INFORMATION 7 April 2011
Frankfurt/Main
Richard Neutra in Europe
Buildings and Projects 1960 – 1970
8 April – 3 July 2011
Deutsches Architekturmuseum DAM
Schaumaninkai 43, Frankfurt am Main
OPENING:
Thu, 7 April 2011, 19.00
MEDIA CONFERENCE:
Thu, 7 April 2011, 11.00
GUIDED TOURS:
On Saturdays and Sundays, 15.00 by
exhibition curator Yorck Förster
Casa Ebelin Bucerius, Lago Maggiore (Foto: Martin Hesse © Department of Special Collections.
Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA)
OPEN:
Tues., Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. / Wed. 11
a.m. – 8 p.m. / Sun. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; closed
Mondays
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
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PROJECTS WITHIN RHEIN-MAIN REGION
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PUBLICATION
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IMPRINT
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COMING SOON / CONTACT
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PRESS INFORMATION
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RICHARD NEUTRA IN EUROPE. BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS 1960 - 1970
Frankfurt / Main, 07/04/2011
RICHARD NEUTRA – FASCINATING BLEND OF CLASSICAL MODERNISM AND
CALIFORNIA LAISSEZ-FAIRE
Richard Neutra (1892–1970) is today regarded as one of the most important representatives of 20 th
century architecture. With his “Lovell ‘Health’ House” (1929) he created an Icon of the International
Style, of Modernist architecture, which, since the 1920s, had favored the greatest of functionality,
appropriate constructions, and clear spatial layouts.
Richard Neutra became known to a wider audience from the 1950s through his elegant flat-roof villas,
which were built primarily in southern California. The Tremaine House (1947) is one of the residences in
which Neutra repeatedly achieved a careful balance between hovering lightness and construction,
between the natural surroundings and transparent spatial impact.
In his VDL Research House II (1965) Neutra, together with his son Dion, experimented with protection from the
California sun in the form of electronically controlled aluminum lamellas, heat protection glass, and the use
of water basins on all three level. “Living means exchanging energy and being in energetic contact with the
outside world,” Neutra wrote in 1954 in his study “Survival through design”.
In addition to the famous “spider leg”, (a beam protruding from the façade and held up by a support) and the
“reflecting pool”, which mirrored the natural surroundings, the visible trademarks of Neutra’s buildings
included in particular the relationship they struck between inside and outside, something emphasized
by large transparent glass fronts.
When designing his buildings Richard Neutra very much complied with the individual wishes of his clients, just as
he took into consideration the natural surroundings as an environment that referenced the building.
Precisely residential buildings were for Neutra, who also designed office and commercial bui ldings,
schools and libraries throughout the world, a “mooring for the soul”.
All Neutra’s buildings and projects were inspired by the architect’s wish to prove his buildings’
sustainable quality. As opposed to the supporters of a more technically and functionally oriented
Modernism, Neutra called for a “bio-realistic” view of architecture, which harmonized with (human) nature.
“Architecture is a matter for many senses”, Neutra wrote in 1954 in his book “Survival through design”.
He demonstrated finesse in the way he repeatedly used new ways to relate interiors and exteriors with one
another, while the interior fittings of his European villas, planned as they were down to the very last
detail, are nothing short of remarkable.
Once “famed among experts”, as Manfred Sack still referred to the architect in 1994, Neutra has since
emerged as a role model for many, in particular the young. For Richard Neutra it was the actual
experience of spaces that formed the heart of his philosophy and output, not merely the functional
fulfillment of residential needs; this vision of Neutra, which is realized in his buildings was and indeed
remains a relevant message.
PRESS INFORMATION
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RICHARD NEUTRA IN EUROPE. BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS 1960 - 1970
Frankfurt / Main, 07/04/2011
BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS IN EUROPE 1960 – 1970
On April 16, 1970 Richard Neutra died in Wuppertal. He spent some of the last decade of his life in
Europe. During this time Richard Neutra — on occasions working closely with his son Dion — designed
eight highly individual villas and two residential developments in Germany, France, and Switzerland.
Without exception, Neutra’s buildings reflected his close personal relationship with the clients. As with all
his buildings Richard Neutra endeavored to make his ideals, for example the design of spaces as interior
worlds that opened out to nature, tangible. To this end he combined the possibilities the (construction)
technology of the era offered with anthropologically based aesthetic requirements, designing in the
process an «organic» whole.
For Neutra, combining architecture and the natural surroundings was an important reference point,
which played an important role not only in the villas but also in the two Bewobau residential
developments in Quickborn near Hamburg and Walldorf near Frankfurt/Main.
Six of Neutra’s uncompleted projects in Europe, which were previously unknown or only (re) discovered
during research work for this exhibition, documented here for the first time.
