Richard J. Neutra Elementary School (Ring Plan)

Ring Plan School

Neutra’s Ring School plan is an early articulation of the architect’s design imperatives for what he termed as a “New Architecture”. Utilizing large glass panels and radiant terrace heating under horizontal overhangs, this plan sought to bring students into a more intimate conversation with the dynamism of the natural world around them. This closeness to the outside world of turning leaves in the fall and spring flowers, Neutra believed, would comfort children and ease the transition of return to school from time off. These ideas, when physicalized by a skeleton construction clad with pre-fabricated lightweight materials, stood a better chance of reaching smaller communities with limited means.

Though this plan was never built as it was originally conceived, its footprint comprised of a central circular corridor enclosing an outdoor courtyard, was employed in various future school projects, such as the Lemoore Naval Air Base Housing (1958-1961).

Adapted from Neutra – Complete Works by Barbara Lamprecht (Taschen, 2000), p. 82.