Allan and Janis Greenberg House

Allan and Janis Greenberg House

This is a house designed for the needs of three generations, so Neutra created indoor and outdoor pathways that flank social spaces rather than running through them. Guests walk up a flagstone path that curves around an “instant” forest planted by Neutra before the wall flanks the garage, whose east wall is extended out into the landscape to form a privacy screen for the family cars. The walkway continues into the house, so that the entire south wall of the house maintains the feeling of a forest path. Meanwhile, by another exterior path on the south side, visiting grandchildren can get to their bedrooms to the large playroom below, which Neutra stepped down the hill, without disturbing the grownups. “The playroom contains the television screen so that those members of the family or guests who enjoy looking at television can indulge, without victimizing those who still enjoy interesting conversation,” Neutra wrote dryly in his project description. In the living area, cork tile is used to define the wide southern corridor. Above, the ceiling rises until a lowered soffit runs to meet it beyond the line of the cork, creating a dynamic section. Allan Greenberg paid him gratefully, writing that he could not understand how the architect could do the work he did for such a modest fee.