Neutra VDL Studio and Residences

Neutra VDL Studio and Residences is a modern home and architectural studio in Silver Lake featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, rooftop gardens, and sliding walls. These elements connect the interior spaces with small exterior gardens, creating a blend between indoor and outdoor living areas.

Dutch philanthropist Van Der Leeuw funded construction for architect Richard Neutra in 1932. The building was destroyed by fire in 1963 but was subsequently rebuilt and has since become significant in California's modernist architectural history.

The residence functions as a teaching museum under Cal Poly Pomona's College of Environmental Design, allowing visitors to see how a modernist architect lived and worked. The space demonstrates the philosophy of integrating daily life with creative practice.

The property opens for guided tours led by architecture students who explain the building's innovative design features and construction methods. It is helpful to book in advance and plan time to see both the main residence and the garden areas at a relaxed pace.

The compound includes both the main residence and a 1940 garden house, demonstrating different design phases on one site. Walking through both structures reveals how the architect's approach to modernism evolved across a span of years.

Location: Silver Lake

Inception: 1932

Architects: Richard Neutra, Dion Neutra

Architectural style: modern architecture

GPS coordinates: 34.09845,-118.26046

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:54