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Great Compositions: The Language of Walls
See how a well-designed wall can do much more than enclose a space
Urban and Rural Residential design, Houses, Barns and Landscapes
http://www.joshmccullar.com
I am a native of the southern Virginia Piedmont region and grew up in a handful of small towns throughout both Carolinas and Virginia. The rich vernacular landscape of the region's old mills, tobacco barns, railroad tracks, verdant forests, rivers, streams, and dusty fields have been the backdrop of my life. So for me, architectural design begins with the premise that the act of building is a negotiated engagement with the land and should endeavor to create a sense of place. The origin of this value is that architecture at its very best, strengthens and amplifies the inherent qualities of the landscape, and so the craft of building must begin and end with a respectful stewardship of the site.
What...
Urban and Rural Residential design, Houses, Barns and Landscapes
http://www.joshmccullar.com
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What is the language of a wall? A wall can tell a story about the nature of the space it bounds. In the Japanese Tea House, the wall is additive: a layering of wood frames and sliding screens. In the ancient ruins of Mesa Verde, the cliff is carved into small dwellings as occupied earthen chambers. It is subtractive and residual. In a medieval castle, the wall was thick and battered: a stone fortress for protection and permanence. In the garden, a wall is an allée of trees or a clipped hedgerow. The houses here speak a language of their own through the walls that bound them.
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by SB Architects
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| In a language of thinness, modulation, and precise structure, wood is used here to delineate the wall as a screening device. By varying the interval of spacing members, solidity transforms into layered openness like a large, fixed Venetian blind. |
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| Thick concrete walls anchor and ground this home to the site, while a very thin wood screen lightens the mass of garage and extends like a veil past the facade to become a balustrade for the second-floor balcony. This is a language of layered translucency. |
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An inset glass box is used here to capture the reflected light of an outdoor Zen garden and to bring it indoors along the floor. The wall becomes a glowing prism of light during the day, and a glowing alcove as seen from the outside at night. Simply beautiful.
| Walls can sometimes become compartments at the edges of rooms. The roof appears to float above a projected metal-clad wall from an otherwise glassy pavilion. Similarly, a masonry wall extends and thickens to allow an inset wood bench marking the entrance. |
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| Here is a language of solidity and permanence, spoken in stone puncuated by glass and dark wood receding to blend with the landscape and vegetation. Stone is used to mark the domain of three structures, while glass with wood is used as a hyphenating connector between them. |
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Like an ancient ruin, this bed-chamber alcove appears carved out of a solid earthen mass. The wall is rendered narratively, as a subtractive element until there is nothing more to take away.
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Similarly, this stair and seating alcove appears as a subtractive fragment of a much thicker material. This is a language of carving, molding, and sculpting and reminds me of the quiet solitude of Mesa Verde and Santorini.
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| A solid, thick, white stucco wall is always quiet and serene and serves as supporting backdrop for a projected glass window bay. The wall has openings where needed for the interior to extend outside towards that amazing garden room. |
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| Sometimes a wall is a window with a view from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. The changes of nature itself become the finish. |
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| And sometimes a wall becomes a roof. |
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The language of planes, lines, and gaps creates a trellis-like ceiling for an outdoor walkway. The lines imply movement to a distant point in space.
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| A wall can also become a portal framing a special space or the landscape. This open wood "stage" floats between solid stucco planes and can be closed with clear glass. Is it a wall, or is it a window — or door? |
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| So what is the language of your wall? Is it open or closed, thick or thin, added to or subtracted from, layered or appearing as carved from a block of clay? A wall does more than enclose space. It can become an extension of the space and serve the language of architecture. More: Great Compositions: Heavy and Light Great Compositions: The Dogtrot House Great Compositions: The L-Shaped House Wood Slats in Design: Repetition, Scale and Light |
Comments
casapinka Love that glass inset wall with the zen garden!
17 months ago · Like
mmsalg Great pics! I love the inset glass box too! Architectural glass brings the outside in, opens space, creates dimension and makes dramatic, custom wall art. Check out some of these awesome pieces http://www.custommade.com/search?mode=projects&q=architectural%20glass%20installations&place=&range=
17 months ago · Like
igotideaz I think the inset glass box is a winner!
17 months ago · Like
Sarah Pike Pottery Can't get enough of that buoy pendant light in the SB house. Haven't seen that angle before. Fixed venetian blind idea is very cool.
17 months ago · Like
Atmosphere Home Essentials So inspired, clean, and peaceful. I agree, the zen garden is a hit!
17 months ago · Like
Josh McCullar | SMBW Yes, that Zen garden really caught my eye. It is such an unexpected moment and I like how the inside top surface can also become a shelf for plants if you wanted to use it that way.
17 months ago · Like
zupame I love them all though for different reasons.
17 months ago · Like
Deborah McMaster Thanks for this informative article.
17 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Jan. 3, 2012.
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