Neutra Lecture at Silver Lake Library Draws Standing Room Only Crowd

A standing-room-only crowd greeted Dr. Raymond Richard Neutra, youngest son of architect Richard Neutra and his wife Peggy Bauhus on Saturday, February 13th as the two presented “From Vienna to Silver Lake: Why Richard and Dione Neutra decided to be Americans” in a lecture at the new Silver Lake Library.


Dr. Neutra, with wife Peggy Bauhaus read from letters written by his parents, during the time that his father first came to America to explore its possibilities, while his young bride stayed home in Vienna. Afterwards, participants were invited to tour the VDL Research House. Architect Dion Neutra gave a fine lecture on the house that he and his brothers called home during their youth.



The VDL Research House, located in Silver Lake, is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. The house was bequeathed to California Polytechnic University at Pomona after Richard and Dione’s deaths. It is administered by the Cal Poly Foundation, and managed by the College of Environmental Design.

Looking for Mr. Parkinson, the "Architect who designed Los Angeles"

I recently received a FACEBOOK post from SCOTT FIELD, Director of the Parkinson Archive in Galveson, Texas; informing me that JEREMY RYAN-AINSLIE, Great Grand Nephew of JOHN PARKINSON, the "Architect who Built Los Angeles" was in town, and working on a documentary film of his famous uncle, and would I like to show him around?

I met Ryan-Ainslie this morning at his downtown hotel. While the GPS system on my Toyota Siena mysteriously decided to stop working, I worried about how we would find our way. Our itinerary took us to the C.E. KUSTOR RESIDENCE in West Adams, an eclectic Victorian/Craftsman/Shingle house designed by Parkinson in about 1911 (and recently purchased by my friends ROB & JENNY WEI); then on to WOODACRES, the Parkinson family home in Santa Monica. We were met at the Parkinson Estate by DRU ALPHSON, (husband Howard was taking a nap). The Alphsons are only the second owners of the fabulous property that the Parkinsons called "home".

After a few precious hours at Woodacres, we traveled across town to FOREST LAWN in Glendale, to visit the PARKINSON crypt in the GREAT MAUSOLEUM; the Master Architect' final resting place.

We topped off the day with margaritas at the LOCKE home in Los Feliz, and after a quick trip to a couple of Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieces in the neighborhood (the Ennis & Hollyhock Houses), we dropped Jeremy at the HOTEL CECIL in downtown Los Angeles.

We'll meet up again on Sunday at the SALON OF THE SPIRITUALLY CREATIVE LIFE, hosted by Carol & Richard King before dropping Jeremy off at LAX for the return trip to Birmingham (England). It's been a real privelege meeting a special young film maker who has a keen interest in L.A.!

Pictured are (L-R) Photographer Leland Lee, Jeremy Ryan-Ainslie and Architect Dion Neutra at Carol & Richard King's Salon of the Spiritually Creative Life in Pasadena.