Case Study House no9 by Charles Eames and Enero Saarinen

Asked in an interview: " Who is design addressed to? ", Charles Eames responded: " The need ".

Architects/designers: Charles Eames and Enero Saarinen

Location: Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, at 205 Chautauca Boulevard, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California , a few meters from the Eames House.

 Concept: It is generally refered to as the " twin " of Case Study no8, although its construction conveys different needs.Eames and Saarinen designed the housing so that the landscape becomes an actual extension of the interior space, in a way  the house is intimately and directly in relation with the environment.

Objective: Getting a spacious interior using a minimum structure, following the principle of "elastic space" ( the space can expand or contract depending on the occupation of the family or the number of guests ).

Structure: Steel columns in the center to allow crossing bracing and continuity, transmitting most of the load on the outer edge of the rectangle, thus all the interior elements would carry a relatively light and equal load. The intention was to make an anti-structural construction, as anonymous as possible( the beams are not expressed, they are not visible ).

Space: The large public space, with 11 meters long, has been designed to be used individually or social, but it can be divided naturally in basic areas: dining room, family room or meeting space for more or less people. In the center of the room there is a separate chimney that accentuates the decor.

Each sector is separated by a series of pieces of complete or partial opacity, although some are completely translucent, creating a subtile inside-outside relationshio. In the northeast quadrant there are: two bedrooms and two bathrooms with laundry and storage. The entrance is located by the side of the garage, separated from it by a translucent glass door that allows the passage of light from the skylight existing therein.

Another element of discontinuity introduced by Eames and Saarinen represents the different levels on the floor of the house, between the two northern and southern quadrants of 90 cm, allowing the creation of large stirrups in the middle of the room. These steps create informal seats that increase the living space in the home. Between the bedroom and the living room, separated by a sliding panel, the height difference allows the creation of a sofa whose support reaches the floor of the room.

The studio is located between the public area and bedrooms and is the only private space of the house without windows, to avoid outside distractions.

 

The differences between the CSH no 9 and no 8

Both houses have similar structures, defined by very light metal profiles, and mostly the same materials and methods were used, yet they are conceptually different. The key element that makes the difference is that the Entenza House is developed on vertical while the Eames House on horizontal. In my opinion, the architects wanted to explore different ways of articulating the space, according to the needs of the inhabitants and their lifestyle. Thus, their primary focus reached with the two projects was to demonstrate the flexibility of modular steel that meets the different needs of different owners.

Although both houses use the same structural system, in each case architects use it in a totally different way. It is interesting  how radically different can develop a project in the same place, with identical structural systems and similar programming.

In the Eames house the structure rises to the fore, being the first expression of the building. The structuring is not only literal, but figurative, articulates the rhythm and cadence of the project. In the House of Entenza, research is on a completely different level. The structural system is used much more minimalist, not used to articulate the rhythm and space, on the contrary, it seems that the goal in Entenza House was using the structural form for totally free access with full spatial and programmatic flexibility.

On numerous occasions the architects said that "both houses, which are part of a larger project, are a statement of attitude, and as such, are very proud and given its reasons for being a great success" . All in all, the design outlines the concept of blending the interior and exterior space through glass expanses and seamless materials.