Attached Homes: Case Studies Volume 1, Emma Twine

Attached Homes Volume 1

EMMA TWINE CAMBRIDGE DESIGN RESEARCH STUDIO 2017

The Axis of the Home

The home is at the centre of the urbe-in-rus project. The suburban home can be defined through its relationship with the verdant pseudo-rurality of its imagery. However, this outward-looking, horizontal axis form has been challenged by my proposals to date. The traditional suburban bond between the house, the front garden mediating to the street, and the rear garden as the site of leafy pleasure & privacy is distorted when many homes back onto each other: the conventional understanding of front and back, of the dominant axis within the home, the relationship between home and garden, and the relationship between homes, is brought into question.

These case studies offer alternative approaches.

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1. The House of the Future, UK, 1956, p.7 2. Semi-Detached, Stevenage, UK, 2000, p. 27 3. Patio House, USA, 1980s-present, p.45 4. Quinta da Magalueira, Portugal, 1977, p.63

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1.0 The House of the Future

The House of the Future was an installation designed primarily by Alison Smithson for the Daily Mail’s Ideal Home Exhibition of 1956, imagining what a house might look like 25 years into the future.

The House represents a completely “interiorised” home, with the only apertures to the outside there for the sake of the exhibition, for viewing. This inward-facing nature of the home subverts the traditional understanding of the ‘front’ and ‘back’ of the house, with instead the home facing inwards to a central courtyard garden, enclosed on all sides and protected from the outside world, the inhabitants thereby turning their backs to that which lies beyond the front door. The House has been called “a form of utopian vision [of the home] but as defense”: a bunker. This could be seen as a reaction against the cultural context from which it emerged, of the Cold War and the attendant threat of annihilation. Though never built, the House informed the Upper Lawn Pavilion of 1959-62 which the Smithsons built as a home from home.

Alison & Peter Smithson 1956

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1:10000

DINING ROOM

KITCHEN

GARDEN

ENTRANCE

BATH TOILET

BEDROOM DRESSING ROOM

The plan represents an “interiorized layout� (Colomina, 2007), where the axis of the home is directed inwards towards the central garden. All apertures are focused around the internal courtyard, with the intention that many such units might sit at close proximity to one another, each uninterrupted and unaffected by those around them. Translated into the context of the suburban home, this internalisation could be seen as an approach to the family-centric genesis of suburbia.

The House of the Future, UK 1:100

The central garden was intended, in Alison Smithson’s words, to provide a “vertical tube of unbreathed private air�, as can be seen in the illustration shown in the index. This central tube is created and defended by the bunker of the home around it, the roof of which also collects water, which is funnelled into a central well within the garden then brought inside. In this way, the House was intended to be completely protected 9 & separate from the outside world.

The House therefore “blurs the line between reason and emotion”, marrying a holistic view of the impact that technological advances would have for design with “most basic of the emotions: which is fear” (Colomina, 2007). The House turns its back on the outside world in order to shelter and defend the childless couple intended to inhabit it, who through their inhabitation of the home are saved from needing any contact with the potentially post-apololyptic world beyond.

The House of the Future, UK 1:50

The House uses many soft, biomorphic shapes, in order both to take advantage of the opportunities that the Smithsons’ saw in the new developments of plastic, but also as an expression of the hygiene, cleanliness and safety of the home. This is another parallel with the genesis of suburban neighbourhoods, which represented a retreat from the perceived uncleanliness of urban areas. Here, as in the House, residents are distanced and protected from that which is seen as unpleasant.

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The House of the Future, UK 1:100

analysis of core ideas revealed in the plan...

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The House of the Future, UK 1:50

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1.1 programme

The House of the Future, UK 1:100

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1.2 material / structure

The construction of the House was greatly inspired by developments in the factory manufacture of automobiles. Rather than being constructed in elements to later be assembled however, Alison intended that the entire structure of the House would be made as one, and roll off the production line complete, with only the corrugated plastic doors, loose furniture and curtains to later be added.

The House of the Future, UK 1:200 / 1:5

The House was “calculated to take advantage of the latest technology”. Although “it was all about plastics,” and the first thing that comes to mind when viewing the house might indeed be plastic, the House of the Future was actually constructed from plywood covered with plaster and emulsion. The solidity of the external face, creating the thick exterior of the bunker, is contrasted against the openness and transparency of the internal facade to the garden, detail shown on the right.

