This home, started in early 2008, was conceived
in our economy’s most tumultuous moment.
To be even possible in the context of its foreclosure laden
neighborhood, program and size were dictated by appraisable value. To do so, every opportunity for economy in
form and material was employed and the overall square footage was
maximized. The home has as few corners,
walls, doors, cabinets, trim details, and windows as possible, resulting in a
simple white box sheathed in fiber cement and gypsum board with slivers of
strategically placed walnut and ipe. The floors in every space are a specially
formulated light weight concrete poured directly over the subfloor and fan troweled. Windows and doors are trimless and the base
recycled 1”x1/4” plate clear aluminum. To
create movement within the box, three wings radiate from the kitchen finished
in walnut with a high contrast stain and top coat. To embrace the negative and haptic space,
mechanical and electrical elements are minimized and hidden wherever possible. In
the landscape, simple sheets of ½” thick corten steel delineate living spaces
while controlling erosion.