Rice House (Richmond, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
The Rice House in Richmond, Virginia
is a residence designed by modernist architect Richard Neutra
and built in the mid-1960s on Lock Island in the James River
. Since 1999 the house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The house is notable as being the only house in Richmond built in the International Style
.
Characteristic of many of Neutra's houses, the architecture features strong horizontal elements detailed in what appear to be concrete, but are actually faced wood and steel beams. Fenestration is provided by expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. The living room of the Rice House offers a view overlooking the James River. Other details of the house follow the International Style: exterior railings, balconies and layered, flat roofs.
The Rice House is named for Walter and Inger Rice who commissioned the house to be built by Neutra. Walter Lyman Rice (1903-1998) is notable as a top executive of the Reynolds Metals Company
and as United States Ambassador to Australia
from 1969 through 1973. In 1996 the Rices donated the Rice House to the Science Museum of Virginia
.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
is a residence designed by modernist architect Richard Neutra
Richard Neutra
Richard Joseph Neutra is considered one of modernism's most important architects.- Biography :Neutra was born in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Vienna, Austria Hungary, on April 8, 1892. He was born into both-Jewish wealthy family...
and built in the mid-1960s on Lock Island in the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
. Since 1999 the house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The house is notable as being the only house in Richmond built in the International Style
International style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
.
Characteristic of many of Neutra's houses, the architecture features strong horizontal elements detailed in what appear to be concrete, but are actually faced wood and steel beams. Fenestration is provided by expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. The living room of the Rice House offers a view overlooking the James River. Other details of the house follow the International Style: exterior railings, balconies and layered, flat roofs.
The Rice House is named for Walter and Inger Rice who commissioned the house to be built by Neutra. Walter Lyman Rice (1903-1998) is notable as a top executive of the Reynolds Metals Company
Reynolds Metals
Reynolds Group Holdings is an American packaging company with its roots in the Reynolds Metals Company, was the second largest aluminum company in the United States, and the third largest in the world...
and as United States Ambassador to Australia
United States Ambassador to Australia
The position of United States Ambassador to Australia has existed since 1940. U.S.-Australian relations have been close throughout the history of Australia...
from 1969 through 1973. In 1996 the Rices donated the Rice House to the Science Museum of Virginia
Science Museum of Virginia
The Science Museum of Virginia is a science museum located in Richmond, Virginia.-History:In 1906, the Virginia General Assembly approved funds for the construction of a simple "exhibits center" to display mineral and timber exhibits being assembled for the Jamestown Exposition of 1907. After the...
.