For the most part the plans, drawings, and historical photographs exhibited at MARTa Herford museum
and now at the DAM are from the Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library,
University of California (UCLA) in Los Angeles, and from private archives. It is the first time that these
documents are open to public.
The renowned Dutch photographer Iwan Baan took new photographs of eight of Neutra’s European
buildings exclusively for this exhibition.
Completed buildings
Casa Grelling “Casa Tuia”, Ascona, Switzerland, 1958–1963
Bewobau Walldorf development, Mörfelden-Walldorf / Germany, 1960–1963
Bewobau development, Quickborn, Germany, 1960–1963
Rang residence, Königstein im Taunus, Germany, 1960–1964
Rentsch residence, Wengen, Switzerland, 1960–1965
Kemper residence, Wuppertal, Germany, 1961–1967
Casa Ebelin Bucerius, Brione sopra Minusio, Switzerland, 1962–1966
Pescher residence, Wuppertal, Germany, 1965–1969
Maison Delcourt, Croix / France, 1966–1969
Tillmanns-Schmidt residence, Stettfurt, Switzerland, 1966–1971
Uncompleted projects
Düsseldorf theater, Germany, 1959–1961
Schlandt residence, Söcking, Germany, 1959–1961
Henkel residence, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1959–1960
Bewobau residential development, Hohenbuchau, Germany, 1961–1968
Fricsay residence, Ermatingen, Switzerland, 1961–1963
Sontheim residence, Ennetbaden, Switzerland, 1964–1966
PRESS INFORMATION
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RICHARD NEUTRA IN EUROPE. BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS 1960 - 1970
Frankfurt / Main, 07/04/2011
PROJECTS WITHIN RHEIN-MAIN REGION
Bewobau Walldorf development, Richard-Neutra-Straße / Germany
(1960–1963)
All in all, Richard Neutra planned three housing projects for the Bewobau (Betreuungs- und
Wohnungsbaugesellschaft mbH, Hamburg, a subgroup of Neue Heimat). At least to some extent, the
estates in Walldorf near Frankfurt/Main and Quickborn near Hamburg were built according to Neutra's
plans. However, the third project in Hohenbuchau, which is also near Frankfurt, was never realised. At
the beginning of the 1960's the intention both in Walldorf and Quickborn was to lessen the still pressing
housing shortage in the conurbations. Both development areas had good transport connections to the
nearest cities while providing green surroundings at the same time. To a large extent, the streets within
the estates were constructed without intersections. All green spaces were meant to be easily accessible for
everyone. The building area in Walldorf displayed a characteristic population of pine trees. ln Quickborn
the landscape architect from Hamburg, Gustav Lüttge, designed the outdoor spaces.
As far back as the 1920's Richard Neutra had thought about the concept of a garden city which, to a large
extent, consisted of one and two-storey dwellings. He had even planned communal facilities for this
scheme. However, as far as his projects in Germany were concerned, these endeavours remained no more
than an idea; Neutra had also hoped to build schools and shops. The leading thought behind the designs
was to create modern, ample room for the residents while conserving resources at the same time. ln 1960
Neutra began with his concrete planning. First he developed nine types of floor plans for Walldorf which
were subsequently also used in Quickborn. They could be combined and also mirrored in detached and
semi-detached houses alike. ln this way a large array of individual design options were provided in
connection with standardised building processes. ln September 1963 the Walldorf housing project was
presented to the press with four exemplarily furnished houses.
Neutra consistently tried to implement the characteristic elements of his villas in the estate buildings.
This included not only the opening of living and dining areas by means of large windows and outward
reaching interior walls but also compact bedrooms with integrated closets. Even his typical spider leg
constructions and the odd reflecting pool were integrated into the architecture. However, in both projects
the houses proved to be hard to sell which led to an alteration of the development plan in the course of the
following years. From then on higher buildings and separate gardens were also allowed.
Rang residence, Königstein/ Germany
(1960–1964)
At the beginning of December 1960 Professor Martin Rang of Frankfurt University wrote to Richard
Neutra in Los Angeles: "For 10 years my wife and I having been planning our house. Although we have
looked at many options and considered various architects we always come back to you as we feel that
artistically and because of the way in which you meticulously cater to the individual demands of family
life, only you can fulfil our hopes and dreams. Of course, I am just a poor university professor [...].
However, the thought that you also build in Germany now and - as far as I've heard - also design singlefamily homes just won't leave me [...]
The first plans showed a horizontally positioned construction with three wings and cellars in some parts
with rooms facing south-east. However, for reasons that are no longer clear today a complete redesign
took place. ln contrast to the first draft, the second one extends towards the southeast. As in the previous
plan, the study is only separated from the living room by a free-standing fireplace. lt also includes the
former plan's master bedroom. The kitchen and dining room are situated in the north-west, while the
wing with the children's rooms was moved to the northeast. The central corridor was replaced by an
independent hall which functions as a link between the wings. Its importance is emphasised by a higher
roof level. The initially planned swimming pool was abandoned. However, there is a paddling pool in
front of the children's wing.
