CASE STUDIES: THE STUDY OF TYPOLOGIES Crystal Piotrowski Rick Lomeli-Flores Emily To
STRATHMORE APARTMENTS designed by Richard Neutra with Peter Pfisterer
Location: 11005 W. Strathmore Dr., Westwood, CA Built in 1937 Cost: N/A Typology: Semi-Detached and Detached Unit Density: Moderate Density (23.42 units per acre) # of Unit: 8 Unit Types: 3 (six 2-bedroom and two 1-bedroom) Private Outdoor Area: 122.5 sq-ft per unit (980 sq-ft total) Parking Spaces: 1 per unit
The Strathmore Apartments designed by Richard Neutra is a moderately dense apartment complex that has 8 units. The site is on a mild hill with garage parking being located right off the Strathmore Drive. The design appears to maximize privacy without totally alienating the apartments from each other. The size of the unit’s footprint versus the open space between them is almost equal as there is open space between the units that allows for a communal courtyard. The units are grouped in structure as pairs. There are four buildings, two of which have units on top of each other and two of which that share a wall adjacent to each other. The floor plans are very simple and direct with all of the apartments entering into the living room and having two separate entrances, one to the courtyard and one the walkways to either side. While the floorplans are similar in their spaces each one is uniquely made to fit both the site and circulation needs. With a typical type 5 structure and a flat roof this is listed on the national historic registry for its exceptional example of international style. “Separated by a regular series of load-bearing 4x4 posts 3’-3 ~ “apart on center, fenestration in all except two cases is restricted to either a pair of steel-framed casement windows or a single-light pane of glass, fixed or operable, located between evenly spaced wood posts. The long runs of this regular sequence underscore the larger horizontality established by the volumetric massing and flat roofs” (National Registry Listing, US Department of the Interior).
STRATHMORE APARTMENTS
STRATHMORE ROAD
4 CAR GARAGE BELOW
INTERIOR CIRCULATION EXTERIOR WALKING PATHS APARTMENT FOOTPRINT PRIVATE OPEN SPACE
DUPLICATE UNIT ABOVE
4 CAR GARAGE BELOW
DUPLICATE UNIT ABOVE
STRATHMORE APARTMENTS
SHARED PARTY WALLS EXTERIOR WALKING PATHS AND STAIRS APARTMENT FOOTPRINT EXTERIOR WALLS UNIT KITCHEN UNIT BATHROOM SHARED EXTERIOR OPEN SPACE
APARTMENT AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING SCHÜTZENMATTSTRASSE designed by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron
Location: Schützenmattstrasse 11, Basel, Switzerland Built in 1992-1993 Cost: N/A Typology: Infill Unit Density: High Density (458 units/acre) # of Units: 5 Unit Types: 2 Private Outdoor Area: 0 for 4 units, 70 sq-ft for 1 top floor unit Parking Spaces: 0
This mixed-use building faced a challenge seldom seen in the United States, a lot parcel that was located within Basel’s medieval perimeter. This was a particular challenge because the lot measured 23 meters (75 feet) by 6 meters (20 feet). Of the five above ground floors and a basement level the first two floors were designated as a loft type commercial space and the rest were one floor units above. The spaces are connect through two vertical elements: an elevator that opens right into each apartment, and a small central courtyard that opens up on one side to the neighboring lot which once held and elegant tree. This courtyard brings nature into the units allowing light to get into every unit, and before the tree was taken down it also allow one to feel a sense of being among the branches of a tree. The structure is largely supported by the two concrete party walls that are against the adjacent buildings with some connecting structure in between to prevent shearing (this is minimal as being a infill house in a non-seismic zone experiences few horizontal loads). Over the units are a little awkward, with some having the elevator enter directly across from a toilet. There is almost no exterior space and what little there is, is given to only one unit on the roof. While it is not ideal you have to consider it is considerably dense housing and for the limited space Peter Zumthor did his best to maximize space and natural light.
