Richard Neutra, Kaufmann desert house, Palm Springs, California, USA, 1946

Richard Neutra, Kaufmann desert house, Palm Springs, California, USA, 1946

Richard Neutra, Kaufmann desert house, Palm Springs, California, USA, 1946

The Kaufmann desert house was designed as a desert retreat from harsh winters. It was one of the last large-commission domestic projects designed by Richard Neutra, but it is also arguably one of his most architecturally noteworthy and famous homes.
This five-bedroom, five-bathroom vacation house in Palm Springs, was designed to emphasize connection to the desert landscape while offering shelter from harsh climatic conditions. Large sliding-glass walls open the living spaces and master bedroom to adjacent patios. Major outdoor rooms are enclosed by a row of movable vertical fins that offer flexible protection against sandstorms and intense heat.

A combined living and dining space, roughly square, lies at the center of the house.
The south wing connects to the public realm and includes a carport and two long, covered walkways. These walkways are separated by a massive stone wall and lead to public and service entries, respectively. The east wing of the house is connected to the living space by a north-facing internal gallery and houses a master bedroom suite. To the west, a kitchen, service spaces, and staff quarters are reached by a covered breezeway. In the northern wing, another open walkway passes along an exterior patio, leading to two guest rooms.

References :

Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House.

https://www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/the-hidden-history-of-the-kaufmann-house

https://www.mimoa.eu/projects/United%20States/Palm%20Springs/Kaufmann%20Desert%20House/