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1. (previous page) in the central garden, Alison Smithson specifically specified the trees and naturalistic planting with wildflowers. (credit: CCA, for source please see bibliography)

2. the design of the clothing and furniture, all of which were also detailed by Alison, now seem familiar, clearly displaying the ‘space-age’ image of the future which came to be commonplace. (credit: CCA, for source please see bibliography)

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3. the irregular character of the entrance to the home suggests entering a cave or refuge.

4. amenities and storage are situated like islands or furniture around the central garden.

5. original sketch by Alison Smithson showing the vertical axis created through the central garden.

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6. the dining room showing the sinking table and the view to the courtyard and view to the garden beyond. (credit: CCA, for source please see bibliography)

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2.0 Semi-Detached Stevenage, UK

In this suburban housing project, though the basic arrangement of the home remains quite conventional and unchallenged, the axis within the home is subtly tweakked, slightly angling the two halves of the semi-detached home against each other. This serves to create two different environments in front and back: the front doorsteps, angled towards each other, create a social space between the neighbours, whereas at the rear, the angling of the two homes away from each other provides enhanced privacy and serves to overcome some of the flaws of denser suburban developments. Though originally intended to be a large run, only one of this competition winning design was eventually constructed. The relevance of this project lies in the clever but still very simple way in which the axes of the two homes govern, or subvert, the typical relationships between the two halves of the semi-detached home, alongside the off-site and highly sustainable elements of the construction.

Sergison Bates 2000

1:200

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1:10000

Semi-Detached Stevenage UK 1:5000

The project is located within the early New Town of Stevenage, to the north of the town centre. The fields and countryside are visible at the top of the 1:10000 site image opposite. The home was built at the turn of the millenium as part of a larger housing estate of similar scale, if less architecturally interesting, suburban homes.

From this site plan, where Semi-Detached is located just to the south of the main road, it can be seen that this home doesn’t propose a significantly higher density than the commercial estate around it.

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1:200

In the plan, shown here in 1:200 rather than 1:500 due to the small scale of the project, the angling of the two homes against each other is clearly visible. The homes themselves follow a typical butterfly plan for suburban semi-detached homes, with a large living space front and back on the downstairs, and a front hall and stairway leading to the bedrooms upstairs. The slight size difference in the two halves of the pair could be seen as providing a wider offering of homes: both three bed and two bed.

Semi-Detached Stevenage UK 1:50

The tilting of the two homes against each other serves to create unusual angles within the home.

This awkwardness is what Renaudie encouraged in his schemes, for its enabling of the “abstract contect� in daily domestic life.

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1:100

Semi-Detached Stevenage, UK 1:100

The section remains relatively conventional, but of interest is how the upper rooms use the pitched roof space to create generous height within the rooms, further adding to the simple but sensitive architectural interest of the scheme.

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2.1 programme

Semi-Detached Stevenage, UK 1:200

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2.2 material / structure

1:200

Semi-Detached Stevenage, UK 1:10

external cladding Masonite beams TM

WarmCell 500 insulation TM

battens plasterboard

The scheme is constructed of TRADIS panels: prefab panels made off-site that are similar to SIPs in their load-bearing and insulation-incorporating features. These panels allowed not only swift construction of the scheme, but also focused on achieving a high level of sustainability, in particular in keeping the embodied energy of the building to the bare minimum, achieved through materials such as recycled newsprint insulation. The photo, courtesy of the architects, shows the houses under construction.

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1. (previous page) a view of the side of the scheme from the main road. (credit: Sergison Bates)

2. the rear of the homes as they look out over the rear gardens. (credit: The Architectural Review, for source please see bibliography)

3. the front elevation (credit: The Architectural Review, for source please see bibliography)

Semi-Detached Stevenage, UK

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4. a wider shot from the main road, showing the scheme in context with the estate homes around it. (credit: The Architectural Review, for source please see bibliography)

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4. the view into an upstairs bedroom, with pitched roof (credit: Sergison Bates)

5. the hallway space of the smaller twobed property. (credit: Sergison Bates)

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3.0 Patio House Adams Crossing, PA

The Patio House, or Residential Cluster Development, is a typology of suburban home within the United States. Here Adams Crossing, a typical community of patio homes within Pennsylvania, is explored.

Of particular interest is the four-way split of the larger villa into four multi-detached homes, whilst still maintaining a distinctly American suburban character. Adams Crossing and similar settlements feature small groups or cul de sacs of such villas, sited within larger landscaped grounds that are typically managed by a local management agency.

