Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Case Study Houses.

Since young I always knew what sort of houses I would like to have if I could build one from scratch. As I have mentioned before, one of my favourite houses is the Farnsworth House at Piano. It is a fine example of mid twentieth century architecture. These case study houses which were sponsored by Arts and Architecture magazine in the late 1940s to early 1960s started as an invitation to major architects to design and build inexpensive and efficient homes during the housing boom after WW2, and the return of millions of soldiers.

Out of the 35 designs, only 24 were built and out of that 24, 2 were demolished and another 2 were remodeled. What a pity. The most photographed and iconic one must be Case Study #22, Stahl House by Pierre Koenig. It is at West Hollywood and is a cantilever house over a cliff. However, my favourites are Case Study #9, Entenza House by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen (which has been remodeled as a guest house or annex to a bigger house) and Case Study # 21B also by Pierre Koenig.


Case Study #8, Eames House by Ray and Charles Eames.


Case Study #9, Entenza House by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen.


Interior of the Entenza House.


Blue Print for Case Study #18A, West House by Rodney Walker.


Case Study #21 By Pierre Koenig.


Case Study #22, Stahl House By Pierre Koenig.