B O X I I
Summer 2006 Taliesin
T H E F A M I L Y H O U S E
The purpose of this project is to design a dwelling for the family of four, using modular methods. Economies of scale will allow this type of dwelling to turn into mass production for housing development. Architecture should realize time, in a sense that the life inside will change, and it should assist the family living in it. A family will grow: kids go to college, get married, the parents get old, divorced children come back, and there will be a time that everyone might need assistance. The design should be flexible enough to take form --like a tree does-- and allow life turbulences to pass. There are no real clients involved at this time.
Upon more research I shall determine the square footages needed. This type of plastic shelter should have enough land that gives way for future changes to take place.
Looking at the future of alternative fuel I can see WI becoming the major producer of bio-fuel. As a response to the potential economic growth, which will follow higher demands of ethanol, and the migration of jobs to WI we will need more hoses. I have chosen a piece of land just outside Dodgeville to get some knowledge about land usage, ordinances, and legal procedures; however considering WI land type similarity that exist, the solution provided here must incorporate values to allow implementation in most of the state.
The I.B.C. joint with the WI comm. 62 as well as Iowa County Zoning regulations shall govern over the project.
Thanks to Stephen Nemtin whom brought to my attention a new aspect of design. Frank Lloyd Wright always talks about the life within but there are many dimensions to life. “Change is a very large part of life and should be considered in the design of a house. A family will grow, kids go away, and older people will need assistance.” This is what Stephen said and asked me to consider this when I design for this project.
I have researched philosophies of life and lived in a few countries (Iran, UK, France and America) for at least a few months. Westerners tend to be more outward looking and open while Eastern philosophies are based on inward looking and are more enclosed. Most houses in the west do not have walls on the outside and people don’t mind if other could see inside of their house; houses in the West have outer courts that are not walled in. In the East there are walls on the perimeter of the land that protect the house form outside viewers; houses in the East have inner courts that can be accessed after passing through the main door. In the East people dress to cover fully and in the west they dress up to show just enough. There is a significant difference in how one thinks about a design based on where they design. I tend to make plans that provide some type of protection from viewers and usually have different spaces in the houses for family and guest gathering.
After the Europe trip, I have come to realize that the lack of culture in America is due to the separation of families that disconnects older generations from younger ones. In this situation the wisdom and culture that has been found through hardships in life does not pass fully down the chain of life.
I am choosing to redefine what a home should look like in America. In the U.S. houses are built such that allow children to disconnect from their parents. Children close the room door and think they are free to do as they please while they are in their room. Parents are not at home a lot and the short time that they are at the house, the kids are in their room. I don’t argue that separation is good for children but how much and at what age. Colleges are spread out and force family separation which at its time is good. The separation that keeps grand parents from interacting with their grand children is the part that hurts the passing chain of wisdom in life most.
I suggest that we as Americans put forth in our designs the First Principal of organic Design and have a social/spiritual base for the design of the house (the life within). Design smaller rooms for kids, which do not have computers in them. This forces kids to come out and socialize.
To have Flexible Architecture in the house. This enables the life within to grow at its own pace in the same location. If we were to cut a tree and replant it every year in better soil what we get is less stability in its roots. We need that tree to stay in one place until if finds such health that with relocation it will not hurt its fruitfulness.
To have a house which owners look to cherish. Not a place that I sleep and then move on in a year or two.
To sell to people that will live in the house and not investors that look at their return on investment. Since the house can grow they would build it up to its limit and then sell to make more profit. This will kill the very purpose of growth alongside the life within.
A family is a lot of things. I have found the following family relations and I have tried to incorporate into the Architecture of the two story house:
• A Family is there with you through good times and bad
• A Family is flexible and grows with you as you get old
• A Family gives you shelter when you need it
• A Family helps you through life
• A Family is cherished
Having a design that echoes the above would result in a “Family House”. I think anything that has the above mentioned could be called family.
When I talk about flexibility and growth that is cherished I can not stop thinking about music. Music is made out of eight notes and a silent which all have full or half notes. The continuity of different notes in harmony brings a growth pattern that is inspiring. The flexibility of the note system is such that Hard Rock, Rock and Roll, Classical, Jazz and many other themes have flourished out of this system. To me it looks as if music is a good part of any family and that families play their own kind of music.
Thinking about the Usonian Automatic I see how Frank Lloyd Wright used the panels to bring about an Architecture that is beautiful and elegant which is at the same time livable. I have thought about a panel system that uses more green materials that the S.I.P available in the market and one person with the help of a neighbor should be able to fix and clamp in place. This panel should be:
• Reusable and recyclable
• Help shorten construction time
• Lessen pollution due to the nature of materials used
Since the panel is going to come from the factory with a finished interior and exterior it will require a higher initial investment. I will market all of America to reach economies of scale which allow me to lower the manufacturing cost.
I then thought about how large of a space bedrooms or bath rooms requires today. I did some designs based on minimal spaces and then applied the panel systems to it. The results are spaces that are sufficient but require growth to complete and harmonize the life within. Flexibility comes with the reusable panels that can be plugged out and put in place as a wall elsewhere.
The basic philosophy for a “Family House” is in place here and all that remained were life scenarios that could be applied so the design could start taking shape.
Out of millions of scenarios I have chosen a student that will graduate and have exponential boost of income after graduation -- as a Law student would -- and another one that the income is not that big -- as with a Philosophy student-- and stays at the lower side of things.
I have focused more on the exponential growth of the house and thought about the other scenario. The starter house is about 850 Sq-Ft and the foundation should be in place for the next phases of growth. The Architectural plans should be provided to the owners at the time of purchase to ensure the focus of the family of the possibility of growth at their own pace. The final design is just about 2000 Sq-Ft and improves the life of its residents.
Staying at the Seth Peterson cottage has opened my eyes towards what a space could be (please refer to the Seth Peterson Cottage Section of this Portfolio).
I hope I have made this design, one that is beautiful and reverent with an elegance that flows on the fields around Dodgeville and Spring Green. I have designed based on the location I chose but through opening a different entrance and overhangs this Architecture can be build in most places in America.
Living at Taliesin I have learned about how the big master manipulates your eyes in relation to the space with the usage of horizontal and vertical lines that break the box. Our eye is used to seeing the ceiling line and recognizing where the ceiling is. If we make a bold line under the ceiling line then our eyes will see that first and above that line there should be a silent note that heightens our attention for the next note to come. The ceiling will look taller and more gracious with this technique. It is important that this line divides the wall in proportion and on the grid. I am still trying to work on the vertical vs horizontal line breakers and have not mastered it yet. As I was told the stairway was not completely one with the house and I have found why. I will provide a better formation of the exterior of the stairway to what it was during the Phase IV presentation. To bring the horizontal grid and vertical grid together and to have them meet in harmony is what I will do.
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