This in particular is more suited to American suburbia than British, which is typically much more segmented and territorial, particularly when one considers the individual front and rear gardens. This typology is also very American suburbia in how the homes are massive, on a completely different scale to what we’d associate with suburbia in Britain. However, the increased proximity within these undeniably suburban homes is of great relevance.

architect unknown 1980s

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1:10000

Patio House Adams Crossing, PA 1:5000

The large scale of these homes, along with their relative greediness for land consumption, is made very visible in these larger scale plans. Particularly when considered against Stevenage, it’s clear this form of housing can’t be directly grafted into the UK. 47

1:500

Patio House Adams Crossing, PA 1:50

The huge scale of the homes is obvious again when compared with Semi-Detached: whereas most of the ground floor can be seen in the 1:50 plan on page 31, here, only the so-called ‘Great Room’, a doubleheight living space with feature fireplace and staircase ascending to the half storey above, can fit in the same space. Even this large space, of a rough 5.5m square, is dwarfed by the garages, as can be seen opposite, all in homes that still only offer three bedrooms.

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The elevation is quite traditional, with 1 1/2 storeys and dormers to the first floor. The material choices in the cladding, which will be discussed later, envoke clear connotations and seek to add class and history to the development.

Patio House Adams Crossing, PA 1:200

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3.1 programme

Patio House Adams Crossing, PA

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3.2 material / structure 1:500

Patio House Adams Crossing, PA 1:50

Little information could be found regarding the specific construction of the project, but what is of interest are the material choices in the cladding, which continue the suburban tradition of the Picturesque, in the magpie-like quality and naivety of the varied palette, which concentrate more on the connotations and familiar image they paint than the authenticity of the references. The tiles, weather boarding, trims, bricks and heavily-styled play to the traditional and familiar image of an affluent middle class home.

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1. the view entering the community. (credit: My Adams Crossing, for source see bibliography)

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2., 3. & 4. views along the cul de sacs within the community, showing the very large patio homes within the managed & landscaped communal gardens. (credit: Google Maps Streetview)

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4. & 5. views within the Great Room of one of the patio homes, showing the aspirational grandeur and luxury of these communities. (credit: My Adams Crossing, for source see bibliography)

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4.0 Quinta da Malagueira Evora, Portugal

Quinta da Magalueira was the third large housing development designed, and over the space of two decades constructed under the watchful eye of, Alvaro Siza, following the revolution in Portugal that overthrew the dictatorship, and in the area of Evora replaced it with a Communist mayor. The very frugal development of 1200 homes, sited between two large illegal barrios on the periphery of the Roman town, was built by a coalition of cooperatives to house the working classes.

Due perhaps partly to the large scale of the scheme, in this design Siza moved away from his previous style of meticulous detailing and careful craftsmanship to a Loos-inspired strict and stripped back formalism that appears quite austere the original construction photos, one of which can be seen on p.79, have softened in the two decades of their occupation. Seen opposite is one of the large blocks which make up the broader estate, each of which is formed by a number of homes on an 8 x 12m grid.

Alvaro Siza 1977-98

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1:10000

Quinta da Magalueira Portugal 1:5000

The rationalism and scale of the scheme can be seen in particular in contrast against the remaining area of barrio to the south, which Siza made a concerted effort to maintain on the site. The density is also visible: 1200 homes.

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1:500

Type A

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1

Type B

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1

The homes are of two base types, seen above. Each of these plans features an inner courtyard, around which the other spaces are arranged. This central courtyard serves both as a private and enclosed outdoor space for the homes, thus achieving the suburban quest for privacy, but also as a space for expansion: a ‘soft back’ through which the formalism of the wider scheme is maintained whilst the residents are still able to grow their homes as required.

Quinta da Malagueira Portugal 1:50

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Each larger block is formed of the two different house ty device of a viaduct, built in unadorned concrete block, wh by the Roman aqueduct of Evora, which lies 1km away fr beneath the viaduct within the town had been colonised b of the scheme, including large public piazzas, however re

ypes. These are then serviced by an interesting tectonic hich winds its way through the houses. Siza was inspired rom Quinta da Magalueira, in particular in how the arches by shops and other commercial uses. The public element remains unfinished due to a shift to a Socialist mayor.

Quinta da Malagueira Portugal 1:500

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1:500

Quinta da Malagueira Portugal 1:200

The repeating motif of the two house types creates a highly rational character to the block facades, simply repeating the different facades in the same white render and tectonic form to create a quite atmosphere.

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4.1 programme

Quinta da Malagueira Portugal 1:200

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The emphasis on a brutal level of economy in the technical design of the scheme resulted in the main construction of the estate being in concrete blocks, which are rendered and painted white for the homes, and left exposed in the viaducts. This was then intended to give way to all manner of materials in the various infill opportunities within the block, hidden behind the facade to the street, which maintains the identity of the development whilst still allowing freedom.

