Featured Architect of the Week: Anderson Anderson Architecture
Earlier in the week we looked at the amazing Chameleon House by Anderson Anderson Architecture. Today we’re going to see residential work with two homes that vary drastically from each other. Variety is spicy.
This home was designed for a retired couple and it would be a great place to settle in for some relaxation. This home faces a public street but you’d never guess because of the sloped wooded site and enclosure. This home is surrounded by a brick courtyard but opens to the hillside clearing.
This home is small (nice) and to create light or, I suppose rather to maximize light, there are few partitions just a few glass walls and cabinets mark spaces.
I’m not sure what’s going on with the chains, as seen in the photo below but it’s intriguing — you can see it close up here.
One of the space partitions…
This home is not truly something I’d normally like but the story behind it is really cool. It was built on the site of a mature apple orchard in Sonoma County and conforms to the same lines that the tree grid does. Take a look at this great design background story:
“The site was intensely studied for the individual particularities of each unique tree within the orchard field, and the house design then developed this same character of individual conditions within a predominantly regularized system. True to the character of the orchard, the house is laid out as long sequences of interior and exterior courtyards, defined by the adjacent trees, affording long, metered views along the rectilinear and diagonal axes of the field. The massive concrete walls align with the rows of tree trunks, while the open volumes of the rooms and exterior courts align with the open space between trees, affording a direct spatial continuity between house and landscape, figure and void.”
The story behind it makes the house so special. I love it — one of the more interesting design plans I’ve seen lately. In the following photos you can see how nicely the home lines up with the trees.
Impressive. You can fully appreciate the time and planning this must have taken. Doesn’t it makes you fall in love with this home just a bit more than you might normally?
You can see more of both the The Courtyard House and The Orchard House at Anderson Anderson Architecture.
Need some New Years fun? Why not win a cool Offbeat prize?
Tags: anderson_anderson, architecture_today, chameleon, courtyard, offbeat-homes, residential_workRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Architects, Featured Architect of the Week, Nature Inspired, Nicely Shaped Homes
6 opinions for Featured Architect of the Week: Anderson Anderson Architecture
Noreen Crone-Findlay
Dec 5, 2007 at 10:49 am
What’s with the chains? They are there instead of the usual downspouts. The rain follows the chains down out of the gutters. Less visual clutter.
:o)
Nick Allen
Dec 5, 2007 at 11:08 am
The orchard house is great isn’t it! Extending the divisions of the house to meet the tree rows - genius. Forms the illusions of tree lined courtyards. I also love how this house has no stairs, you can roll from one end to the other. The two wings allow total privacy for all occupants and guests, and the extended eaves, outdoor BBQ areas. Great for reading Dwell on a sunny day. The-offbeat-homes-december-contest
Nice,
Crabby McSlacker
Dec 5, 2007 at 11:32 am
Well, they’re not Christmas-decorated Duck Houses, but very nice just the same! I guess we can’t all live in a duck. I suppose some people will just have to settle for sleek gorgeous light filled spaces.
Charlotte Albright
Dec 5, 2007 at 1:47 pm
This is outstanding work. Away with the stucco and in with the concrete and glass.
Jennifer Chait
Dec 5, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Noreen ~ You know in the back of my wee mind I think I knew that; maybe… All this house stuff jumbles in my head sometimes. I haven’t seen this on many homes. Now I’ll have to go read all about; it’s a great idea aesthetics wise.
Crabby ~ One of these days I will have to find some sort of shell-based home especially for you.
Nick ~ You really like Dwell. I agree the house is great as a one level. It wouldn’t have worked so well as a tall structure. I kind of like the bare dirt around it as well — which I hated in NM; go figure.
Charlotte ~ Do you normally like stucco? Me too but it’s tough to build with; well, sort of. But nice for cooling and heating purposes. Thanks for visiting.
Julie
Dec 5, 2007 at 7:34 pm
I love the space partitions. The next house we buy I want it to be nice and open but I want something that will help define the different areas. This would be perfect. Very nice. Sorry I haven’t been here, at Offbeat, in awhile. :( I miss it!
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