Alistair: Posted on Saturday, 5 November 2011 11:05 PM

Secret Design Studio recently blogged about the risk of demolition of Richard Neutra’s Kronish House in Beverley Hills, and  thought it would be interesting to compare another one of Richard Neutra’s houses, the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, with a new home by Mexican architectural firm Parque Humano in Mexico City.  The Kaufman Home is not at risk of demolition after it was restored in the 1990’s, and the photos below are post-restoration.

Obviously the Parque Humano house has been influenced, or derived from Neutra’s Kaufmann House, so it is really interesting to compare these photos.  Both are beautifully crafted houses and face similar climatic challenges.

Photo above Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.
Photo below is Parque Humano’s AA House in Mexico City.

Photo above Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.
Photo below is Parque Humano’s AA House in Mexico City.

Photo above Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.
Photo below is Parque Humano’s AA House in Mexico City.

Photo above Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.
Photo below is Parque Humano’s AA House in Mexico City.

Photo above Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.
Photo below is Parque Humano’s AA House in Mexico City.

Photo above Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.
Photo below is Parque Humano’s AA House in Mexico City.

Photo above Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.
Photo below is Parque Humano’s AA House in Mexico City.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, however in the case of the Parque Humano house I think that the architects used the Kaufmann House as a starting point, and have creatively re-interpreted it for 21st century living.  This home certainly has a more formal nature, with its grander entrance, and less casual living areas, however Secret Design Studio would have to look very carefully at each photo to work out which house they belonged to!

Secret Design Studio also believe that this shows that well designed mid-century modernist homes can still influence the architects of today, and it is wonderful to see an old home (1946) that was restored in the mid 1990’s help spur a revived interest in mid-century modernist homes.

The story of the saving and restoration of the Kaufmann Home is documented here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/arts/design/31hous.html from 2007, when it was reported going to auction at one of Christies auctions for post-war and contemporary art.  The owners had purchased it in 1992 for $1.5 million and restored it to its original design. It sold for $12.95 million in 2008.