Neutra Architectural Practice @ 85 to be celebrated in Eagle Rock and Silver Lake

2440 Neutra Place. Photo by Don Higgins courtesy of Dion Neutra.

Lovell Health House, Los Feliz

Upcoming on April 10, 2011 is a rare chance to tour 10 buildings designed by architect Richard Neutra and his son Dion Netura in Los Angeles, including homes in Silver Lake along Neutra Place.  Los Feliz's Lovell Health House (a memorable location in "LA Confidential") will also be open to the public as well as the Neutra Architecture office on Glendale Blvd. The tour is one element of a busy weekend commemorating the 85th anniversary of the practice organized by the non-profit Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design.  Activities on Friday night and Saturday will be at the Eagle Rock Recreation Center Clubhouse, also designed by the firm.

Richard Neutra's VDL Research House II, Silver Lake

Saturday night there will be a reception at the VDL Research House II, which is now owned by the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design. The last time there was a public tour of many of these homes was in 2001.  Don't miss out on this chance to look inside these iconic modernist structures that helped establish Silver Lake's reputation as an architectural enclave.

Neutra Architectural Practice at 85 Weekend Celebration: April 8 - 10, 2011

Santa Monica: La Monica Ballroom redux

The 25th annual Thursday Twilight Dance series continues at the Santa Monica pier. This Thursday, organizers are re-creating (kind of) the famed La Monica Ballroom (rendering above) which would have been 85 years old had it not been demolished in the 1960s. A major call went out to local dance troupes and vintage types--expect them all on the 100' dance floor this Thurs. Swing music by the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

I covered the event and more for the LAT Summer Hot List.

Union Station: East LA Meets Napa benefit July 10th

Friday night July 10th check out East LA Meets Napa a benefit for AltaMed Health Services that promises a mix of great modern Mexican food and wine with a Latino heritage. Food GPS went last year. Union Station is one of L.A. great public spaces; ticket counters stand empty in the great hall these days and there's plenty of room on the patios outside. Should be a great summer night.

Friday 6-9 p.m. at Union Station.

Pacific Palisades: Happy 60th Birthday Eames House!

A favorite of visiting Europeans, The Eames House (Case Study House #8) is one of the Southern California's finest examples of domestic architecture. I took these pictures on a visit sponsored by the Hollyhock House docents in 2005. This year the house celebrates 60 years: Charles and Ray Eames moved into their home that overlooks an open meadow on Christmas Eve 1949. Made from industrial materials, its simplicity and harmony with is site is really inspiring.  The property is open for self-guided tours Monday - Saturdays.   $5/person is the suggested contribution.  Peek into the windows and open doors to see the house's interior almost exactly as Ray Eames left it.

Silver Lake: Goodbye art deco gas station

Despite efforts from concerned neighbors, historic preservationists and activists as recounted on Curbed LA, the art deco styled former gas station at Lakewood and Rowena/Glendale Avenues was razed on Friday.  Yes, the building wasn't in the greatest shape but it had potential and more importantly was part of my neighborhood's historic fabric. Surrounded by residences and adjacent to low-rise commercial buildings (one mid-century, one an Art Deco gem from the May Company's architect), there was opportunity to restore the station (perhaps remake it into a cafe, skate park or pocket park--Glendale managed to create one at Adams Square,on a former gas station site). Diane Keaton makes a good case for the green benefits of historic preservation in her LA Times piece.  Destroying iconic buildings, like the Ambassador Hotel, wastes resources she argues. Definitely and it also, in this sad little case, wastes an opportunity to keep history alive. Instead I'm betting we get an ugly stucco mini-mall that will only add to the corner's already dicey traffic patterns.  Adios streamline modern; hello dreck.