Barbara Lamprecht - Böcker

In the architecture of Richard Neutra (1892–1970), inside and outside find their perfect modernist harmony. As the Californian sun glints off sleek building surfaces, vast glass panel walls allow panoramic views over mountains, gardens, palm trees, and pools.Neutra moved to the United States from his native Vienna in 1923 and settled in Los Angeles. He displayed his affinity with architectural settings early on with the Lovell House, set on a landscaped hill with views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains. Later projects such as the Kaufmann House and Nesbitt House would continue this blend of art, landscape, and living comfort, with Neutra’s clients often receiving detailed questionnaires to define their precise needs.This richly illustrated architect introduction presents the defining projects of Neutra’s career. As crisp structures nestle amid natural wonders, we celebrate a particularly holistic brand of modernism which incorporated the ragged lines and changing colors of nature as much as the pared down geometries of the International Style.

Originally from Vienna, Richard Neutra came to America early in his career, settling in California. His influence on postwar architecture is undisputed, the sunny climate and rich landscape being particularly suited to his cool, sleek modern style.Neutra had a keen appreciation for the relationship between people and nature; his trademark plate glass walls and ceilings which turn into deep overhangs have the effect of connecting the indoors with the outdoors. His ability to incorporate technology, aesthetics, science, and nature into his designs brought him to the forefront of Modernist architecture.In this volume, more than 100 of Neutra’s works (private homes, schools, and public buildings) are gathered together, illustrated by hundreds of photographs, including those of Julius Shulman and other prominent photographers.

Mid-century California wasn’t just a place, it was a mecca for ambitious architects who envisioned new ways of living. Four devotees—two Austrians, one Swiss, and a Midwesterner of Irish-Austrian descent—journeyed to California’s sun-drenched climes, inspired by the raw beauty of the landscape and attracted by clients with deeper pockets and broader horizons, in every sense. This book celebrates their transformational work. Richard Neutra designed homes where glass walls dissolved boundaries between interior and exterior, combining lyrical modernism with total meticulousness—he was known for asking his clients to fill out detailed questionnaires. R. M. Schindler, his lifelong friend and rival, extolled an expressive style he called “space architecture,” using warm materials, complex shapes, and striking colors.Albert Frey saw the Californian landscape as a blank canvas for his “desert modernism,” crafting sleek, elemental structures sympathetic to Palm Springs’ rocky terrain. Committed iconoclast John Lautner eagerly tackled difficult sites, upon which he conjured multilevel living spaces, using pioneering materials and panoramic expanses of plate glass. Meanwhile, the Case Study House program sought to democratize modernism—inviting talents like Craig Ellwood, Charles and Ray Eames, and Pierre Koenig to create elegant, efficient, replicable homes to meet the urgent needs of a postwar world. This collection celebrates the achievements and influence of these important pioneers who saw a future where innovation harmonized with nature and who made California a blueprint for modern living.

Originally from Vienna, Richard Neutra came to America early in his career, settling in California. His influence on postwar architecture is undisputed, the sunny climate and rich landscape being particularly suited to his cool, sleek modern style.Neutra had a keen appreciation for the relationship between people and nature; his trademark plate glass walls and ceilings which turn into deep overhangs have the effect of connecting the indoors with the outdoors. His ability to incorporate technology, aesthetics, science, and nature into his designs brought him to the forefront of Modernist architecture.In this volume, all of Neutra’s works (nearly 300 private homes, schools, and public buildings) are gathered together, illustrated by over 1,000 photographs, including those of Julius Shulman and other prominent photographers.