Mrs. Dorothy and Mr. George Serulnic House

Mrs. Dorothy and Mr. George Serulnic House

For Dorothy Serulnic, Richard Neutra’s secretary and a close associate of the Neutra family, and her husband, George, the architect designed a home on a steep slope near the Angles National Forest. On an approach that flanks the hill, doubling back to the carport, the house is visible from below, surrounded by purple succulents. The design had to overcome the budget constraints of Dorothy Serulnic, whose true passion was poetry, and George Serulnic, who was violist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. As a result, Neutra’s plans offered extensive estimates for the cost and proposed a staged design that could be realized over an extended period of time. In addition, Neutra took measures to reduce energy costs, including placing an awning over the patio that reduced the glass doors’ exposure to the sun maintained a cool interior temperature. Birch cabinetry was complemented by light-colored brick. “Bear Valley” stone—which was quarried from Big Bear and had a tone that ranged from buff to deep maroon—was used for the fireplace, which divides the living room and patio. In the living room, a settee, which floated above the ground, looked toward both the fireplace and the view outside. Behind the settee, a cabinet not only offered storage but also delineated the hallway leading to the bedroom and bathroom.

Adapted from Neutra – Complete Works by Barbara Lamprecht (Taschen, 2000), p. 295.