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Lessons of the Eameses
See how the Eames house's color blocks and modular design has inspired modern home design
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
The other night I watched a new PBS documentary on Charles and Ray Eames, titled Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter. While it traces their varied output — furniture and films, in particular — their influence on architecture is undeniable, even though they really only realized one building in their career: the house and studio the duo designed for themselves in Pacific Palisades, just outside Los Angeles.
Part of the Case Study series of houses sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine right after World War II, Case Study House #8 is a now iconic piece of modern architecture that is influential in myriad ways: its use of an industrial kit of parts, its use of color, its plan and relationship to its site, and the way the house is a backdrop for the lives and belongings of its inhabitants.
This ideabook will look at some houses that appear to be influenced by the Eames House in one or more ways, expounding upon its influence to following generations of architects.
Movie: Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter
Part of the Case Study series of houses sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine right after World War II, Case Study House #8 is a now iconic piece of modern architecture that is influential in myriad ways: its use of an industrial kit of parts, its use of color, its plan and relationship to its site, and the way the house is a backdrop for the lives and belongings of its inhabitants.
This ideabook will look at some houses that appear to be influenced by the Eames House in one or more ways, expounding upon its influence to following generations of architects.
Movie: Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter
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| The Eames House is a linear, rectangular plan defined by regular steel structural bays, which are then infilled with various types of glass or colored panels. The result is an industrial modernism that is softened by the whimsical yet controlled use of color and variety. A courtyard splits the long plan into two volumes: the larger house and the smaller studio. |
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One project that picks up on both the linear plan and colorful nature of the Eames House is the Worthington House by Chicago's Landon Bone Baker Architects. The ends of the long facade are treated blue and red rectangles.
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Moving a little closer, we can see how the red wraps the corner and also how yellow is found in the middle of the long elevation and under the eaves. Note the way that even the wood left natural alternates between horizontal and vertical orientation, providing a checkerboard effect that alternates with glass expanses.
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The rear facade continues the same language as the front, with different colors and windows of various sizes. Here the expression is more subdued, as the roof is pitched to the rear, so therefore the elevation is shorter and the eave is less visible. Part Eames and part Mondrian, color accentuates an otherwise simple and modern wood box.
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| Color is also an integral part of the exterior of this residence by Sharon Portnoy Design, but on a much smaller scale. Rectangular patches of orange, blue, and red are inserted between windows on the top floor, above the more expansive ground floor. |
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Portnoy also uses color at the entry, where the same colors cover pieces between vision glass. Color is used in this house to punctuate different areas, particularly the front door and the window upstairs; the latter gives the windows a horizontal continuity they might not otherwise have.
While built of wood instead of steel, this house recalls the Eames House in the way it organizes itself via regular bays. Here a courtyard is found adjacent to a double-height living space; the latter is also a key part of the Eames House.
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| This house by Steven Ehrlich exposes a steel frame in front of the Cor-Ten steel enclosure facing the street. Orange fabric unrolls to shade the swimming pool and give provide splashes of color within the various bays. |
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From this view we can see the pool between the fence and Cor-Ten steel wall, orange fabric unrolled overhead. Note also the CMU retaining wall visible at left; this relates to the way the Eameses used a retaining wall along the whole length of the house, to build it upon a hillside. Here it gives privacy as it faces the neighbors.
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by Cottam Hargrave
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| This house, designed by Cottam Hargrave, is a glass box that is accessed through an opening in a concrete wall. While it's a freestanding wall, not a retaining wall, the concrete surface acts as a backdrop for much of the house. |
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by Cottam Hargrave
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| From this side of the house we can see through two glassy elevations to see the concrete wall and opening beyond. This wall helps to create privacy and orient views towards the backyard and the pool. |
by Marmol Radziner
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While the Eames House was built on-site, it exploited the modular construction with a kit-of-parts approach that combined steel and glass into a custom assemblage. In this regard they are an influence upon much of today's prefab, which utilizes modular off-site construction to create custom plans and houses. This house by Marmol Radziner Prefab is a prototype that illustrates the potential of this approach. Generous shaded outdoor spaces alternate with enclosed rooms.
by Marmol Radziner
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The exposed steel structure and decking in this view, as well as the sliding glass doors that merge outside and inside, link this design with the Eames House, which does not conceal the steel columns, joists, and roof deck.
All this house needs is a splash of color to align it even closer to the house Charles and Ray Eames called home.
More: Living La Vida Linear
Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter
Browse Eames product designs
All this house needs is a splash of color to align it even closer to the house Charles and Ray Eames called home.
More: Living La Vida Linear
Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter
Browse Eames product designs
Ideabook updated on Dec. 22, 2011.
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We recorded this program on our DVR and this was an excellent reminder to watch it.
We appreciate Eames and Mondrian, just look at their influence on our logo :-)
Happy Holidays!