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Directions to Dion's Studio
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Neutra Elegant Living
Neutra Lofts
in Los Angeles
The loft phenomenon is one of the most interesting movements in contemporary
life style and architecture. Its goal is to design domestic spaces in
structures originally constructed for industrial uses.
Following our firm's philosophy, we attempt to design a special category
of lofts, hoping the client does not make a mistake when buying and
reconstructing these spaces. Based on Bauhaus considerations and our
International Style principles, we continue to apply biorealism and
transform this important concept into biometabolic: the conversion of
structures into practical elements of circulation zones and personal
activity.
In addition, we apply the defined aspects of realness: presence, significance,
materiality and emptiness (For An Architecture of Reality, Michael Benedikt,
Lumen Books, 1987).
A building with presence is not apologetic, but asserts itself as architecture,
having a right to be there, to take up its position as a new entity
in the physical world. An object or building with presence has a shine,
a sensuousness, a symmetry to it. It waits for our return. In Neutra
lofts, these conditions are met by paying attention to circulation access
zones and built in open spaces with contours and edges.
Significant buildings, real buildings, are achieved rather than provided.
They are built over time by someone rather than arriving all but ready-made
by strangers. Thus, we should not be surprised that most important lofts,
and how often anonymous buildings, are provided by government and corporations,
usually neglected, vandalized, or just suffered and ignored.
Materiality derives from the speed, economy and formal freedom with
which walls and ceilings can be made. Be aware of 'fake' materials that
suggest solidity and consistency of material throughout the piece. Most
plastic veneers are doubly fake; they disguise not only the lack of
correspondence between surface and interior, but also the nature of
the material in the first place, like a decoy. In Adolf Loos' essays,
we found some practical principles: look for the thickness of the veneer,
the hollowness of the gypsum-board walls, the marvel of formica marble,
the freedom and power of paint.
Emptiness has a connotation of silence, clarity and transparency in
the clean lines and open spaces, and surely, is the most difficult component
of realness. It denotes innocence and intention.
For architecture, emptiness, implies that a building should not be
a slave to its program (such as most generic programs of gentrification
in Los Angeles), turning to accomodate high-income people, squirming
to please affluent people, but rather should be formed according to
innate principles of order, structure, shelter. It should be found beautiful
and useful, like a tree. They seem 'better' than anything we could design
from scratch, and that is why, increasingly, we like them.
The Neutra firm invites the exploration of these principles and to
stamp our logo and name, our promise is infinite, it is the promise
of life.
(More views coming soon in Gallery!)
Design and Vision by Reuben A. McDavid, Associate Creative Director,
Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design. 2006. All rights reserved.
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