Watch The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat

The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat is a documentary film that tells the story of a midcentury modern masterpiece designed by legendary architect Richard Neutra, located in the California desert near Joshua Tree. The film takes us through the history of the house, from its inception in 1959 until the present day. It was originally built as a weekend retreat for a couple, Afton and Robert Oyler, who were drawn to the area's natural beauty and wanted a home that blended in with the landscape.

The Oyler House is nestled into a rocky hillside, with stunning views of the surrounding desert landscape. It's a small structure, with just two bedrooms and two bathrooms, but it's perfectly designed to take advantage of the natural light and climate of the area. Neutra's signature style is on full display, with clean lines, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The documentary features interviews with several people who have been involved with the house over the years, including real estate agent Crosby Doe, who helped sell the house in 2009; actress Kelly Lynch, who now owns the house with her husband, writer-producer Mitch Glazer; and Dion Neutra, Richard Neutra's son, who worked on the house as a young architect.

We learn about the challenges of preserving a house like the Oyler House, which was built over 60 years ago and wasn't designed with modern building codes and materials in mind. Lynch and Glazer undertook a major renovation of the house when they purchased it, working with local architects to update the plumbing, electrical, and other systems while preserving Neutra's original design.

Throughout the film, we see stunning footage of the house and the surrounding desert, captured by cinematographer Dylan O'Brien. The stark beauty of the landscape is a perfect backdrop for Neutra's minimalist design, and it's easy to see why the Oylers were drawn to this remote corner of California.

The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat is a fascinating look at one of the most important pieces of midcentury modern architecture in the United States. It's a reminder of the power of good design to connect us with our environment, and of the importance of preserving our architectural heritage for future generations.

The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.