PRESS INFORMATION
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RICHARD NEUTRA IN EUROPE. BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS 1960 - 1970
Frankfurt / Main, 07/04/2011
Furthermore, two reflecting pools were built above the garage and in front of the living area thus giving
the floor plan a cross-shape -this is by no means the only detail that bears resemblance to Frank Lloyd
Wright's buildings.
Although it is not very big, this house is impressive due to its elegant, expansive appearance and the
skilful visual harmony. This effect is underlined by the overhanging roofs which seem to be floating, the
walls that extend into the garden and the windows which cover entire storeys in some parts. The various
links between the interior and exterior are equally artful. These features are supplemented by a complex
pervasion of surfaces and spaces, a multifaceted play of light and an exciting combination of different
(natural) materials, especially wood and rubble stone.
ln a magazine article from 1966 Professor Rang expressed the highest praise not only for the aesthetic and
functional qualities of the architecture but also for the "individual ingenuity" of Neutra's planning - in
spite of the fact that shortly after the house was completed considerable problems materialised because
the flat roof and the rubble walls were not rainproof.
To coincide with the exhibition there will be visits to both projects - the Neutra development in Walldorf
and the Rang residence in Königstein (Ts.)
Please see www.dam-online.de for dates and further details.
PUBLICATION
Klaus Leuschel und Marta Herford (Ed.)
RICHARD NEUTRA IN EUROPA
DuMont Buchverlag, Cologne (2nd edition 2011)
German; 240 pages, 235 black and white and 79 coloured
images, 22 x 30,5 cm hard cover.
With photographs by Iwan Baan, a preface by Klaus
Leuschel and Roland Nachtigäller as well as an essay by
Joachim Driller.
ISBN 978-3-8321-9286-0
Museum shop/Bookstore prize 39,95 EUR
PRESS INFORMATION
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RICHARD NEUTRA IN EUROPE. BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS 1960 - 1970
Frankfurt / Main, 07/04/2011
IMPRINT
RICHARD NEUTRA IN EUROPE. BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS 1960 – 1970
8 April – 3 July 2011 at the DAM
Exhibition Setup and Coordination DAM Frankfurt / Main Yorck Förster
Coordination MARTa Herford Michael Kröger, Ute Willaert
Graphic Concept Studio Matthias Görlich (Matthias Görlich, Miriam Rösch) in cooperation with Holmer
Schleyerbach
Poster and Invitation Cards Gardeners, Frankfurt / Main
Conservator Ina Hausmann
Archives DAM Inge Wolf
Framing DAM Valerian Wolenik
Registrar Wolfgang Welker
Translations Katherine Lewald, Cologne and Jeremy Gaines, Frankfurt / Main
Installation of the Exhibition Marina Barry, Paolo Brunino, Enrico Hirsekorn,
Eike Laeuen, Joachim Müller-Rahn, Angela Tonner, Beate Voigt; Under the direction of Christian Walter
Administration Yvonne Künstler, Inka Plechaty
Press and Public Relations Brita Köhler, Stefanie Lampe
Special thanks go to Klaus Leuschel and Dion Neutra; Genie Guerard and Simon Elliott (Department of
Special Collections. Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA, Los Angeles); the research team Dr.
Hubertus Adam, Prof. Dr. Jochen Driller and Dr. Lilian Pfaff; Prof. Dipl. Ing. Rolf D. Ahnesorg;
Iwan Baan; Günter Pescher, Peter Pescher, Marlies Kornfeld, Christine Rang, Hilmer Goedeking (Richard
J. Neutra-Gesellschaft), Dr. h. c. Thomas Straumann
An exhibition of Museum MARTa Herford
Press images for announcements and reports during the exhibition period at www.damonline.de
PRESS INFORMATION
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RICHARD NEUTRA IN EUROPE. BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS 1960 - 1970
Frankfurt / Main, 07/04/2011
16. April – 3 July 2011
THE EUROPEAN PRIZE FOR URBAN PUBLIC SPACE
19 April – 1 May 2011
Students Competition Summer Pavilon Frankfurt 2011
7 May – 19 June 2011
architekturbild,
European Architectural Photography Prize 2011
DEUTSCHES ARCHITEKTURMUSEUM
Press & Public Relations
Schaumainkai 43, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, www.dam-online.de
Brita Köhler, Dipl.-Ing. (FH)
T +49 (0)69 212 36318 \ F +49 (0)69 212 36386
brita.koehler@stadt-frankfurt.de
Stefanie Lampe, B.A.
T +49 (0)69 212 31326 \ F +49 (0)69 212 36386
stefanie.lampe@stadt-frankfurt.de
PRESS INFORMATION
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