ARCHITECTS

(1892-1970)

Richard Neutra greatly influenced desert modernism and is considered one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. He studied at the Vienna University of Technology, moving to New York in 1923. An admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright, he spent time at Taliesin before relocating to Los Angeles in 1925. Grace Lewis Miller in 1937 commissioned Neutra to design a winter getaway in Palm Springs. His second desert project was the now-iconic Kaufmann House, located in Palm Springs. The Kaufmann house displays seamless transitions of indoor-outdoor design, utilizing the surrounding landscape.

The Maslon Residence (1961) was one of his last projects before he returned to Europe. Located at Tamarisk Country Club, it was the winter home for art collectors Sam and Luella Maslon. This 5,000-square-foot home was a sublime example of country club modernist architecture with its sweeping roof lines and extended overhangs. The home showcased their incredible art collection. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided breathtaking panoramic mountain and golf course views. Sadly, this Rancho Mirage Modernist gem was razed in 2002, an act that drew worldwide outcry, but compelled the city of Rancho Mirage to commission a historic resources survey.