Richard Neutra’s Kronish House continues to seem like the subject of a preservationist’s fairytale. Saved from the brink of destruction in 2011, the Beverly Hills home has been painstakingly restored and rehabilitated over the last few years, and now the property has received a prestigious honor award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Originally built for developer Herbert Kronish in 1954, the house later fell into disrepair and was slated for demolition before an eleventh hour purchase by Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos III (most famous for once having dated Paris Hilton). Public outcry over the possible demolition was strong enough to inspire Beverly Hills lawmakers to adopt the city’s first preservation ordinance (though it’s since been scaled back a bit).
Now, the house is looking better than ever, complemented by its award winning landscaping. According to an ASLA project page, the home has been largely restored to its original design, with newer additions tacked on over the years cast aside. To ensure adherence to Neutra’s original concept, restorers relied on photographs of the home taken by legendary architectural photographer Julius Shulman.
The restoration was overseen by Marmol Radziner, who also reconfigured the grounds of the two-acre property, adding hundreds of trees, shrubs, and perennials. Per the project page, this helped make the property "a lush oasis for urban wildlife in an otherwise biologically monotonous neighborhood."
The lush surroundings fit in well with Neutra’s design, which features glass walls and an enclosed garden at the center of the home. Famous for his "biorealist" philosophy, the architect specialized in homes that integrated their natural surroundings into the design. In this case, restorers appear to have attempted a reversal of this concept—bringing the grounds into harmony with the architect’s modernist vision.
- Paris Hilton Ex Stavros Niarchos Bought Neutra's Kronish House [Curbed LA]
- Exclusive: Tour Neutra's Rundown Kronish House Now--It Could Be Gone in 2 Weeks [Curbed LA]
- Neutra-Designed Kronish House Looks Headed For Demolition [Curbed LA]
- Beverly Hills Rolling Its Historic Preservation Rules Way Back [Curbed LA]
Loading comments...