With a stylish blend of art, landscape and practical comfort, Vienna-born Richard Neutra (1892-1970) became one the best known architects working in the Mid-Century Modern tradition.

His genius is famously exemplified in the "Pavilion Style" Los Angeles homes that he designed along Silver Lake Boulevard (informally referred to as "The Neutra Colony") across from the former reservoir, as well as numerous apartment buildings and public structures.               

Among his celebrated works is the clubhouse at the Eagle Rock Recreation Center, completed in 1953, only four years after Neutra appeared on the cover of Time magazine. In the 1980's—a decade not famous for its architectural achievements—plans were underway to demolish this emblematic building. Luckily for preservationists, the building is known today as Cultural Historical monument #536, as designated by the City of Los Angeles.    

Neutra's son Dion assisted his father in overseeing design and construction of the Eagle Rock building, which features spider leg frame construction and roll-up walls. Dion Neutra told writer Candace A. Wedlan of the Los Angeles Times that one of the challenges in designing the center was to create as much flexibility as possible.

"So we went wild," he said. "We wanted to be able to open the building like an open-air pavilion, but we also had to design it like an indoor basketball court. So, we ended up designing a series of walls that can rise up like a double-hung window with about eight feet of clearance."    

Dion Neutra said the idea was to promote a sense of community in keeping with the building's multipurpose needs.

"We have never designed in a stylistic manner—our design comes from a deeper place," he said. "We are not concerned about what it looks like—a style someone has seen in a magazine. It is a matter of finding what draws them to the style. So the work has a timeless quality. It resonates with people now. By avoiding modishness, we tap into a deeper place, and that is why people respond."    

The clubhouse won a national Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects in 1955. It was declared a historic monument in 1991 and was adorned with a bronze plaque that bore an unfortunate error—the Neutra name was misspelled. It was corrected in time for a 75th anniversary celebration of the Neutra firm (and Dion's 75th birthday), held at the park in 2001.     For more information on Neutra's work, click here.