EAMES HOUSE

GABRIELA MESQUITA

CASE STUDY HOUSE #8 BY CHARLES & RAY EAMES

TABLE OF CONTENTS3. CASE STUDY HOUSE PROGRAM ABOUT THE PROGRAM

4. THE EAMES ABOUT THE DESIGNERS

5. CASE STUDY HOUSE #8 SITE PLAN AXONOMETRIC, SECTIONS, EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS, & FLOOR PLANS

6. PROGRAM FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS & CIRCULATION

7. FORMAL APPEARANCE PARTI DESCRIPTION (COLORS, TEXTURES, PLANES, MASSES, & VOIDS)

8. SPATIAL QUALITIES PHYSICAL, VOLUMETRIC, & VISUAL

9. HOW IS IT MADE? RELATIONSHIPS OF SYSTEMS

10. STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS METHODS OF CONNECTION

11. MATERIALS SOURCES FOR MATERIALS

12. IS IT SUSTAINABLE? RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, & MAINTENANCE 13. CONCLUSION

14. SOURCES

C A S E S T U DY H O U S E P R O G R A M

The Case Study Program ran from the 1940s-1960s. The program was started by John Entenza, a publisher of

the Arts & Architecture magazine. The houses were to be designed using “many war-born (WWII) techniques

and materials best suited to the expression of man’s life in the modern world.” The goal was to provide affordable and easily duplicated housing that the

average citizen could afford to live in.

THE EAMES

Charles & Ray Eames designed the Eames House and the famous Eames chair. Both were known for

their contributions to furniture, industrial design, toys, and architecture. Before meeting each other, Charles

worked as an architect and was greatly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, while Ray was a designer. Charles

& Ray went on to become the owners of the Eames House after they designed and constructed it.

CASE STUDY HOUSE #8The house represents the Eames’ integration of their personal and work lives. It is money efficient, utilizing manufactured, prefabricated material to provide a variety of spatial experiences using few parts. It accomodates the surrounding landscape while also blending the line between interior and exterior. The house is located on a three acre site on a 150’ cliff in the Pacific Palisades, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

AXONOMETRIC

FIRST FLOOR PLAN SECOND FLOOR PLAN

STUDIO TRANSVERSE

SECTION

RESIDENCE TRANSVERSE SECTION

FRONT ELEVATION REAR ELEVATION

PROGRAMThe house was made to be able to support day-to-day housing functions, as well as meeting guest needs and designing/work needs. The house is actually comprised of two buildings, one residential and the other a studio. In between the buildings is a courtyard space that links the two buildings. A retaining wall behind the house also links the buildings and allows for one-sided circulation. Around the house is lots of outside space for gardening and relaxing in nature. The program’s goal was the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. There is no hierarchy because the Eames’ integrated personal and business life together, so the residence and studio were treated with equal importance. The residence space is meant to serve the needs of guests, while the studio is for working.

RESIDENCE(1500 SQ. FT.)

STUDIO(1000 SQ. FT.)COURTYARD

CIRCULATION

FORMAL APPEARANCE

Each building is 17’ tall and seperated by a courtyard, which allows for a rhythm of double to single height. Above each structure are two overhanging flat roofs. The structures are aligned on a central axis, with the studio located near the parking spot and the residence near the ocean side of the house.

The facade is black-painted steel beams and colums in a geometric grid, with bright colored

panels (blue, orange, gold) resembling a Mondrian painting, different opacity of glass windows, and

X-trusses.

The site is flat and located on a steep slope. In response to this, the house is located in front of a 8’ tall by 200’ long concrete retaining wall that ties the two buildings and middle courtyard together and make up the parti of the residence.

SPATIAL QUALITIESThe walls of the house that face the retaining wall are solid, while the walls facing out to the landscape and on the sides of each building are floor-to-ceiling transparent glass, linking the inside to the nature

outside and making the house transparent and light. The eucalyptus trees lined in front of the house provide a linear path to guide a person to their destination and help with blending interior and exterior

together. The change of double height (residence) to single height (courtyard) and back to double (studio) gives a rhythm that allows for continuity between the spaces. The interior has wooden floors,

which mimics and appeals to nature.

There are roofs that lie flat on each building and give them shade. Large glass windows allow for plenty of natural light inside, which served for the Eames’ to sketch, work, and enjoy their house. Private and public spaces have no strict division, for example, with the upper level bedroom overlooking the public living area with a short terrace that connects the rooms. The house is nestled into the hillside, rather than imposed on the site, which allows for the house to serve as a re-orientor in nature. When the Eames’ were home, they would leave all windows and doors open, allowing for a long, unified space. The colored panels can be reassembled and moved around to create different patterns and varietes.

HOW IS IT MADE?

= PRIVATE SPACE = PUBLIC SPACE

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE SPACES

STRUCTURAL SYSTEMSThe house is made up of a simple steel frame with no load baring walls. The frame uses 4-in-H-columns for the walls and 12” deep steel web josts for the roof.

MAT

ERIA

LSThe Eames’ used prefabricated, easily

manufactured materials like steel and glass, which made it inexpensive. The overall cost was about $1 per square foot. There is also

concrete (for the foundation), metal, asbestos, grey cemestos panels, stucco, aluminum, and

specially treated panels.

STEEL BEAM COLORED PANELS

GLASS WINDOW

OVERHANGING ROOF

IS IT SUSTAINABLE?The Eames’ chose to build the house integrated into the land, preserving the existing row of eucalyptus

trees and meadow that were already a part of the land. Their use of prefabricated materials kept the cost low, providing a simple and cost effective accomodation. The transparencies of the glass allow for

there to be a continuation of inside and outside and natural lighting, which results in reduced energy costs. The trees and other dense greenery around the site provide shade and privacy for the people

inside. The house aimed to act as a “shock absorber”, providing needed relaxation from the chaotic and busy daily life. The home complements, rather than competes, with the nature around it.

CONCLUSIONCharles & Ray were able to successfully design and build a house that would not disrupt the surrounding landscape and be cost efficient. The house is a direct reflection of how the Eames lived their lives- simple and as one among nature. It also shows their integration of work and home life, while also providing alot of area to suit guests’ needs. Their low-maintenance, yet modern, life is shown through the use of simple fabricated materials. The house became their sanctuary, a peaceful place where they could be away from the city life surrounding them and breathe in the fresh air.

http://eamesfoundation.org/http://www.archdaily.com/66302/ad-classics-eames-house-charles-and-ray-eameshttp://w3eames.blogspot.com/2012/12/exploded-axonometric-of-eames-house.htmlhttp://portfolios.pratt.edu/gallery/32611975/Eames-House-Precedent-Studyhttp://blog.2modern.com/2014/07/herman-millers-mid-century-collection-showcased-in-the-eames-house.htmlwww.pinterest.comhttp://constructionlitmag.com/featured-posts/the-eames-house/http://w3eames.blogspot.com/2012/12/eames-house-site-plan.htmlhttps://www.mercervine.com/blog/inside-eames-case-study-8-house

SOURCES

IMAGE CREDITShttps://archinect.com/shufanzhang/project/case-study-eames-house

http://eameshouse.weebly.com/uploads/6/2/1/7/62172139/1444660744.pnghttp://www.getty.edu/conservation/our_projects/field_projects/eameshouse/

https://www.pinterest.com/jefnerd51/eames-house/?lp=truehttp://w3eames.blogspot.com/2012/12/steel-roof-joists.html

http://constructionlitmag.com/featured-posts/the-eames-house/http://www.eamesoffice.com/the-work/eames-house-case-study-house-8/

http://www.architectureweek.com/2002/0424/culture_1-2.html