About

“Lovell Health House”

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #123. Declared 03/20/74.

Richard J. Neutra, architect.

Potential National Register of Historic Places listing.

History:

“The Lovell house with its open free-flowing plan, its modern materials and structural form firmly established Neutra’s world reputation.” (Source: Gebhard & Winter, A Guide to Architecture in Southern California, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1965, p. 57. Photo plate 40.)

“Without question, this house & Schindler’s house for the same clients in Newport Beach are the greatest monuments of the early International Style modern in Southern California.” (Source: g&w, 1985 p.179.)

“A New Look, a Look Back” article and photo, Los Angeles Times, 10/24/97, F1 & 24. Philip Lovell was the very model of the health-obsessed Angelino: a naturopath into holistic medicine and plenty of exercise. He was famous for writing a weekly Los Angeles Times column called “Care of the Body”. (Big Orange Landmarks, 2016)

Click here to read “The School at the Lovell Health House (Source: “Leah Lovell’s Open-Air School), LFIA Observer Newsletter, May 15, 2019). 

Home of long-time LFIA board member and second owner of Lovell Health House Betty Topper until her death in 2019.

Listed at $11,500,000 in summer, 2020. Listed at $9,975,000 in July, 2021. (Source: real estate ad)

1930 census:
4616 Dundee Drive (Value: $35,000): 1) Phillip Lovell, owner and head of household; 45 year old white married male; married at age 25; born in US; parents born in Russia; a doctor in welfare work. 2) Leah Lovell, wife; 40 year old white married female; married at age 20; born in the US; parents born in Russia; not working. 3) David Lovell, son; 8 year old white male; in school; born in California. 4) Brooke Lovell, son; 6 year old white male; in school; born in California. 5) Gary Lovell, son; 3 year old white male; born in California. 6) Lillian Westerman, servant; 51 year old divorced white female; born in Utah; parents born in Denmark; a servant in a private family.

1940 Census:
4616 Dundee (Value: $30,000): 1) Philip Lovell, head of household; white married male 45 years of age; born in New Jersey; a doctor in private practice. 2) Leah Lovell, wife; white married female 45 years of age; born in Iowa; not working. 3) David L. Lovell, son; white single male 18 years of age; born in California; in school. 4) Brook Lovell, son; white single male 16 years of age; born in California; in school. 5) Gary B. Lovell, son; white male 13 years of age; born in California; in school. 6) Lillian Westerman, maid; white divorced female 55 years of age; born in Utah; maid in a private home; earns $1000.