Designing Outside the Box (114)Tour the Phoenix, Ariz. home of Eddie Jones and Lisa Johnson, which sits on a lot near a water tower. The couple incorporated the industrial look of property's surroundings into the cylindrical screen walls and raw metal of the home's exterior. Inside, rammed earth walls, flagstone floors, skylights and furniture made of natural woods and fabrics create a warm and inviting environment.
Then, join us for a visit to "Steelwood," the Houston townhouse aptly named for its steel exterior, built at the height of modernism's popularity. Steelwood was considered state-of-the-art when it was unveiled in 1969, but was left untended for many years. Now inhabited by Malcolm Perry and his partner, Michael Smith, who both restored and renovated the house, Steelwood is once again an architectural and design gem.
Next, we'll check out the Kansas City, Mo. home of Jeff Branser. Branser combined the open feel of a loft with the look of a European townhouse to achieve a simple look in a small space. The result is three floors with three rooms—each divided into smaller spaces by the furniture to maintain his low-maintenance style.
Finally, we'll drop in at Jeffrey and Ellen Tohl's Los Angeles abode. The home consists of two glass, steel and concrete towers that the Tohls share with Jeffrey's brother and his family. The 10-level dwelling's unusual design features catwalks between levels and no complete walls between rooms.
Pheonix, Ariz. Home Facts:
- With lots of water, turf grasses can grow in desert environs.
- Rammed earth walls are fireproof, resistant to insect damage, engineered to withstand earthquakes, and provide a natural home filter system.
Steelwood Facts:
- Steelwood was originally built as an exhibit for the 1969 National Home Builders Show in Houston, and was designed by the architects Talbott Wilson and Hal Weatherford.
- The restoration included overhauls of the roof and framing. The exterior steel was sandblasted and properly re-sprayed for the first time since 1969.
- The "off" switch does not terminate the electricity to an appliance. Five percent of a home's electric bill is from powering devices that supposedly aren't on, such as microwave ovens and VCRs.
Resources:
Learn about Steelwood and its reconstruction:
http://archrecord.construction.com
Loft Facts:
- Research and design are less costly than any other phases of construction.
- Manhattan was the birthplace of the American loft apartment in the 1950s.
- Concrete homes initially cost more than wood framed ones. However, concrete is a better insulator, providing less costly energy bills.
Tohl Home Facts:
- Catwalks are made of expanded metal grating and are low cost, lightweight and strong.
- Good quality slate is non-porous, non-slip, durable and does not allow dirt or water absorption.
- Because they are resistant to fire and are safer during hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, concrete homes typically cost less to insure than wood frame houses.