APARTMENT AND COMMERCIAL BULDING
INTERIOR CIRCULATION INTERIOR HALLWAY APARTMENT FOOTPRINT PRIVATE OPEN SPACE VERTICAL CIRCULATION
GROUND FLOOR
SECONDFOURTH FLOOR
FIFTH FLOOR
APARTMENT AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING
VERTICAL CIRCULATION INTERIOR HALLWAY APARTMENT FOOTPRINT STRUCTURAL PARTY WALLS UNIT KITCHEN UNIT BATHROOM PRIVATE OPEN SPACE
RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR ELDERLY designed by Peter Zumthor
Location: Masans, Chur, Switzerland Built in 1992-1993 Cost: N/A Typology: Row Housing Unit Density: Medium-High Density (103 units per acre) # of Unit: 22 Unit Types: 1 Private Outdoor Area:1,474 sq-ft Parking Spaces: 0
Zumthor’s Residential Home for the Elderly is a very straight forward example of a row apartment condition. These twenty two identical and minimalist units located on two floors allows residence plenty of balcony space but zero community space. Unlike the form of elderly home that is more familiar to the United States it appears that there is a real expectation of these residence acting almost completely independently which seems like a lack of consideration for the type of client. Including the fact eleven of the units can only be accessed by a flight of stairs. It would be easy to argue these apartments are very alienating due to the absence of community space and separation from local life by being located more than 200ft from the nearest building. The structure is a very straight forward plan including masonry piers under each of the walls that divide the units.
RESIDENTIAL HOME FOR THE ELDERLY
SECOND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
INTERIOR CIRCULATION INTERIOR HALLWAY APARTMENT FOOTPRINT PRIVATE OPEN SPACE
RESIDENTIAL HOME FOR THE ELDERLY
VERTICAL CIRCULATION INTERIOR HALLWAY APARTMENT FOOTPRINT WALLS BETWEEN APARTMENTS UNIT KITCHEN UNIT BATHROOM PRIVATE OPEN SPACE
HABITAT 825 designed by Lorcan O’Herlihy
Location: 825 N. Kings Rd., West Hollywood, CA Built in 2008 Cost: N/A Typology: Courtyard Unit Density: Low-Mild Density (15.6 units per acre) # of Unit: 19 Unit Types: 10 Private Outdoor Area: 3,370 sq-ft/3,552 sq-ft Parking Spaces: N/A
Lawerance Anderson
Habitat 825 emulates the ideas from the Schindler House, right next door. This historic landmark help precedent Southern California multi-unit housing with “its two woven ‘L’ forms [comprising of] two separate family apartments, and its permeable walls and shared cooperative courtyard” (O’Herlihy, Lorcan). Within this project these elements are apparent; it was designed in such a way that promoted neighborly interaction and pay respects with the urban context. Firstly, the building actually resides behind the property line to create a semi-public area with benches and landscape. By doing this it creates a separation between public and private, but not erect a physical wall to delineate the difference. After crossing the front space, the resident enters the open courtyard, where they could interact with one another or go to their dwelling through the door on the ground floor or ascend up and walk along the open corridor. Another element that this project has is the fact that the units themselves have an abundant amount of space; most of them are not the same unit type either (three units were repeated). I have to say one of the challenges that resided around this project is the Schindler House next to the property. There was many different approaches that Lorcan O’Herlihy could have taken, however, they decided to create an opening to acknowledge its existence by giving it breathing room–not engulf it by overshadowing it with a tower. The core of this project was to engage the surrounding context and the residents through the principle ideas of the Schindler House as a precedent.
