precedents 01

precidents 01

(click the photo above for Shutterfly pictures)

Vincent James Associates Architects' (VJAA) Type Variant House in Northern Wisconsin.  James dubbed this "Machine in the Garden", an adaption of Le Corbusier's "Machine For Living":

The idea of the type/variant house developed from the client's interest in collecting objects in series.  As, for example, in butterfly collection, the essential characteristics and variations among objects appear amplified by grouping them within a particular type.

The house was conceived as a “collection” of wood-framed, copper-clad volumes, each differentiated by its orientation, proportions, and natural light.  The rooms and spaces defined by the cubic volumes frame continually shifting views of the site and other parts of the house.  Interior and exterior stairs, ramps, and bridges combine to create multiple pathways, both public and discrete, throughout the house.

The complex is meant to both grow out of the landscape and blend into it.  Planes of bluestone transition from the building's foundation to the ground plane to elevated terraces.  And from outside in.  The exterior cladding is copper.  Over time, the virgin metallic color is streaked by the elements in patterns defined by nature, soon providing a grey green rust patina.  I suppose eventually the skin will turn completely that light green patina color.  

This concept of the building skin changing in response to the elements is similar to Herzog & De Meuron's DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park, SF (built after Type/Variant).

There are several ideas here that I want to take into consideration.  First, the idea that the house concept is driven by the occupant's personality and interest.  From organization, method of construction, materials.  The idea of a "Limiting Concept" (Steven Holl, Parallax) gives the designer a constant reference point, a baseline to push against during design.  And in the instance of a residence, the direct concept can provide an immediate connection for the client, especially during the preliminary design 

Things I know about my father:

He designed and built the house I grew up in.  It's timberframe, passive solar with south facing patio windows and doors on the first and second floors and clerestory awning windows at the ridge.  He is a gardener, a bread baker, wine connoisseur, carpenter, and loves to eat dinner on the porch with my mom.

He has talked about a house that has interior/exterior spaces.  A living room that can open to an exterior porch or terrace, and a garden that folds into the living space.  

We have talked about the juxtaposition of poured form concrete and wood screens.  The idea of a concrete core containing the living essentials - kitchen, bath, and a bedroom - and open living spaces framed into the core.  The core would act as a safe haven in the event of high winds.  Also the primary structure, thermal mass, what else...?

The next post will take a look at Pertucci's vh r-10 house, a beautiful example of core and frame construction with sliding slat walls that open and close for privacy.