Author Description

This absorbing volume reveals the impact of the Lovell Health House from its inspiration through its construction to its impact This book tells the story of the Lovell Health House, designed and built by Austrian American architect Richard Neutra (1892–1970). Perched on a steep hillside with panoramic views of Los Angeles, the home pioneered the use of concrete and steel; radically advanced the ideals of hygienic, carefree, and open-air living; and explored new relationships between space, structure, the natural world, and physical and psychological well-being. It was widely documented and written about in leading architectural journals when it was erected, and these publications elevated the house to the status of an icon in the history of modernism and an essential work of the international modern movement. It also helped to launch the global career of one of the central figures of twentieth-century architecture. The book is framed with an introduction by Edward Dimendberg and includes new texts by Crosby Doe and Thomas Hines. At the heart of this project are six portfolios on the background, design, making, circulation, reception, and resonance of this seminal residence by curator and archivist Nicholas Olsberg. Featuring historical photography by Willard Morgan and contemporary photography by Grant Mumford, this volume will help bring Neutra’s masterpiece to an entirely new audience.