The Constance Perkins House
Encyclopedia
The Constance Perkins House is a house designed by Richard Neutra
and built in Pasadena
, California
, 1952-55.
Constance Perkins was born in Denver in 1913. Her father was a Doctor and her mother was an invalid. She studied art and got her BA at the University of Denver
. In 1937 she attained her Masters degree in Art History
at Mills College
in Oakland.
In 1947, Perkins started working at Occidental College
as a professor of Art History and it is here she meets Richard Neutra
and eventually asks him to design her home.
When Neutra
was designing the house for her "he had to reexamine the single-family home and rework conventional patterns of the type." The house itself sits on a little hill in Pasadena, California. "The tiny house was constructed of inexpensive materials- wood, plaster, and glass; a spiderleg beam extended the space by projecting out into a small reflecting pool that meanders through one of the glass walls of the house...He also measured the physical dimensions of his clients. Constance Perkins was a small woman, so he scaled the house to her."
Her home is influential in modern architecture because of its design and the type of family that would occupy such a space. Perkins herself was a single working woman who had chosen a career over a family. She has requested no main bedroom, but would prefer sleeping in her workspace. She wanted a space "as a domestic environment in which individual creativity and work, rather than family and leisure activities were the central concept."
Neutra
and Perkins worked closely together on the development of her new home.
In August 1953, Perkins sent Neutra
a list of "Likes and Dislikes" with her autobiography so that Neutra
could get a feel for what exactly she wanted for her new home.
In October 1953 Neutra
had completed the preliminary drawings for her house and after approval and construction, Perkins was finally allowed to move into her new home in December 1955. The Perkins house is one of Neutra
's smaller designs. It was formatted special for Perkins and her budget. The house consists of "a free-from pool extending into the living room." Apparently Neutra
and Perkins had some disagreement over what the pool should look like. She didn't want it to be of a surrealist nature but wanted, "something relaxing and more intimate." The final cost of the house came to about $17,166, which was over her original budget, nonetheless she was happy with the results.
Both Perkins and Neutra
were influenced by John Entenza
's Arts and Architecture Magazine. The magazine feature a lot of Neutra
's work and other famous architects. "The avowed purpose [of the magazine] was to present good, contemporary design to the magazine’s largely lay audience and nudge its professional and architectural student subscribers into a truer path. The results were remarkable and A&A’s readers, who held architecture and art close to their hearts, would curl up with a cup of coffee for an hour or so to read the latest issue of the magazine." Perkins saw a great deal of Neutra
's designs from this magazine and no doubt inspired her even further to have him design her own home.
Perkins died in March 1991 and left the house to the Huntington Library and Art Gallery in which she volunteered the last years of her life. The house is now privately owned.
's book Survival Through Design:
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 Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 1952-55.
Constance Perkins was born in Denver in 1913. Her father was a Doctor and her mother was an invalid. She studied art and got her BA at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
. In 1937 she attained her Masters degree in Art History
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
at Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
in Oakland.
In 1947, Perkins started working at Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
as a professor of Art History and it is here she meets 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 eventually asks him to design her home.
When Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
was designing the house for her "he had to reexamine the single-family home and rework conventional patterns of the type." The house itself sits on a little hill in Pasadena, California. "The tiny house was constructed of inexpensive materials- wood, plaster, and glass; a spiderleg beam extended the space by projecting out into a small reflecting pool that meanders through one of the glass walls of the house...He also measured the physical dimensions of his clients. Constance Perkins was a small woman, so he scaled the house to her."
Her home is influential in modern architecture because of its design and the type of family that would occupy such a space. Perkins herself was a single working woman who had chosen a career over a family. She has requested no main bedroom, but would prefer sleeping in her workspace. She wanted a space "as a domestic environment in which individual creativity and work, rather than family and leisure activities were the central concept."
Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
and Perkins worked closely together on the development of her new home.
In August 1953, Perkins sent Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
a list of "Likes and Dislikes" with her autobiography so that Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
could get a feel for what exactly she wanted for her new home.
In October 1953 Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
had completed the preliminary drawings for her house and after approval and construction, Perkins was finally allowed to move into her new home in December 1955. The Perkins house is one of Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
's smaller designs. It was formatted special for Perkins and her budget. The house consists of "a free-from pool extending into the living room." Apparently Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
and Perkins had some disagreement over what the pool should look like. She didn't want it to be of a surrealist nature but wanted, "something relaxing and more intimate." The final cost of the house came to about $17,166, which was over her original budget, nonetheless she was happy with the results.
Both Perkins and Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
were influenced by John Entenza
John Entenza
John Entenza , born in Calumet, Michigan, was one of the pivotal figures in the growth of American modernism: in the fields of environmental, architectural, landscape, and product design; and fine arts, and artisan crafts; in post-war California and the United States.-Arts + Architecture...
's Arts and Architecture Magazine. The magazine feature a lot of Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
's work and other famous architects. "The avowed purpose [of the magazine] was to present good, contemporary design to the magazine’s largely lay audience and nudge its professional and architectural student subscribers into a truer path. The results were remarkable and A&A’s readers, who held architecture and art close to their hearts, would curl up with a cup of coffee for an hour or so to read the latest issue of the magazine." Perkins saw a great deal of Neutra
Neutra
Neutra can refer to:Place name name:* the German name of Nitra, a city in SlovakiaFamily name:* Samuel Neutra , a Jewish Hungarian-Viennese proprietor of a metal foundry** Richard Neutra, a Jewish Austrian-American architect...
's designs from this magazine and no doubt inspired her even further to have him design her own home.
Perkins died in March 1991 and left the house to the Huntington Library and Art Gallery in which she volunteered the last years of her life. The house is now privately owned.
Quotes
Constance Perkins critique on Richard NeutraRichard 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...
's book Survival Through Design:
- "The greatest enjoyment derived from re-readings of Survival Through Design may be gained from the unique and penetrating manner in which the author has related the numerous philosophies of eighteenth-century rationalism through twentieth-century concepts of a space-time experience, to problems of contemporary design."