Richard Neutra In The San Fernando Valley

By Marty McFly - Monday, November 12, 2012 - 3 Comments

Richard Neutra is a Modernist architect who has designed more than 300 architecturally significant homes around the world. Below is a list of Neutra homes just in the San Fernando Valley. The list below was complied based on the exhaustive work of Triangle Modernist Houses. Based on my research, there appears to be a total of 22 Richard Neutra designed buildings in the San Fernando Valley with only a handful demolished or significantly altered which was surprising given that architecturally significant buildings are quickly razed these days.

These buildings are spread throughout the entire Valley and can be found from the upscale and trendy Studio City to the equestrian friendly blue collar Sylmar. The list below is ordered by creation year which provides the location, brief description and any important notes, historical photos (where possible), current photos (where possible), and aerial photos. Although this list only comprises the work of Neutra in the SFV, I strongly recommend reviewing his other designs as he has completed several unique and influential properties throughout the world by viewing the images at Triangle Modernist Houses, Picasa Web Album, Freesbase.com (a collection of Neutra buildings in LA) and books (you can also view Thomas Hines book, Richard Neutra and Search for Modern Architecture: A Biography and History at Google books). I also recommend reading Neutra in the 818 by Rachel Heller for July-August 2011 edition of Our Ventura Blvd.

You can view more SFV Architecture and Real Estate here.

1. Josef Von Sternberg House (demolished) 10000 Tampa Avenue Northridge 91324. Built in 1935. Later demolished due to inactivity and homeless occupying it. The owner told Dion Neutra he had a week to find a new solution to move it. This home was also owned by Ayn Rand from 1943 to 1963. This was Neutra's first work in the SFV and probably his most critically acclaimed with respect to the SFV designs only. Unfortunately, nothing of its existence remains other than pictures which was documented on this blog on a Back to the Future post.

Image courtesy Not PC Blog

Image courtesy Triangle Modernist Houses

Image courtesy Not PC blog

Image courtesy LAPL by Luckhaus Studio

2. Philip Gill House 542 Suncourt Terrace Glendale 91206. Built in 1939. 2 Beds/2 Baths, 1,480 sqft on 0.28 acres. Last purchased on May 29, 1997 for $195,000. Currently owned by Frank and Tracey Lentz.

Image courtesy Google Maps

3. Matilda Sweet House 541 Suncourt Terrace Glendale 91206. Built in 1940. 2 Beds/1 Baths on 1,164sqft on 8,354sqft. Last sale date appears to be September 11, 1967 but cannot confirm. Currently owned by Dorothy Roush.

Image courtesy Google Maps

4. Progressive Builders Homes 6306 - 6339 Denny Avneue North Hollywood 91606. Built in 1942 -1943 Most homes were 2 or 3 Beds with 1 or 2 Baths on around 900 - 1100sqft on total lot sizes of around 7300 to 7500sqft. These homes were built during the WWII era when private commissions were halted and the need for defense worker housing was in great demand. 14 homes were built in North Hollywood nearby the Lockheed aircraft factory. The homes that I could find include 6306, 6307 (appears to be significantly altered), 6312 6313, 6318, 6319, 6322, 6323, 6328, 6329, 6334, 6335, 6338, and 6339. You can also view a restoration of 6230 Denny Avenue here.

From the Ginormous blog (which I believe is from Elizabeth A.T. Smith's book, Blueprint for Modern Living: History and Legacy of the Case Study Houses):

"The coming of war temporarily halted private commissions, but heightened the need for war workers housing. Neutra was given the job of designing a whole block of Progressive Builder's Homes, erected in 1942 as part of a larger project for defense workers at the nearby Lockheed aircraft factory in Burbank. Modest versions of the crisp, pitched-roof format Neutra had begun to explore two years earlier, the fourteen completed Federal Housing Adminstration sponsored, detatched dwellings featured bedrooms across the front with the living room running front to rear and opening integrally onto fetching garden patios."