Circulation
Unit Types
1 story and a half
1 stories, overhangs in the front, only accessed on the second floor
2 stories, living spaces on upper floor, bedrooms below
http://www.gotarch.com/projects/habitat825.html
2 stories, has 2 entrances, only unit with an opening between levels repeated units
separate unit at the ground level, has a small space at the 2nd level
Lorcan O’Herlihy
1 stories, roof deck attached,
2 stories with a roof
resides above opening facing
deck
Schindler’s house
ANALYSIS Overall, these four case studies address the problem differently and accordingly to the surrounding context, which had positives and negatives; some are more livable than others. For example, Residential Home for the Elderly, by Peter Zumthor, appears to be a nice apartment with the abundant natural light and outdoor space, until you consider the residence pool. People who have limited mobility will have to cross a large field to exit. In addition, there is no community space for the residents to engage with their neighbors. Also it is a bit isolating. Habitat 825 by Lorcan O’Herlihy has exterior spaces that engages the tenents to interact, which fosters a sense of community, and address the interaction it has with the Schindler House. The open spaces and sunlight expressed within the community spaces encourage the use of it by the tenants. However the Strathmore Apartments by Richard Neutra are isolating in a different way. They are designed so much like single family homes with entrances that do not require you to encounter your neighbor on the way to the door are just as isolating as Zumthor’s design. There is a large open courtyard with communal paths in the middle but the slope on the site and the lack of engagement with that open space makes the windows that open to it feel like the neighbors are there to keep watch of their yard. The livability of a space deals more with the interior relationship with the adjacent units and the site rather than the actual square footage of a unit. However, other amenities help enhance the overall character of the dwellings to make them livable.
Pros
Cons
Strathmore Apartments Lots of community outdoor space Parking spaces are similar to single family residents’ Large lot Separate entrances
Light consideration not great Likeness to a single family home alienates each unit from each other Sharing one wall does not connect spaces
Apartment and Commercial Building Schützenmattstrasse
Adjustable facade for light infiltration and changable face Elevator opens to apartment Simple structure Walkable to amenities
Small, tight units No communal or private Outdoor space Little landscape
Residential Home for Elderly
Lots of private outdoor space Lots of natural light Mild density Structurally simple
No communal space Far from adjacent spaces Small, identical units
Habitat 825
Plenty of outdoor space Mild to low density Large units Maximizes natural light Walkable to amenities
Structurally complicated Adjacent to a historical landmark
SOURCES STRATHMORE APARTMENTS https://bestlaneighborhoods.com/properties/richard-neutra-strathmore-apartments-for-sale/ https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13000754.htm PLANS: Book: Neutra: Complete Works by Barbra Lamprecht IMAGE 1 & 2 (Historic View of Apartments located on the street): https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13000754.htm IMAGE 2 (Modern View of One Apartment): https://bestlaneighborhoods.com/properties/richard-neutra-strathmore-apartments-for-sale/ APARTMENT AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING SCHĂœTZENMATTSTRASSE https://www.archiweb.cz/en/b/bydleni-pro-starsi-obcany-v-masans PLANS: http://plansofarchitecture.tumblr.com/post/102340765367/herzog-de-meuron-apartment-and-commercial SECTION: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/schutzenmattstrasse-apartment-and-office-building/ IMAGE 1 & 2 (Front Facade): https://www.herzogdemeuron.com/index/projects/complete-works/001-025/025-apartment-and-commercialbuilding/image.htm RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR ELDERLY https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/schutzenmattstrasse-apartment-and-office-building/ https://www.herzogdemeuron.com/index/projects/complete-works/001-025/025-apartment-and-commercialbuilding.html PLANS: https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55e8/8ebe/46fe/9f69/3200/0012/slideshow/residential-home-for-theelderly-in-masans-floor-plan.jpg?1441304227 SECTION: https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55e8/8ee8/46fe/9f69/3200/0013/slideshow/residential-homefor-the-elderly-in-masans-section.jpg?1441304270 HABITAT 825 http://www.lawrenceanderson.net/project/habitat-825/ http://loharchitects.com/work/habitat825 http://www.gotarch.com/projects/habitat825.html http://www.toplacondos.com/Habitat-825