Raymond Neutra To Open 2012 TalkModern Lecture Series

Sept. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- (Raleigh, NC) – Raymond Neutra, the son of Modernist master architect Richard Neutra, will open Triangle Modernist Houses’ 2012 TalkModern Lecture Series on Thursday, October 4, from 7 to 8 p.m., in the AIANC Center for Architecture & Design in downtown Raleigh.

Raymond Neutra will discuss “Preserving the VDL Studio/Residences in Los Angeles,” the research site in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles that was built in three waves: the first two by Richard Neutra in 1932 and 1940, the third by Raymond and his brother, Dion, in 1966 following a fire in the 1932 wing. Hundreds of projects were designed there, launching the careers of many renowned architects. The site became a cultural and political salon, attracting some of the world's most prominent thinkers, yet it is in danger of significant decay now.

Over the last 35 years, Raymond, Neutra's youngest son, travelled the world to connect with his father's buildings, their owners, and occupants. An epidemiologist, Raymond offers a unique perspective from a son growing up with a famous architect father. He is also a devoted preserver of Modernism all over the world.

Raymond’s lectures raise awareness and funds for the restoration of the VDL Studio/Residences, an ongoing social and technological experiment that his mother bequeathed to Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design in 1990.

His Raleigh lecture will describe the ongoing efforts to restore the VDL compound, including the philosophical issues encountered during the project. The former Dean of the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design and current Dean of the NCSU College of Design, Marvin Malecha, will introduce Raymond. Proceeds from this lecture will benefit the VDL Studio preservation effort.

About Richard Neutra: In 1929, Viennese-born architect Richard Neutra rose to prominence with his visionary design of the Lovell “Health House" in Los Angeles. The ensuing decades solidified his place as one of the giants of the Modernist movement. In 1949, Time magazine featured Neutra on its cover and ranked him second only to Frank Lloyd Wright in American architecture. Triangle Modernist Houses’ website features a nearly complete catalog of his residential works (http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/neutra.htm).

Dion Neutra, Raymond’s brother, will speak at the AIANC Center in November.
Advance tickets to the lectures are $12.50 per person per lecture, or $20 for both. Tickets per lecture at the door are $15. To purchase advance tickets and for more information on both lectures, go to http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/lecture.

The AIANC Center for Architecture & Design is located at 14 East Peace Street, Raleigh, NC 27604. For directions: http://www.cfadnc.org.

About Triangle Modernist Houses  Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) is a 501C3 nonprofit established in 2007 and dedicated to restoring and growing Modernist architecture in the Triangle. The award-winning website, now the largest educational and historical archive for Modernist residential design in America, continues to catalog, preserve, and advocate for North Carolina Modernism.  TMH also hosts popular Modernist house tours several times a year, giving the public access to the Triangle's most exciting residential architecture, past and present. These tours raise awareness and help preserve these "livable works of art" for future generations. Visit the website at http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com. TMH also has an active community on Facebook.