Celebrating a Special Neutra

For the modernist aficionado, few homes can surpass one designed by master architect Richard Neutra. That's why it's always a special occasion when a California Neutra comes up for sale.

The latest Neutra looking for a new steward is the 1950 Coe House, located in SoCal's prestigious Palos Verdes Peninsula.

This unusual Neutra design seems right at home in the Peninsula's exclusive city of Rolling Hills, the only gated city in America. Here, in this ranch-style equestrian community, you can also find historic homes by architects Cliff May, Wallace Neff, among others.

Priced at $5,495,000, the one-acre property, at 7 Cinchring Road, is listed by Elizabeth Donovan of the Pacific Palisades office of Coldwell Banker Realty, and is being shown to pre-qualified buyers only.

"It's overwhelming…you walk through the front door, and are greeted with this span of windows, it's all ocean view," says Donovan.

"Any time of day you come, there's a different kind of light. Neutra was so thoughtful about siting these houses," she adds. "Sunset is absolutely remarkable. It's mid-century modern…so warm and inviting, not only the house but the owners as well, what they've done to it, and how they've furnished it."

The private oasis features unobstructed coastline views capturing Catalina Island through a wall of windows for seamless indoor/outdoor living. Overlooking the idyllic Peninsula, the Coe House combines inspiring views with easy convenience to Rolling Hills' tony shops and restaurants.

The 2,018-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 3-bath home features expansive windows across the rear with a ribbon of transom windows across the front. Large windows bring in the beauty of natural light, playing against the home's clean lines and defined design.

Unlike Neutra's typical flat-roof construction, from the exterior some may not initially identify the Coe House as a Neutra. As referenced at the Neutra Institute's website, "This Palos Verdes home demonstrates Richard Neutra's responses to the more stringent codes imposed by the local neighborhood association, including the mandate for pitched roofs."

While Neutra accommodated this requirement, he pushed back against the neighborhood association's contention that windows must be cut in rectangular shapes.

"In the secondary quarters with the built-in nook, you feel the pitched roof," Donovan adds, "but in the living room it's dropped, so its flat."

The Coe House was commissioned by Clarence Coe, a local chemical engineer working for the Union Oil company, and his wife, Claire. Though 74 years have elapsed since it was built, the current owners are only the home's third.