The Richard and Dion Neutra VDL Research House II
07.15.04 – 09.09.04
 Photo: Ken McCown
Architect Richard Neutra gave Southern California some of its best modern houses. Recent news articles have covered the demolition, or imminent relocation, of some of these works, including the Maslin house in Rancho Mirage. In contrast, Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Environmental Design has been working to preserve the architect’s own residence, the Neutra VDL Research House II.
An exhibit on the design, construction and history of the house will be held at the A+D Museum (8560 W. Sunset Boulevard) from July 15 through September 9. An opening reception will be held at the museum on August 5, from 6 – 8 pm. The exhibit was co-curated by Lauren Weiss Bricker, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Director of the ENV Archive-Special Collection and Judith Sheine, Chair and Professor of Architecture, with the assistance of Architecture students Omrana Ahmed, Adam Pollonais, Faisal Ali Rajper, Daniel Romero and Ken Wong.
 Photo: Ken McCown  Photo: Ken McCown
Preserving this important house, which has a small endowment, has been a challenge for Cal Poly Pomona. Recently a Preserve LA grant from the Getty allowed Cal Poly Assistant Professor Lauren Weiss Bricker, preservation architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, and former Neutra House director Darin Johnstone to create an historic master plan for the house. This team worked with Cal Poly students to develop a Historic Structures report, a set of measured drawings in conformance with federal standards set by the Historic American Buildings Survey, and a rehabilitation master plan to guide preservation efforts. The Getty planning report estimates a million dollars will be necessary to rehabilitate the house, however, a much smaller amount of funding would make it possible to stabilize the house and prevent further damage caused by structural and water problems that have resulted in some deterioration of interior finishes.
At present, some innovative features of the house are being restored, including the LemLar Sun Louver System on the west façade, under the supervision of current Neutra House director Cal Poly Assistant Professor Ken McCown. The College of Environmental Design has long had an emphasis on sustainable design, which the Neutra house pioneered. With a more recent and growing interest in historic preservation in the College, the house will continue to play an important role in the College and University, as an adjunct to our Archives -Special Collections, which include archives of architects Richard Neutra, Craig Ellwood, Raphael Soriano and Don Wexler. The recent surge in public interest in mid-century modern architecture and its preservation in Southern California has given even more prominence to the Neutra VDL house and the school is committed to preserving it and keeping it available to the public. Currently, tours are available by appointment (for more information, please refer to the website at
www.neutravdl.org) and the College is planning a series of public events in the near future to honor the history of the house and to launch a major fundraising campaign for its preservation for future generations.
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Events + Exhibits 
