Dr. and Mrs. Geza Rethy House

Dr. and Mrs. Geza Rethy House

The house is located on the lower slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains on land that was once a fruit and avocado orchard. While the design uses the same architectural language of Richard Neutra’s work from the previous decade, this cabin is clad in redwood board-and-batt material on both the inside and outside, giving it a more rustic feeling. Along the solid northern wall, the shed roof rises upwards towards the mountains. From this unified line, volumes—each with their own overhang—step progressively down the hill, creating a staggered edge to the south side of the house. This steep site allowed room for guest quarters and a workspace in an understory space below. 

Adapted from Neutra – Complete Works by Barbara Lamprecht (Taschen, 2000), p. 170.