Institute E-zine Issue No. 01-4 Monday, October 15, 2001

A publication of the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design. © 2001.

Welcome to Issue No. 4 of the current E-Zine online magazine of the Institute. [See September 10 for #3 the last one in this series].

Inspired by Neutra at 75 and the final gala events of October 6 & 8, Dion Neutra's 75th birthday,

The final big event of Neutra-75 was the celebration of Dion Neutra's 75th birthday. The venue was the Eagle Rock Recreation Center [1954] designed by the office for the City of L.A. at, Eagle Rock Park, CA. The building looked stunning for this evening, with a mock-up of the abandoned reflection pool and the slide-up wall panels operating along with other doors to the outside. Borrowed herioc sculptures by Christoff Koon, jazzed up the environment. A new correctly spelled bronze plaque of this monument was unveiled. This affair afforded a reunion and communion of Neutra admirer's, 80 of whom enjoyed a fabulous catered dinner. About 20 others who didn't make the cut, came for the reception and speech.

The catered dinner by Fred Eric, chef of Fred 62 and Vida; famed restaurants here in L.A. lived up to its billing; and it was fun to be served by the man himself from his selection of delicious entrees.

A comic element happened when it was time to retrieve my cake from the fridge where it had been stashed the day before. Consternation! The official in charge had gone home and forgotten to open the padlock! It looked like curtains for the traditional birthday cake ceremony. But not to worry; Chef Eric had talents other than cooking! He found a 2x4 and started beating at the lock still outfitted in his white chefs apron! Long story short; the fridge was forced open, the ceremony happened, and everyone sang to the birthday child! Honored guest Mark Mariscal, Superintendent of the Metro Region graciously said he'd cover us for the fridge repair/replacement!

I delivered my valedictory remarks to the assemblage which we've published on the website now.

Because of the confusion caused by the full page write-up in the LA Times of 9/27, many people thought this was only a 'reception' and waited too late to confirm their desire to attend. We ran out of space and food, and had to divert late comers to Plan B; attend the reception after the dinner and hear the speech. A number of you were very upset and disappointed by this. Some wrote angry unkind and abusive letters of frustration requesting refunds and more. I wrote back that producing something like this is not something I was taught in architecture school! I've resolved not to try another event like this any time soon; say in another 25 years?

Along with trying to keep the costs as low as possible; [a gourmet dinner by a world class chef for $25], and the lack of being able to accommodate everyone, we look as if we're close to $400 shy of covering our costs. Would sppreciate any leniency or special donations at this point to cure this deficit.. At last count we now have about 425 paid memberships to this Institute! Congratulations and thanks for your presence. Please remember that your membership needs to be renewed before April 1 each year. A Paypal button is available on our home page at any time you are ready. $15/year; it's a charitable donation. We'll credit you for next year if you wish to donate for the next fiscal year in calendar 2001.

One good fall-out of this evening could be a renewed focus on the Eagle Rock Building. Some corrections were made as a result of our event. People expressed interest in raising money to find out what other corrections I would recommend in an attempt to restore the building towards its original conception.

A couple of days later, Columbus Day, the 8th which was my actual birthday, I was treated to a lovely family celebration attended by my son Nick, and my brother Ray with his wife Penny; very sweet.

Letters you are invited to write in and express your opinions; some may be published. Again, address these to CrosonC@aol.com, OR dion@neutra.org.

Status of Neutra Projects Report on the latest on the several projects which are being preserved or addressed by Institute action.

My trip to Painted Desert, AZ at the end of September was to survey our western version of the Gettysburg center. We did these two projects at roughly the same time; late 50s. At PD, the administration appreciates our work and wants to preserve it, but erratic soil conditions have caused such heaving and cracking of foundations that may make it unfeasible to save some of the structures. Ironic that where there is sympathy, we may lose, and where the structure is sound, we may lose anyway. I very much appreciated the effort made by the park to facilitate this visit which included a study trip to the Grand Canyon as well. The PD is very isolated; hours from the nearest commercial airport.

Visit our 'Demolition Derby' page on the website. This is in development, so stay tuned. We have added rare footage of the demolition of the von Sternberg house which came to us through a fluke and the good offices of Andy Moore, who was a neighbor and grabbed his super 8 camera in the 70s when he noticed the dosers at work upon returning home for school that fateful afternoon in the early 70s.

