Neutra & The VDL House 

We had the opportunity to photograph a lookbook at the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences. It is located in Los Angeles, along Silverlake Boulevard.  And designed by the Viennese-American architect Richard Neutra and financed by Dutch philanthropist Dr. CH Van Der Leeuw. It is considered to be radical at the time it was built in 1932. The Studio and Residences features extensive glass work, a rooftop garden, louvers, and mirrors to integrate the environment around it. While the home is a testament to Mid-Century Design, it is also an example of extreme modernism and Neutra’s ability to look forward at the future of architecture. 

Design

For our team, it was incredibly inspiring to work in this space.  Our brand has been deeply influenced by the work of architects, designers, artists and creatives of the 50s, 60s and 70s, who in turn were affected by Richard Neutra and his students. The materials utilized in Neutra’s VDL Studio and Residences heavily guided the design of the building and interior.  The materials were intended to be exposed. This element of the VDL House especially resonates with us at David Kind, as we source premium materials and seek to accentuate those materials when we bring our exclusive designs to life. 

Functionality

The rooms at the VDL Studio and Residences are primarily multi-use with modular capabilities and designed to be extremely functional. With built-in functionality and a warm color palette, they were a beautiful backdrop for our lookbook. For us, it was obvious to pair the home with our handmade eyewear. 

History

Today, the VDL Studio and Residence are under the stewardship of the College of Environmental Design and Department of Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona. It was named a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Typically, if interested in a visit to the VDL Studio and Residences, it is open for tours on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours are $15 per person for adults and $10 per person for seniors, students and faculty. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Neutra VDL House will be closed until it’s safe to reopen.

At David Kind, we are inspired by innovative designers and thinkers and look to the past in both our design and production process to ensure our pieces are timeless and thoughtful. We pair traditional techniques with the latest developments in computer-aided manufacturing to craft the finest quality eyewear in the world. To learn more about how David Kind eyewear is made, click here.