A Kaufman’s Return

So, Margo, you’re not looking forward to moving back to Venice (“Home, Sweet [Safe, Sane and Sanitary] Home Away From Home,” by Margo Kaufman, May 23). Well, as a longtime Venice resident, I was relieved to hear that. You probably don’t fit in here anyway. Anyone who lives in Marina del Rey obviously prefers 1960s-style architecture and the recently divorced to the interesting streets and people of Venice.

If you change your mind about Venice, call me and I’ll be glad to drive you to a more compatible place, such as, say, Woodland Hills.

Elaine Afable

Venice

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And a Kaufmann’s Revival

A glorious sight: the Kaufmann House rising from its ruins. Kudos to the Harrises for their patience and willingness to use their resources (“Mid-Century Luxe Redux,” by Nicolai Ouroussoff, May 23).

The author implied that my father, architect Richard Neutra, was trying to simulate steel construction when he painted elements aluminum. Not so. The aluminum-paint idea came early on, when my father decided that elements painted with this reflective coating would “dissolve” visually and interrupt as little as possible the separation of “inside” from “outside.” It had nothing to do with simulation of materials, either steel or aluminum.

Dion Neutra

Los Angeles