Award-winning Architectural office, spatial practice, recently completed a major renovation of the Lord
House originally designed by Architect Richard Neutra, titled The Lord House. In 1961, prolific TV writer & composer Stephen Lord (CHiPs, Fantasy Island, Johnny Ringo, etc.) commissioned mid-century modernist architect Richard Neutra to design a home on a 26,500SF promontory lot with jetliner views toward the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the San Fernando Valley and beyond. The property is located in Los Angeles, off of Mulholland Drive at the end of a private road. Perched at the top of a ridge, the Lord House offers seclusion and privacy.
Husband & wife architect team, Dora Chi & Erik Amir (of spatial practice) discovered the single floor home in 2021 gutted and dilapidated. The property offered Richard Neutra’s seamless blend of architecture and landscape. The bones of the international-style house is composed of his signature floating roof plane sliding over smooth stucco vertical planes with strong horizontal lines, centralized freestanding fireplace with a floating hearth, and walls of glass framing views. Over the years, the house had a few interventions and additions. Working together with the previous owner, the architects uncovered the original collection of blueprints and photographs of the house. This also includes Neutra’s hand-sketched perspectives, elevations and plans.
The architect couple underwent extensive renovations of the property to restore Neutra’s design, modernize the kitchen and bathrooms, and also added a contemporary pavilion featuring a guest house and deck that appears to float over the hillside.
THE PROJECT
A large entry patio penetrates the home, guiding visitors with a low hanging rectangular canopy, crossing a bridge over a reflection pool into the front door. The entry features an added Japanese Black Pine Bonsai tree found in the original perspective.
Facing the valley to the north, the living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors make the transition between indoors and outdoors appear nonexistent. Neutra’s contrasting heavy yet floating fireplace is centered between the open living room and dining room.
Each bedroom is oriented to capture the view of the valley and mountains. Doors are restored to the original proportions, walls are detailed to appear floating over wide white oak hardwood planks. Original black and white terrazzo in the entry was restored to contrast the added warm hardwood floor.
Natural light fills the house with the expansive glazing and series of light wells placed throughout the home. Utilizing the existing openings, the new white oak open kitchen frame views between the entry patio and the Santa Monica Mountains. The new modern bathrooms are designed to be minimal and timeless with pure and geometric shapes expressed with warm floating travertine vanities.
Addition - Pavilion, guest house, and pool cabana The addition was designed to be respectful of the existing house, yet have an architectural identity of its own. While the main house is a series of floating planes, the addition is its inversion – two abstract volumes tied between a floating canopy built around an existing tall Cypress tree.
Pool and landscape, The loose curves of the landscape and pool percolate through the orthogonal design of the house and addition creating various gardens. A form of tranquility is provided by rocks and stones that have been placed strategically throughout the gardens.
QUOTES BY THE DESIGNERS
“We were captured by the simplicity and purposeful design toward nature by Neutra that made the quality of space so unique,” explains Dora Chi, “Naturally, we were also excited to dive into the world of one of the most influential mid century architects, Richard Neutra.”
“We became a “noise eliminator” through the process of design and construction by making sure we recapture the design intentions but at the same time allowing new and contemporary interventions,” says Erik Amir, “The project was very challenging and rewarding at the same time, especially as an architect creating our own home.”
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