GIGA GRANADA HILLS

“Neutra's redirection of modernism constituted not a lyrical regression to sentimentality but a deliberate advance of architectural theory and technique to engage the unconscious mind, fueled by the ideas of psychoanalysis that were being rapidly disseminated at the time. In Neutra's responses to a vivid range of issues, from psychoanalysis proper to the popular psychology of tele-evangelical prayer… (is) a radical reconstitution of the architectural discipline.” from Form Follows Libido : Architecture and Richard Neutra in a Psychoanalytic Culture by Sylvia Lavin(MIT Press, 2005) Yep, did you hear that? Neutra's architecture represents an engagement of the unconscious mind and a radical reconstitution of the architectural discipline. But what if you just need a place to live? "We moved here because our daughter wanted a horse," explain Gage and Juanita Wilson, current residents of a home designed by the famed architect known as The Logar House. At the time...

Brad Laner will tell you that he's not a rock star. Don't believe him. He is . And if you ask Nydia Laner what she does, she'll just say, "Oh, I'm in sales." Uh huh. I won't blow her cover, but trust me, she's not about to hand you an Avon catalog. The Laners may be modest about their career achievements, but they don't mind letting their fabulous Eichler house be a star. It's been featured in a number of location shoots, but most recently played the role of itself for the Los Angeles Times Home Section. The Laners, along with their kindergartner son Julian, are only the second occupants of the house; its original owner was a WWII vet who rejected a higher offer from an Asian couple because of their race, preferring instead to sell the house to the Jewish/Puerto Rican Laner family. "He was a selective racist," Brad explains. A self-described "architecture nerd," Brad is a supporter of the plan to make the Balboa Hig...