I still mourn the loss of our 8-story La Veta Medical building in Orange [Taschen P. 441], about which I just learned a few months ago. It was torn down without fanfare, opposition or concern. A photo of its vacant site was part of the show in Santa Ana in July. Can anyone tell us what the reason for this was? Why was no one given a chance to see if it could be saved?

The demolition of the last reflection pool at the Orange County Courthouse was the subject of a Sat. July 7 cover story in the LA Times Orange County edition, to which I wrote a letter to Editor asking why I wasn't consulted before making this kind of decision. Again, this one is not lost yet; write your Orange County supervisor!

I hope to tape an interview for an Orange County talk show on 12/1. We may address some of these OC local issues on that occasion. I believe this is a local PBS cable outlet only; we'll see if we can circulate the results for your interest.

The Von Huene Cabin in Mammoth, which is capable of moving, is threatened with demolition. If any one knows of a vacant site in Mammoth, that would be the easiest, but I believe this structure, which is about the size of a trailer module, could be moved down the highway as well. Contact us here if you have ideas. Wouldn't it be great NOT to have to repeat what happened with the von Sternberg house?

Neutra in the News A link to the Institute site where the latest in news stories about the Institute and the firm are highlighted. We struggle to keep up with this fast moving segment.

Latest on Dion Link to website to review articles, lectures, or other activities of our Executive Consultant.

Institute Projects on which we are now working We invite your participation; let us know if any of the following tweak your interest!

84-1 00-2 Publishing Program 'Neutra-Then and Later'; republish the German 'Pflanzen, Wasser, Steine, Licht' in English; maybe even 'Survival Through Design' [some interest being shown by two publishers]
97-5 Neutra Website-Design, Maintenance, Funding [See our new page 'Demolition Derby'; could use help from imaginative and creative web-design people]
89-1 The View from Inside Exhibition -Distribution. Next venue Chicago area next Spring?
00-1a 75th Anniversary Reunion/Commemoration Main events completed very successfully in April. And now last week. Additional projects may emerge because of a lunch I had with the editor of LA Architect, such as:. A new page on the website devoted to documenting the impact the Neutra Practice has had on contemporary architects through training or influence on their work. We will start by listing what we know of this lineage. As soon as we get something up, we invite your participation, fleshing out and ideas for how this should progress further.
01-1 Documentary Film In the works.
01-2 Preservation Strategies
01-3 Membership Roster; E and Snail mailing lists
01-4 Institute E-Zine project [Can always use help here and elsewhere; drop us a line!]
01-5 The Ultimate CAD program - Article by DN; about 2000 words. In commemoration of Kubrick's '2001-A space Odyssey' . Can we NOW invoke the services of the computer to fulfill the promise of RJN s book 'Survival through Design'? Looking for a publisher. Architectural Record; first choice. Still waiting.
01-6 A REAL patients Bill of Rights. Start by ordering Dan Haley's red book 'The Politics in Healing'. Mention you heard about it here, and call 800 898 0639. Join with us to urge passage of relevant bills in congress which would pave the way for alternative means of treatment to become available here, which have been driven off-shore, or which are unknown to your family doctor.
[See our bookstore page for more details].
01-7 The NEW Survival Through Design. John Robbins 'The FOOD REVOLUTION'. Just finished reading this. In his way, John is writing his version of STD. It's a clarion call for change in our time, much as RJN did in his. We intend to feature this book in our bookstore much like Haley's. Meanwhile, you can probably order it on amazon.com or call 800 685 9595 x7192.


We would welcome your suggestions of other departments or issues to consider.

Meanwhile, this will further test our data-base. Please let us know if you get more than one copy of this [if so, please excuse]. Spread the word to your friends who may have signed up with you, to let us have their E addresses if they did not receive this. Encourage new prospects to sign up with us [see home page]. Unfortunately, if we don't have an Email for a member, he/she will not receive this publication.

We hope to publish every few months depending on need, available material, and time. Stay tuned to the website for relevant details of upcoming events.

Dion Neutra, Architect, Executive Consultant
Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design
2440 Neutra Place Los Angeles, CA 90039
Phone/Fax:323 666 1806 www.neutra.org dion@neutra.org