The R.L. Nelson House in Orinda
Shulman Photo Archive Getty Research Institute. https://neutra.org/project/mr-and-mrs-r-l-nelson-house/ From the 2019 Orinda Historic Landmark application for the R.L.Nelson House (511 Miner Road): The residence at 511 Miner Road was originally part of a family compound of the Bruener family, who commissioned buildings by several distinctive mid-century architects for their Brueners furniture stores as well their homes in Orinda. In this case, the wife of Mr. Nelson was a daughter of Mr. Bruener. The Brueners furniture business operated around the western United States, and thrived on home goods necessary for “living in a modern way” that was marketed for the residents of the expanding suburbs, including Orinda. The population of Orinda grew from 3,200 in 1940 to 9,500 by 1955, an increase of about 300% in 15 years. This period of rapid growth followed the opening of the Caldecott Tunnel in 1937, allowing families to be able to afford vacant land to construct innovative homes sti...