RICHARD NEUTRA BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS 1960–1970 IN SWITZERLAND

Forty years ago on 16 April 1970 Richard Neutra (b. 1892 in Vienna) died in Wuppertal. Living in Los Angeles since 1925 Neutra created an icon of the International Style with the Lovell Health House (1929), but only became first well-known by a broad public in the 1950s through his elegant flat roof villas, which were realised above all in sunny southern California. Neutra’s complete oeuvre includes almost three hundred completed buildings.

Less known is the fact that Neutra spent the greater part of the last years of his life in Europe and here – in Germany, France and Switzerland – was able to realise eight villas and two housing developments. Neutra’s Swiss projects during this time constitute the centre of this exhibition: the four villas in Ascona, Brione sopra Minusio, Wengen and Stettfurt, as well as three unrealised for Zurich, Ermatingen and Ennetbaden.

Preparation for the exhibition has led to new basic research that will serve as the foundation for a new chapter in European architecture history: plans, drawings and further materials from the Richard Neutra estate in Los Angeles not only document the Swiss oeuvre of the architect, but also make his way of working, his relationships to his clients and his understanding of architec- ture manifest. As well, photographs by the Dutch architecture photographer Iwan Baan that were especially completed for the exhibition will be presented.

The housing developments in Germany prove that Neutra did not only succeed in Europe as the architect of luxurious villas. After visiting the Siedlung Halen near Bern by Atelier 5 he enthusiastically proclaimed that the project was: ‘really doing honor to Switzerland’.

Initially developed for the Museum MARTa in Herford, the travelling exhibition was adapted and enlarged with additional materials for the stop in Basel.