Above images courtesy Ginormous Blog

6312 Denny Avenue

6313 Denny Avenue

6318 Denny Avenue

6319 Denny Avenue (Left Home)

5. Goodson House (demolished due to fire) 8310 Grand View Drive Studio City 91604. Built in 1948, destroyed in 1979 fire.

Image courtesy Triangle Modernist Houses

Image courtesy LAFIRE.COM (search by using address)

6. Milton Goldman Residence 3970 Archdale Road Encino 91436. Built in 1951. 5 Beds/ 5 Baths on 4,234sqft on a total lot of 0.77 acres. Updated in 2001 by architect Roberta Weiser. Last sold on July 21, 2006 for $2,850,000. Currently owned by Steven Bochco. Home has been used in four different films including Superman 4. [Update May 12, 2015]: This home hit the market on May 11, 2015 for $4,995,000.

Above images courtesy Crosby Doe Associates

Image courtesy Google Maps

7. Kester Avenue Elementary School 5353 Kester Avenue Sherman Oaks 91411. Built in 1951. Also check out the LA Times article, Cooling Units on Roof to Protect Architechture of Historic Campus, by Hilary E. MacGregor on September 15, 2000. This design was a first of its kind and was heavily replicated around the world.

Image courtesy Google Maps

8. Logar House 17728 Ridgeway Road Granada Hills 91344. Built in 1952. 2 Beds/1.75 Baths on 2,032sqft on a total lot size of 0.71 acres. Recently sold for $850,000 on July 27, 2010 to Farshad Asl and Mina Ghaemmaghami. The Logars also had Neutra design a store in Granada Hills, see #10 below. Also check out an article of the Logar House at Giga Granda Hills blog.

Above images courtesy Coldwell Banker

Image courtesy Google Maps

9. McElwain House (significantly altered) 6323 Lindley Avenue Reseda. Built in 1952. 4 Beds/4 Baths on 3,399 sqft on a total lot size of 0.47 acres. Currently owned by Renate and Wolfram Berger.

Image courtesy Triangle Modernist Houses

Image courtesy Google Maps

10. Logar Store (N&A). 17702 Chatsworth Street Granada Hills 91344. Built in 1955 with Robert E. Alexander for the Logars who also had Neutra design a home in Granada Hills, see #8 above. Currently Safeway Liquor.

Image courtesy Sunshine Realty

11. Artega House 12960 Gladstone Avenue Sylmar 91342. Built in 1955. 5 Beds/5 Baths on 3,044sqft on a total lot size of 0.87 acres (these numbers consist of two different structures, with one being the Artega house). Currently owned by Michael Artega. I dont believe this home has even been sold and it stayed in the Artega family.

Sorry for the bad pic, this is the best I could do from the rear of the house.

Another bad pic from the front of the house, this is the best shot I could get.

This is the other structure on the property which is not a Neutra design.

Image courtesy Google Maps

12. Gene Field House (demolished) 4341 Lanai Road Encino 91436. Built in 1957. The Neutra designed home was demolished and replaced with newer home containing 4 Beds/4 Baths on 4,117sqft on a total lot size of 0.62 acres. Last time sold might be July 29, 1968 but cannot confirm. Currently owned by Val Wood.

Updated newer home shown above. Image courtesy Google Maps

13. David and Grace Poster Apartments 6847 Radford Avenue North Hollywood 91605. Built in 1958. An 8 unit apartment consisting of 8 Bed/9 Baths on 5,096sqft on a total lot size of 9,010sqft. The apartment recently sold for $708,000 on September 1, 2005. Currently owned by Michael Resnick. Also check out the LA Times article, Neutra, In Miniature by Scott Timberg on May 25, 2006. Also check out the Los Angeles is My Beat blog.

Top left image courtesy LA Is My Beat, remaining images courtesy Modernist Triangle Houses

Image courtesy Google Maps

14. Larsen House 5434 Jed Smith Road Hidden Hills 91302. Built in 1959. 6 Beds/3 Baths on 3,955 sqft on a total lot size of 1.08 acres. Last sold on July 21, 1989 for $484,091. Currently owned by Vicki Schankman.

