Due to COVID-19, Dr. Neutra’s programs originally scheduled for May 26 and May 27, 2020, have been postponed. New dates to be announced.
Dr. Neutra’s Design Conversation presentation will begin with the question, “How does one architect influence another?” Richard Neutra’s youngest son will make the case that his father’s work can be viewed as a continuation and adaptation of the “eight points” of the Prairie House phase of Frank Lloyd Wright that the young Neutra saw in the 1910 Wasmuth Portfolio and later saw first-hand when he worked for Wright in 1925. Dr. Neutra and his wife Peggy Bauhaus will read letters from Richard and Dione Neutra describing their impressions of this stay. Then Dr. Neutra will show how his father adapted the eight points in his own work. Since this work always aimed at an esthetic suitable for light prefabrication, Wright characterized it as “Cheap and Thin” hence the title of the talk and of Dr. Neutra’s Kindle book.
Our second evening with Dr. Neutra will be a moderated conversation with Bob Liljestrand, eldest son of Howard and Betty Liljestrand who built Liljestrand House. Moderated by architect Craig Steely, they will talk about growing up in iconic houses (Raymond in the VDL House and Bob L. in Liljestrand House) that are being preserved not just for their architectural renown but as idea incubators and places for creative discourse.
Influenced by his father’s concern with nature, physiology and design, Dr. Neutra pursued a career in environmental medicine and epidemiology. He has been deeply involved in preserving the legacy of the Neutra family through the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design.