Richard Joseph Neutra papers, 1927-1978.

Summary Information

Abstract

Richard Joseph Neutra (April 8, 1892 – April 16, 1970) was an important modernist architect who helped introduce the International Style to the US. The Richard Neutra papers document primarily the architect’s writings.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in two series:

• Series I: Sketches
• Series II: Articles

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Description

Scope and Content

The Richard Neutra papers contain one folder of black and white photographs of sketches by Neutra, but largely consists of articles and writings for his books.

Series I: Sketches are black and white photographs of sketches by Neutra depicting landscapes and buildings from travels.

Series II: Articles is the largest series and it consists of lectures at conferences and institutions, articles for various publications in magazines and journal, as well as selections and chapters for his books. Each folder is dedicated to one article, and the title for the folder comes from an enclosure list given to Avery Library at the time the collection was donated to Avery Library. The series covers all manner of topics from illumination,evolution, school design, the future of architecture, and the relationship of housing and democracy. Several of the articles are in German. In all likelihood the majority of the articles have been published elsewhere and there is little in the way of personal writing or notes.

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Using the Collection

Access Restrictions

 This collection is available for use by qualified readers by appointment in the Dept. of Archives & Drawings' Reading Room, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University. This collection is maintained in off-site storage and must retrieved with advance notification. For further information and to make an appointment to use this collection, please call (212) 854-4110 or email avery-drawings@libraries.cul.columbia.edu.

Restrictions on Use

Columbia University is providing access to the materials in the Library's collections solely for noncommercial educational and research purposes. The unauthorized use, including, but not limited to, publication of the materials without the prior written permission of Columbia University is strictly prohibited. All inquiries regarding permission to publish should be submitted in writing to the Director, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For additional guidance, see Columbia University Libraries' publication policy.

In addition to permission from Columbia University, permission of the copyright owner (if not Columbia University) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distributions, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the persons desiring to publish the item. Columbia University makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.

Preferred Citation

Richard Joseph Neutra papers, 1927-1978. Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

Related Material

Jan De Graaff Residence architectural drawings and photographs, circa 1940s, Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library,Columbia University.

Richard J. Neutra / Kaufmann Desert House architectural drawings and photographs, Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

Richard and Dion Neutra Papers, 1925-1970, UCLA Library, Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections.

For Further Information

For more information about using the collections and conducting research in the Department of Drawings & Archives, please see our FAQ.

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About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives; machine readable finding aid created by Columbia University Libraries Digital Library Program Division

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Rihoko Ueno (Archives Intern) under the guidance of Shelley Hayreh, Archivist of Drawings & Archives, Avery Library, in April 2011.

Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT conversion April 7, 2011 Finding aid written in English.

2011-04-07 File created.

CLIO ID: 8600162 View CLIO record

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Index Terms

The names and terms listed below are represented in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a consortial/union catalog offered by OCLC that allows users to search the holdings of multiple archives and libraries.

All links open new windows.

Subjects

Heading	CUL Archives: Portal	CUL Collections: CLIO	Nat'l / Int'l Archives: ArchiveGRID

Neutra, Richard Joseph, 1892-1970.

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Architecture, Modern--20th century.

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Architecture--Psychological aspects.

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International style (Architecture)--United States.

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History / Biographical Note

History

Richard Joseph Neutra (April 8, 1892 – April 16, 1970) was an important modernist architect who helped introduce the International Style to the US. Neutra was born in Vienna and graduated from the Technical University of Vienna in 1917 where he studied under the tutelage of Adolf Loos and was influenced by Otto Wagner. He worked with architect Erich Mendelsohn in Berlin before moving to the US in 1923 and becoming a citizen in 1929. In 1924, Neutra briefly worked for Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin East.

Neutra designed office buildings, housing projects, churches, cultural centers and buildings for universities and colleges. Between 1927 and 1969, he designed more than 300 houses, mostly in California. His most famous works include the Lovell House in Los Angeles, the Kaufmann Desert House in Palm Springs, and the Tremaine House in Santa Barbara.

Biorealism, a term coined by Neutra, represented his belief that man and nature should exist in harmony and that architecture should bridge the two. Neutra was known to work closely with his clients in order to understand their needs, rather than imposing his vision. In 1966 he partnered with his son and founded Richard and Dion Neutra and Associates. His voluminous writings include many articles and three books, Survival Through Design (1954), Life and Human Habitat (1956), and his autobiography Life and Shape (1962).

Neutra died in Germany in 1970. His architectural firm is still operating in Los Angeles.

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