Image courtesy Modernist Triangle House

Image courtesy Google Maps

15. CSUN Fine Arts Building 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge 91330. Built in 1960, demolished due to extensive damage from 1994 Northridge earthquake. You can read an article of the demolition from the LA Times titled Cal State Northridge Razes Neutra Building by Claire Vitucci on July 18, 1997.

Image courtesy CSUN Digital Library (Postcard)

Postcard description reads:

The architects for this building (Neutra & Alexander) incorporated a 3 story general classroom wing and 1 story ceramic wing and 2 story office wing into 109,550 sq. ft. Included is a separate art gallery plus numerous display areas and adjoining patios. Completed 1960

16. Hrabe House 5851 Clear Valley Road Hidden Hills 91302 designed with Robert E. Alexander. Built in 1962, has been substantially altered in 1980. 5 Beds/5 Baths on 6,649sqft on a total lot size of 1.19 acres The home was last sold on April 6, 2005 for $2,750,000. Currently owned by Bentley Max Richards.

Images courtesy Modernist Triangle Houses

Image courtesy Google Maps

17. Taylor House aka Solomon House 3816 Lockerbie Court Glendale 91208. Built in 1962. 2 Beds/2 Baths on 1,477sqft on a total lot size of 0.52 acres. Last sold on January 9, 1997 for $321,500. Currently owned by John Solomon. Also check out Barbara Lamprecht's blog.

Images courtesy Triangle Modernist Houses

Image courtesy Google Maps

18. Eugene Erman House 16533 Oldham Street Encino 91436. Built in 1962. 4 Beds/3 Baths on 2,676sqft on a total lot size of 0.42 acres. I believe this house was never sold and it is owned by the original owners/family. Currently owned by Eugene and Rowene Erman.

Image courtesy Triangle Modernist Houses

Image courtesy Google Maps

19. Stone-Fisher Speculative Platform Houses designed with William Beckett #1 and # 2 3631-3821 (also 3645, 3701, 3707, 3715, 3723, 3733, 3737, 3749, 3759, 3847) Oakfield Drive Sherman Oaks 91423. Built in 1962. Typically 2 Bed/2 Bath with 1300sqft to 2000sqft on lot sizes between 0.25 to 1 acres. 3737 recently sold on September 3, 2010 for $920,000 and 3733 is currently available for $899,000 (discussed on this blog).

Above images courtesy Triangle Modernist Houses

Image courtesy Bing Maps

20. Baldwin House 6025 Lubao Avenue Woodland Hills CA 91367. Built in 1962. 4 Beds/4 Baths on 3,062sqft on a total lot size of 0.40acres. Las sold for $659,000 on May 26, 2000. Currently owned by Scott Cort and Jeanne Yang.

Above images courtesy DeLoache Architecture + Design

Image courtesy Triangle Modernist Houses

Image courtesy Google Maps

21. John L and Pauline Kuhns Family Residence (and blog) 4359 Camello Road Woodland Hills CA 91364. Built in 1964. 3 Beds/2 Baths on 1,415sqft on a total lot size of 0.29acres. I believe this house was never sold and it is owned by the original owners/family. Currently owned by Laura Moody and Paul Grant Kuhns. Also check out the Kuhns Residence blog.

Image courtesy Kuhns Residence blog

Image courtesy Google Maps

22. Virzintas Penthouse 4338 1/2 Laurel Canyon Blvd Studio City 91604. Built in 1966. Virzintas Penthouse is one of the few works of Neutra where he added onto an existing structure. In this case, the Penthouse was added onto a duplex that was built in 1949. According to the property records for 4336 Laurel Canyon Blvd (address for duplex), the property measures 4 Beds/4 Baths on 2,705sqft on a total lot size of 5,000sqft. Last sold on December 21, 2006 for $925,000. Currently owned by David Berger and Seth Caplan.