INSTITUTE PROJECTS Speech for March 24, 2002

This is the last event of our 'Sundays in March with the Neutras' series. Welcome.

In these remarks I'll give you an overview of current Institute projects, the status of the firm, and counsel with you on the future of both.

Let me start with the firm. I'm more active now than I've been for years. I'm in the process of forming joint ventures wherever the projects are in the hopes of building up a cadre of like-minded professionals who together may be able to continue on the Neutra spirit in some form after I've decided no longer to take on new work. I'd like to be able to refer work to these architects.

Current projects include work in the bay area, Switzerland, the east and right here in Silverlake; a healthy mix of interesting work. Just the other day, I've signed on to a restoration project for the famed Lovell Health House. The building is now nearly 75 years old itself, and as my dad would have said, "It's long since outlived its amortization period!" Next week we embark on a search for corporate sponsors; funds are tight and there is much to repair and replace.

I'm thinking the Institute may be a viable way to continue the spirit of the Neutra practice and philosophy. I'm in the process of developing a list of parties who profess interest in the aims and purposes of the Institute. Once we get them enrolled we ask them to review the overall list of Institute projects or propose ones of their own. We rely entirely on volunteer effort to move these projects forward.

Before discussing some current Institute projects, I want to pause for a moment to recognize our current board members who are present. The Institute was formed in 1962 by admirer's of the Neutra firm and the philosophy that it represents. Over the years there have been numerous presidents and board members. Today we recognize those in office in this period.

Our president, Ted Leutzinger, is a former insurance executive, having worked for years for John Hancock. I met him maybe 50 years ago now, when he conducted a reading club where we were to read a new book each month and discuss it at a meetings.

Our Chief Financial Officer and sometimes secretary is Charlotte Croson. Charlotte has been my tenant now for 25 years. She was a practicing junior high English teacher for most of those years in the Glendale system, having retired a few years ago.

Charlotte Ahaus-Gill has been my friend for at least 10 years now. She works for the MTA in their marketting department. She is vice president.

Ted and Charlotte are celebrating 20 years on the board. Charl #2 celebrates 10 years of service this year! Would you all please rise to receive our applause?

On this occasion, I'd like to signify the gratefulness of the Institute to Ted with the presentation of this small token of our appreciation and a memento of this auspicious occasion. Please join me in showing our appreciate for these steadfast supporters as we welcome Ted to come forward to receive his award and make a few remarks!

Here are a smattering of recently created Institute projects within the past couple of years:

2000-01: 75th Anniversary Reunion: Institute sponsors a celebration for the
75th anniversary of the founding of the Neutra firm in LA,as well as Dion's personal birthday in 1926.

To commemorate these occasions original clients, new owners, contractors, draftspersons, and others with a connection to the Neutra firm were invited. Held Sunday, April 8, and Saturday, October 6, 2001

Fall out from these events are the building of data bases for those involved in years past.

2000-02: Lost Neutra Project: Photos of existing conditions to compare with what those pristine images looked like.

2000-03: Student Scholarship Program We award worthy students support to further their goals.

2001-01: Documentary Film: recordation of the 75th anniversary reunion and a history of the firm. Awaiting funding. Need help in that area.

2001-02: Preservation Strategies We explore methodologies that could save historic structures from attack or destruction.

2001-03 Institute Membership Roster: E- and S-mail; data bases.

2001-04: Institute E-Zine Project For now, I'm writing these, but could use help.

2001-05: JPL Article-The Ultimate CAD program Inspired by a meeting at Cal Tech's JPL labs. The article is final form; needs a venue to publish it.

2001-06: Patients' REAL Bill of Rights [How to get bills through Congress that would level the playing field for alternative approaches to cures.]

2001-07: NeutraFace: A custom type font Program with House Industries.

2001-08: Neutra Family Tree. Trace influences from Neutra practice on design community. Trace early firm participants where we've lost track.

2001-09: "The Food Revolution" Today's equivalent of STD; book by John Robbins. also Baker-Laporte's "RX for a Healthy House". Modern day successors to the seminal book by RJN, Survival Through Design. We have copies for sale here at this event.

2001-10: "The Neutras-Then and Later" New book project with Gibbs-Smith Publishers. Traces history of representative Neutra Projects to present.

2001-11: "Sundays in March with the Neutras" a month long exhibition of Neutra sketches, an auction of travel sketches, the first display of the new edition of the Neutra 'Boomerang Chair', the NeutraFace fonts, and two lamps from Italy based on Neutra designs.

Ideas:

An Advisory Committee; sign up and let's hear your thoughts. We have about two dozen volunteers signed on so far. An idea that might help perpetuate the Institute over time. Committee members have the opportunity to relate to Institute projects that turn them on. I interact with them to inspire them.

Annual meetings; once in spring like this; another in fall with the annual board meeting. The committee reports on progress with its projects.

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