christopher day

Ground Floor Plan:

First Floor Plan:

Sections:

Structural Floor Plans and Sections:

The majority of the load is carried through the original house. The original dwelling is in no way reliant upon the alteration.

Relationships:

There are three distinct spatial relationships within the house: private spaces, public spaces provided by the original architecture, and public spaces provided by the addition. Private and public areas are linked by smaller, semi-private areas.

Green: Public spaces in original home [lounge areas].

Orange: Public spaces provided by addition [functional areas].

Dark Blue: Private areas [bedrooms, en suites]

Light blue: Semi-private areas [bathroom and/or foyer, located between public and private areas].

Circulation of the house is quite clear.

Blue: indicates the path a person may take who seeks to use the house functionally. That is, they may wish to use the kitchen, or access the backyard. This is all provided through one clear space, in the new addition.

Green: Indicates the path a person may take who seeks comfort. That is, they would want to use areas such as a lounge-room to relax. These areas are hidden within the old home, however are for more exposed than the private areas located around it.

Brown: Indicates the path a person may take who seeks privacy. They enter the home and, in general, will move upstairs and into a bedroom. Access is easy, however perhaps not as inviting as the two public spaces aforementioned.

Landscape:

The home sits distinctively on a suburban corner block. Gehry’s wish to create a symbol of deconstructivism is powerfully expressed through a dramatic metal facade, and skewed windows. There is a stark juxtaposition between the house and the streetscape. Yet, traditionally, it defines the corner of the block well, and retains some order to the Santa Monica grid.

Vegetation softens the architecture, and provides an appropriate level of privacy for a building which so adamantly seeks to connect with the street.