Who Besides the Core Family were at This Live/Work Space?

The Neutra family at the airport: Dione, Aunt Regula, Richard and Raymond

During the family's first twenty-five years in the United States, much of it during the Great Depression, Richard Neutra struggled to advocate a new kind of architecture. Initially he found few clients.

The Neutras tried to balance their work life with the needs of their autistic son Frank and their other two children, Dion and Raymond. Their son Raymond has written about his memories of this in an essay titled The Loving Genesis of Charred Drawings.

Out of necessity the house became home to renters, a housekeeper/cook, other family members as well as to a series of young architect/apprentices. Clients conferences occurred here. To drum up business the Neutras also used the home as a cultural salon for both local Los Angeles residents and distinguished international visitors.

After Richard Neutra's death in 1970, Dione Neutra continued to live at the Neutra Compound until her death in 1990. During this twenty year period the compound continued as a musical and cultural salon. A number of distinguished young artists such as film maker Titus Leber and artist Maria Nordman stayed for extended periods.