Name: Lovell House
Client: Philip Lovell
Address: 4616 Dundee Dr, Los Angeles CA
Architect: Richard Neutra
Style: International Style
Description: The Lovell House, designed by Richard Neutra between 1927 and 1929 in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, is a groundbreaking expression of the International Style in American residential architecture. Commissioned by physician and health advocate Philip Lovell, the house is widely considered the first steel-frame residence in the United States and an early adopter of gunite (sprayed concrete) for its exterior construction. Perched on a steep hillside, its elongated horizontal volumes are visually light yet structurally precise, supported by steel columns, cantilevered balconies, and tension cables anchored to bedrock. Repetitive factory made steel window assemblies reinforce its industrial aesthetic, while the façade’s bands of concrete and glass create a rhythmic, modular quality.
Reflecting Philip Lovell’s passion for health, the home integrates spaces for outdoor exercise, sunbathing terraces, and a specially designed kitchen for vegetarian and raw nutrition practices. The interiors feature a sunken living room with expansive plate-glass views, a staircase illuminated by vintage Ford Model A headlights, and built-in amenities such as a library with custom shelving and integrated lighting. Upon completion, the Lovell House garnered international attention and was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s seminal 1932 “Modern Architecture” exhibition, helping to define Modernist principles in American architecture. It remains a landmark both for its technical innovations and its emotive synthesis of form, function, and healthful living.
Related Buildings:
444 Main Street
411 Elm Street
More Reading:
Philip Lovell: The Eccentric Health Guru Behind Neutra’s Lovell Health House
AD Classics: Lovell House / Richard Neutra