Neutra Annual Report Redesign

ARCHITECTURE IS

IS A SOCIAL ART.

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WHAT IS BIOREALISM

A YEAR OF EDUCATION

EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

5 YEAR MISSION IN REVIEW

OUR VISION.

The Nuetra Institute for Survival Through Design has been built upon one goal: surviving in the climate crisis through well-researched design that helps humanity and the planet thrive. We preserve and use the Neutra legacy to promote creative research and design that benefits people and the planet.

During the 2022 fiscal year, the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design (NISTD) made significant progress on its educational mission. The Institute’s mission is to preserve and use the Neutra legacy to promote creative research and design that benefits people and the planet. Originally founded in 1962 by Richard J. Neutra, today’s Institute uses Neutra-designed properties to educate people about preservation and how Neutra’s ideas about Biorealism can be used in architecture and design today.

NEUTRA OFFICE BUILDING Julius Shulman, 1936-1997.

OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE.

We preserve and use the Neutra legacy to promote creative research and design that benefits people and the planet.

OUR VALUES

Promoting and deploying climate responsive technology and natural features to benefit humanity and the planet.

Listening, researching, and interdisciplinary teamwork within the institution reaching towards well rounded for steady improvement.

Designing with intention for affordability, social justice, and unique individual needs

Designing for delight

Working towards evidence inspired solutions, and creating learning opportunities from our successes and failures.

Preserving and gaining insightful knowledge from designs of the past that exemplified these values.

WHAT BIOREALISM?

“Biorealism” is a term coined by Richard Neutra to capture his recognition of “the inherent and inseparable relationship between man and nature” as well as his philosophical approach to design. By combining “bio” and “realism,” Neutra was signaling the priority he gave to respecting the constraints and possibilities human biology presents for design. Biology isn’t a fashion trend.

IS BIOREALISM?

Biorealism was meant to firmly separate Neutra from the other Modern architects that were his contemporaries. It means that science informs design decisions to ensure that they are made on the firmest possible grounds. Neutra believed that the evidence needed for good design could be found in the basic physiology and neural functioning of humans.

A YEAR FOR EDUCATION.

During the 2022 fiscal year, the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design (NISTD) made significant progress on its educational mission. The Institute’s mission is to preserve and use the Neutra legacy to promote creative research and design that benefits people and the planet. Originally founded in 1962 by Richard J. Neutra, today’s Institute uses its three Neutra designed properties to educate people about preservation and how Neutra’s ideas about Biorealism can be used in architecture and design today.

EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS.

Education plays a crucial role in fostering understanding, innovation, and progress across various fields. By providing individuals with knowledge and skills, education empowers them to make informed decisions, contribute to society, and pursue their aspirations. Furthermore, education serves as a means to preserve and transmit cultural heritage, ensuring that past achievements and lessons are not forgotten but rather built upon.

Highlighting events within education serves several important purposes. Firstly, it raises awareness about significant developments, achievements, and challenges within the educational landscape. This awareness can spark discussions, collaborations, and initiatives aimed at addressing pressing issues and advancing educational practices.

WCAPT Preservation Documentation Workshop

A workshop on digital scanning and HABS photography was attended by thirty preservation professionals and graduate students. Alan White from AQYER showcased Lidar and Matterport scanning technology using Reunion House as a case study. Photographer Stephen Schafer discussed the HABS, HAER, and HALS programs of the National Park Service and led hands-on sessions documenting Reunion House. Panel discussions included contributions from preservation architect Peyton Hall, Neutra scholar Barbara Lamprecht, and USC graduate student Ye Hong.

WCAPT WORKSHOP Neutra Archives

The Ideas of Richard Neutra

With the invaluable support of a generous financial contribution from Russell Brown and the dedicated translation efforts of Birgit Knauf-Goedeking, the Institute successfully translated the German film “The Ideas of Richard Neutra” into English. This translation was made possible by their commitment to accessibility and understanding of Neutra’s architectural philosoph. The translated version of the film is now freely accessible to the public, offering a broader audience the opportunity to engage with Neutra’s ideas and legacy. The translation is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEtcadNaZ7s

Tours & Visiting Scholars at Reunion House

Reunion House continues hosting visiting scholars, including notable figures like Lisa Heshong, James Wise, and Paul Chamberlain from Sheffield Hallam University. Educators are welcomed to experience living in the primary suite, immersing themselves in Neutra’s design ethos. Additionally, academic groups, such as Lilian Pfaff’s class from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and professionals from Architectural Resources Group (ARG), toured Reunion House and the Neutra Office as part of their professional development activities.

THE REUNION HOUSE Neutra Archives

The Ideas of Richard Neutra

The Neutra Institute is actively engaged in restorative efforts aimed at preserving and revitalizing architectural treasures. Through meticulous restoration projects, such as the Reunion House, Treetops Apartments, and the Museum/Apartments, the Institute is breathing new life into Neutra’s iconic designs. The Institute’s commitment extends beyond physical restoration, encompassing educational initiatives that raise awareness to architectural preservation. By combining restoration with education, the Neutra Institute is ensuring that these architectural gems continue to inspire and enrich future generations.

THE NEUTRA ARCHIVES Neutra Archives

5 YEAR MISSION

PROMOTING CURRENT RESEARCH AND RESPONSIBLE DESIGN

When the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design was established in the early 1960’s, Richard Neutra thought that his reputation for design responsive to human and climatic needs would attract funds to foster neuroscientific and environmental psychology research into the perennial human needs demanding accommodation. With Dion Neutra’s 2019 bequest of securities and income generating Neutra-designed buildings, the Institute will soon have modest resources of its own to

assist in attending meetings, scholarships, or research fellowships and awards. It can also deploy the preserved Neutra legacy to celebrate innovative socially and ecologically responsible design inspired by evidence. We propose to do this in partnership with the research community, and by fostering and celebrating best practices of practitioners in the wider design field, including those who influence what is designed and implemented in the real world.

MISSION OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING ARCHIVAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE

The Institute will establish and explain its leadership structure, outlining the path it will take to deliver programming dedicated to our mission. A succession plan will be developed, offering a range of options for housing the assets required to pursue activities currently within the Institute’s responsibilities. An accessible and informative website will be created and maintained, providing links to Neutra information from around the world.

Online catalogs for the Neutra Archives at UCLA, CalPoly Pomona, and other relevant

institutions will be completed. Additionally, policies facilitating low-cost scholarly research and appropriate commercial use, compatible with intellectual property rights, will be formulated. The Institute will begin republishing Neutra’s writings that are relevant to contemporary times. Educational materials will be created about these buildings and neighborhoods, highlighting the enduring human needs that necessitate new solutions in a world confronted by climate and social change.

IN REVIEW.

The 2022-2023 fiscal year has been a productive one for the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design. Educational programming using the Institute’s properties has included undergraduate, graduate, and professional development courses on a wide variety of topics, from neuroscience and design to preservation best practices. These programs have reached hundreds of studentsand practitioners from all over the world. The Institute looks forward to expanding its work in these areas in the coming year.