Richard Neutra

Architect and writer, born in Vienna, Austria. He emigrated to the USA (1923) and, working with R M Schindler and also alone, he designed uncompromisingly Modernist houses and schools, mostly in California, incorporating such innovations as steel framing, as for Lovell (Health) House (1929), Los Angeles. Later, with Robert Alexander (1949–mid-1960s), he tackled larger public projects. His books include Survival Through Design (1954), which promoted ‘biorealism’, a balance among buildings, people, and the environment.

Richard Joseph Neutra (April 8, 1892 – April 16, 1970) is considered one of modernism's most important architects.

Neutra was born in Vienna, Austria in 1892. Neutra worked briefly for Frank Lloyd Wright before accepting an invitation from his close friend and university companion Rudolf Schindler to work and live communally in Schindler's King's Road House in California.

He was famous for the great attention he gave to defining the real needs of his clients, whether he was commissioned to build a simple house or a mansion. For example in his autobiography, Life and Shape, he included an anecdote about an anonymous movie producer-client who electrified the moat around the house that Neutra designed for him and had his Persian butler fish out the bodies in the morning and dispose of them in a specially designed incinerator. This was a much embellished account of an actual client, Eric von Sternberg who indeed had a moated house but not an electrified one. Prices have been topping $4 million for Case Study 20 and $6 million for the Singleton House.

Neutra died in Wuppertal, Germany in 1970.

Neutra's son Dion has kept the office open as "Richard and Dion Neutra Architecture" in Los Angeles.

Neutra's works include:

Lovell House, 1929, Los Angeles, California. Von Sternberg House, 1935, San Fernando Valley. Kaufman House, 1946, Palm Springs, California. Moore House, 1952, Ojai, California. (received AIA award) Bond House, 1960, San Diego, California. Neutra Elementary, 1960, Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California (designed in 1929). Kuhns House, 1964, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California. Delcourt House, 1968-1969, Croix, Nord, France. Case Study House programs. Ward-Berger House, 1939, Hollywood Hills, CA.