THE RIVIERA METHODIST CHURCH
NEUTRA;S "BECKSTRAND HOUSE"
By Denise Kano
Drive around any South Bay neighborhood, and you'll see a variety of different
Lloyd Wright
architectural styles ranging from the traditional beach cottage to the super modern.
Several influential architects of the past have left their mark on the South Bay in the
Lloyd Wright settled in Southern California in 1913 with his brother. He started out
way of numerous residences and commercial buildings. Richard Neutra and Lloyd
as a landscape architect and eventually designed and built a number of houses in
Wright, respectively, have contributed to the diverse architectural geography in the
the Hollywood and Los Feliz districts of Los Angeles in the mid- to late 1920s. He
South Bay, and steps have been taken to preserve some of their work.
designed the second and third band shells at the Hollywood Bowl.
THE RIVIERA METHODIST CHURCH
Richard Neutra
The Riviera Methodist Church. Built in 1958, this mid-century, modern church was
designed by Richard Neutra and his son, Dion, and Robert Alexander.
Richard Neutra spent most of his life and career in Southern California, and is
considered to be among the most important modernist architects. Neutra is famous
NEUTRA'S "BECKSTRAND HOUSE"
for focusing on the true needs and wishes of his clients as opposed to simply putting
Neutra's "Beckstrand House" is one of his earlier designs and overlooks Malaga Cove.
his own artistic stamp on a project. He is known for creating a "modern regionalism"
Built in 1940, the home reportedly used all prefabricated wall frames with built-in
for Southern California.
windows. Built on what used to be an orange grove, the residence is now surrounded
with shrubbery which adds to the home's mystique.
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