop and delineate. There are very few if any examples like this where he stopped at this stage of development.

Peter Loughery of LA Modern Auctions who will conduct this auction. You may pay by check. As mentioned, the proceeds of this sale will help us finance our campaign to save the Gettysburg Cyclorama Center. Please give us your support and acquire a unique piece of this practice!

As we reach the end of this formal program, would all of you who we've called Neutra Affiliates please rise to acknowledge the miracle of life and the fact that we've all gathered together for this last time? We thank you all for having made this effort, and invite you to hang around after the touring is over at 6:30 and join in to an informal reception here where we can all schmooze and meet each other. Keep your name tag at the ready, so people can pick you out.

Again, thanks for being here, please enjoy the venues if you haven't already, and see you back here this evening! And now Peter Loughery!

[The auction was very interesting; the first two sketches of structures in Morocco went for just over $350; the reserve that had been set. There was lively bidding for the third, a charming sketch of cows in a field; starting at $200, in increments of $50, it finally sold for just over $2000! This price is commensurate with other travel sketches that have been appraised in past years!]

Dion Neutra is principal of Richard and Dion Neutra, Architects and Associates, the Los Angeles firm founded by Richard Neutra in the early 1920s. He has continued the practice since the death of his father in 1970. He can be reached at 2440 Neutra Place, Los Angeles, CA 90039-3141; phone/fax (323) 666-1806, e-mail dion@neutra.org.

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