Dion and Richard Neutra recreate the VDL Penthouse for Kettal
Using updated construction methods but staying true to the VDL Research House 1963 original, Richard Neutra's son Dion recreates the penthouse of our dreams

Built by Richard Neutra for his family in 1932, the VDL Research House in LA is a landmark in the development of American Modernism. The house was razed by a fire in 1963 and Neutra worked with his son Dion to rebuild it, preserving the original footprint but fine-tuning the design and adding new elements. Including the penthouse of our dreams.
Outdoor furniture brand Kettal is similarly enamoured, to the point of working with Dion Neutra to replicate it. Kettal’s standalone penthouse replica is built using updated construction methods, but the design stays true to the 1963 original. An automated smart home system – of which Richard Neutra would have approved – has also been installed to control lighting, heating and air conditioning. We can’t wait to put one in our garden.
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Ali Morris is a UK-based editor, writer and creative consultant specialising in design, interiors and architecture. In her 16 years as a design writer, Ali has travelled the world, crafting articles about creative projects, products, places and people for titles such as Dezeen, Wallpaper* and Kinfolk.
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