Eames House (Case Study House no.8)

General Information: -The overall purpose of this house is to represent the materials and techniques derived from the experiences of the Second World War. -The designers of the house are a couple named Charles and Ray Eames. They are best known for their con-tributions to architecture, furniture design, industrial design and manufacturing, and the photographic arts. -They moved into the house Christmas Eve 1949 and lived their until their deaths.

-The Eames house is a collection of a multide of themes and purpos-es that together form the bigger picture, the story of the couples approach to life and work. -The most prominent themes include: the importance of the direct experience, the relation with nature, the life in work and work in life, and the importance of details.

How it works & it's program: -The Eames wanted to build a home for a couple with older children whol aren't living with them and who are designers. The program of the home consisted of a space where work, play, life, and nature co-existed. -They wanted the program of the house to be one with nature. They didn't want to destroy the meadow and trees, and want created the house with minimal material to mazimize space and volume.

-Since the Eames wanted to integrated their work and personal life, the house and studio were treated with equal importance. -The house is segregated into 3 main parts: living, work, and outdoor spaces. It is a continuation of space, with each room flowing into the other and within each floor through the double-height spaces. The private spaces are primarily the bedrooms and bathrooms.

Formal Appearance: -As seen through elevation, the house is segregated into two ractangular volumes. Both self stand-ing buildings are at the same level to create balance and harmony. The double-height spaces at the cor-ners and outer ends of both programs allows for the composition to break up spaces rhythmetically. -The house has many standard sized windows. The masses would be the two structures and the hillside topography. The voids would be the landscape on the end of each structure and in the middle of the two.

-Essentially the facades are black grids with clear or wired glass with grey cemestos panels, stucco in off-white,black,blue, and red orange, silver aluminum and gol-leafed finished panels.The Eamessesused a brilliant palette to convey specific information to viewers.

The Spatial Qualities: -The house is on the perimeter of a meadow on the north and west sides to not block the view to the ocean. The two buildings were both placed strategiacally so that the eucalyptus trees would not have to be cut down. The eucalyptus trees acted as a type of spatial quality for a connection between the two buildings. -The rotation of the house at a 90 degree angle alled for the meadows to stay intact and provided the Eames with a large view of the meadow and a diagonal view of the Pacific Ocean.

-The lightness and the transparent glass was important in reinforcing the idea of bringing the residences closer to na-ture. The row of eucalyptus trees at the front of the house not only fufil the pragmatic function of providing shade, but also blending parts of the house with the outdoors.

How it's Made: -The materials used in the interior and exterior of the structure were steel-i beams, glass, colored pan-els, aluminum, plywood, and plastic. The structure was connected by slabs and vertical and horizal beams. -The use of natural materials in the interior was used to give the appearance of the house resting sofly on the earth.

Sustainability: -The house is integrated with the landscape which allows the structure of the house to be more stable since it is not imbedded into the landscape. The original tile was removed to ensure moisture resistance and to keep off-gassing, a detrimental effectr from occuring. -The wood paneling running through the length of the residence was referbished to cobtain uv protection which keeps the wood from deteriorating faster.

-Visible gutters were added to prevent water from running down the facades of the building. -After several large earthquakes the original steel structure was examined and was said to be in perfect condition.

Relationships among the systems: -The formal aspects accomodate activities the elements, such as the spireal stair case and walls/planes guide a person to a destination. The lanscape and trees inbetween the two buildings provides a path and an area for out-door recreations as well. -The materials used affect activities and relationship of form because using certain materials will either allow or hinder soemone to perform a specific function. For example all the the glass allows the Eamses to work, sketch, and create with sufficient lighting in their studio.

References: eamesfoundation.orghttp://www.archdaily.com/66302/ad-classics-eames-house-charles-and-ray-eameshttp://www.archdaily.com/620033/a-virtual-look-into-the-eames-case-study-house-8