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Lovell Health House


Introduction

Built into a hillside in Los Angeles, California, The Lovell Health House is an important contribution to modern architecture. The house was designed by Richard Neutra, and construction of the project took place between the years 1927 and 1929. Through innovative design and use of technology in the construction, the Lovell Health House is a prime example of an efficient, economical and elegant design. The completion of this project was a turning point in Neutra’s career as an architect, for it set many precedents for future designs within the United States and Europe.

Structural Description

Neutra’s project gained recognition primarily for its use of light steel framework. Steel framework had mainly been used to construct larger buildings at this time. The Lovell Health House was credited as being the first house in the United States to be completely constructed using a steel frame of this sort. Looking at the framework in closer detail, 4 inch I section posts are separated by a distance of 5 feet and 1.5 inches. The steel beams carry open web joists, which are stiffened with 12 inch wing plates to protect the home from potential earthquake damage. For the interior walls and many horizontal elements on the exterior frame, insulin cotes the steel frame which is then sprayed with concrete. Windows line the exterior walls, sized to fit between the I section posts used to construct the steel frame. The house also includes several porches which are suspended from the building using thin steel cables rather than being cantilevered.

Unique to most other framework construction on the time, all parts were formed off-site before construction, and then transported to the Los Angeles hillside. The same technology used to fabricate the steel skeleton is used to construct skyscrapers. This allowed for the skeleton for this three story house to be constructed in less than 40 hours. Overall, the house measures to be 130 feet by 42 feet.

Qualifications as Structural Art

The Lovell Health House is an elegant design as the site plays as much of a part in the structure as the home does itself. The design of the house is focused on how the form works with the landscape, as the decks rest framing the hillside. The modern architecture also plays with the notion of what a house is. The entrance to the house is at the top of the hill, and inhabitants move their way down, rather than up.

The house also serves as an efficient design as all materials used in the structure support the home without any unnecesary ornament. In addition, the house uses the site for structural support, as the house is built directly into the hillside. In total, the house cost $59,000 to be constructed. This is the equivalent to approximately $778,000 today.

The home has faced some structural problems in more recent years. Some of the steel posts have begun to deteriorate, and there are some cracks in the concrete. The damages have not been significant enough to cause a large amount of problems in the house though. There have not been any major repairs on the house due to these damages.

Economically, the house is a large tourist attraction in Los Angeles today. After being completed, the house attracted 15,000 visitors in the first week after construction. Today, the house does not house residents. The house is open for tours for those who wish to see the world famous design.