
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 :
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/