Richard Neutra designed the Kaufmann Desert House in Palm Springs, California between 1946-1948. Neutra was a pioneer of modern architecture who studied under Adolf Loos, Gustav Aman, and Frank Lloyd Wright. The house features large glass openings and cantilevered slabs to create an airy, floating structure integrated with the surrounding desert context. Neutra designed the house to create a microclimate and separate public and private spaces according to cardinal directions.

1. KAUFMANN DESERT HOUSE , CALIFORNIA
- RICHARD NEUTRA
DANISH FARAZ
5TH SEM “B” SEC

2. KAUFMANN DESERT HOUSE , CALIFORNIA
ARCHITECT’S PROFILE :
• 1892-1970
• PIONEER OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE
• LEARNED UNDER ADOLF LOOS , GUSTAV
AMAAN & FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
• Perspective.
• Linearity / straight
lines .
• Creating micro-
climate.
• Integrating along with
DESIGN STYLE
• Sense of irony • Modernistic
• Bio-realism
Practical comfortNature
NEUTRA’S TAKE ON ARCHITECTURE
”NO ORGANISM LIKES TO BE TRAPPED
INSIDE A CLOSED BOX”

3. KAUFMANN DESERT HOUSE , CALIFORNIA
ARCHITECT : RICHARD NEUTRA
BUILDING PROFILE
BUILDING
CONTRACTOR :
CAMPBELL
CONSTRUCTION
S
BUILDING
TYPOLOGY :
RESIDENTIAL
(VACATION
HOUSE)
CONSTRUCTION
YEAR:
1946-1948
LOCATION :
PALM SPRINGS,
CALIFORNIA
UNITED STATES OF
BUILDING MATERIALS :
STONE , GLASS , BRICK ,
STEEL
TOTAL BUILT AREA :

4. KAUFMANN DESERT HOUSE , CALIFORNIA
ANALYSISDESIGN
PROCESS
DESIGN CONCEPT IS DERIVED
FROM CARDINAL DIRECTION POINTS
AND THE SPACES ARE SEPERATED
ACCORDING TO PRIVACY AND
PLACED IN SUITABLE DIRECTIONS .
SITE AND
CONTEXT
SITE IS PLACED ON A MILD
CONTOUR ADMIST THE DENSE
CALIFORNIAN DESERT .
HAS A STRONG DESERT CONTEXT ,
DESIGNED KEEPING THAT IN MIND .
CLIMATE
RESPONSIVE
STRONG SUMMERS AND MILD
WINTERS ,
MICRO-CLIMATE CREATED WITH A
HELP OF AN EXTERNAL POOL AND
LANDSCAPES IN RELATION TO THE
BACKGROUND.
THICK STONE BAFFLE WALLS GIVEN
TO DIRECT DIFFUSED WINDS INTO
THE HOUSE AND STRONG WINDS
SPATIAL
NORTH – PATIO , GUEST ROOM
EAST – MASTER BEDROOM
SOUTH – MAIN ENTRANCE
WEST – KITCHEN, TOILET

5. KAUFMANN DESERT HOUSE , CALIFORNIA
ANALYSISAESTHETIC AND
FORM
FUNCTIONAL
STRUCTURAL
• MATERIALS LIKE STEEL AND GLASS
MAKE THE HOUSE OPEN AND AIRY
LIGHT.
• MORE OF HORIZONTALITY AND
VERTICALITY IN THE HOUSE.
• LARGE GLASS OPENINGS GIVE THE
HOUSE A FLOATING EFFECT.
• CENTRAL CORE CONSISTS OF
GUEST ROOM AND PATIO (PUBLIC
SPACE).
• BACKSIDE BUFFERED WITH
SERVANT ROOMS AND TOILETS.
• LUXURY SPACES ARE PROVIDED
AS PER CLIENTS MAIN
REQUIREMENT
(PATIO,POOL,INFORMAL
BACKYARD)
• LOAD BEARING STRUCTURE
• LARGE CANTILEVER SLABS (UPTO
5M)

6. KAUFMANN DESERT HOUSE , CALIFORNIA
ELEVATION A
ELEVATION B
SECTION AB
A B
FLOOR PLAN
24 M
20 M

7. KAUFMANN DESERT HOUSE , CALIFORNIA
NEUTRA’S OPINION SELF OPINION
”WITH ALL MY SENSES , ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS SPACE
WILL NOT AGE WITH TIME AS I HAVE APPLIED AND
GIVEN THEM ALL THE SIX SENSES ”(BIO-REALISM).
A MAGNIFICIENT PIECE AND CLASSIC LIVING EXAMPLE
OF MODERNISTIC STRUCTURE .
SUCH BEAUTY WHERE FRANK LLOYD’S AND ADOLF’S
GLIMPSE SEEN HERE AND THERE . BLENDED
BEAUTIFULLY WITH THE SURROUNDING.
- DANISH FARAZ
CONCLUSIO
N