LIFE

Modernism Week honors Richard Neutra with a star

Robert Hopwood
The Desert Sun

Modernism Week continued its tradition Friday of sponsoring a star along the Palm Springs Walk of Stars at the beginning of their weeklong celebration of mid-century modern architecture and design.

The group honored architect Richard Neutra on Friday with the 379th Golden Palm Star, which is located next to the Palm Springs Art Museum's Architecture and Design Center along Palm Canyon Drive.

"If it wasn't for Richard Neutra … Palm Springs would not have become, as it did, a cradle of mid-century modernism," according to a proclamation that Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet read out loud during Friday's ceremony. He then declared Feb. 13, 2015, "Richard Neutra Day."

Speakers at the event included writer and historian Barbara Lambrecht, architect Ron Radziner and architectural historian Beth Edwards Harris.

John Bolivar, director of the Palm Springs Walk of Fame, presented Raymond Neutra with the star honoring his father, who died in 1970.

Neutra, who was born in Vienna and emigrated to the United States in 1923, was the Los Angeles-based architect who designed the Miller House, at 2311 North Indian Canyon Drive, and the Kaufman House, at 470 West Vista Chino. He also helped introduce the International Style of architecture to the United States.

"I like to see that half a century after he died that people are still appreciating all the effort he made to house people in a humane way," Raymond Neutra said after the ceremony to unveil his father's star.