Quinta da Malagueira Portugal 1:200

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1. (previous page) a view to one of the blocks (credit: Socks Studio)

2. original photos from the construction of the scheme showing the formal simplicity. (credit: Socks Studio)

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3. a contemporary photo showing the continued identity of the scheme and increased number of vehicles. (credit: The Architectural Review)

4. an aerial shot showing a number of the blocks soon after completion. (credit: casafeita.blogspot.com)

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5. an internal view of one of the courtyards, here maintained as an external terrace for the home. (credit: housingprototypes.org)

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Additional Projects

Walter Segal 1979 Lewisham, London, UK Walter’s Way represented a forray into an anarchist approach to housing, achieved through an ingeniously simple self-build system designed by Segal and Jon Broome. The scheme is however deeply flawed in how all homes fell into private ownership.

Space Caviar 2015 Museo Villa Croce, Genoa The RAM house continues the theme of defense and fear within housing, thereby following many of the trends that left to the emergence of suburban housing. Here, RAM panels are used as a means to control the invasion of telecommunications into the home.

Jean Renaudie 1969-75 Ivry-sur-Seine, France Renaudie’s housing scheme for the Paris suburb was designed exclusively in plan, using the diagonal to great effect to open up views within the home, and to create ample undefined spaces for what Renaudie described as “abstract content”.

Plotlands Early 20thC UK The Plotlands were settlements built on decommissioned agricultural land. Thrown up on the weekends by the East End poor of London, the homes were originally intended as weekend holiday spots but soon became much more.

Bibliography

Colomina, B. (2007) Unbreathed Air, 1956: Alison & Peter Smithson’s House of the Future; Lecture delivered at the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Available from: http://www.cca.qc.ca/en/issues/2/what-the-futurelooked-like/32734/1956-house-of-the-future [Accessed on: 02/05/17] Canadian Centre for Architecture (date unpublished) 1956: House of the Future; Article 10, What the Future Looked Like. http://www.cca.qc.ca/en/issues/2/what-the-future-looked-like/32734/1956-house-of-the-future [Accessed on: 02/05/17] Fabrizi, M. (13/05/16) Quinta da Malagueira in Évora by Álvaro Siza (1977-1998); SOCKS. Available from: http://socks-studio.com/2016/05/13/quinta-da-malagueira-in-evora-by-alvaro-siza-1977-1998/ [Accessed on: 11/05/17] von Fischer, S. (2010) The Sound of the Future; Available from: http://www.cca.qc.ca/en/issues/2/what-thefuture-looked-like/32734/1956-house-of-the-future [Accessed on: 02/05/17] Mckay, G. (date unpublished) https://web.archive.org/web/20080514150848/http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ rm_architecture_styles/article/0,,hgtv_3664_2973297,00.html [Accessed on: 10/05/17] Ramos, R. (17/04/11) Para além da arquitectura, o uso; Casafeita. Available from: http://casafeita.blogspot. co.uk/2011/04/para-alem-da-arquitectura-o-uso.html [Accessed on: 12/05/17] Sergison Bates Architects (date unpublished) Suburban Housing, Stevenage; Available from: https://www. yumpu.com/en/document/view/37194997/18-suburban-housing-stevenage-lpdf-sergison-bates-architects [Accessed on: 07/05/17] Sergison Bates Architects (date unpublished) Stevenage; Available from: http://sergisonbates.com/en/projects/housing-stevenage [Accessed on: 07/05/17] Sherwood, J. (date unpublished) Quinta da Malagueira; Housingprototypes.org. Available from: http://housingprototypes.org/project?File_No=POR003 [Accessed on: 11/05/17] Taylor-Foster, J. (29/01/15) Reflections On Álvaro Siza’s Seminal Quinta da Malagueira Housing Scheme; Archdaily. Available from: http://www.archdaily.com/592436/reflections-on-alvaro-siza-s-quinta-da-malagueira-communist-housing-scheme-in-evora [Accessed on: 11/05/17] Wikipedia (date unpublished) Patio home; Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patio_home [Accessed on: 10/05/17] Wikipedia (date unpublished) Residential cluster development; Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Residential_cluster_development [Accessed on: 10/05/17] Wilkinson, T. (06/07/15) Sergison Bates semi-detached, Stevenage, 2000; Architectural Review. Available from: https://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/sergison-bates-semi-detached-stevenage-2000/8685586.article [Accessed on: 07/05/17] Woodman, E. (27/01/15) Revisiting Siza: An archaeology of the future; The Architectural Review. Available from: https://www.architectural-review.com/rethink/viewpoints/revisiting-siza-an-archaeology-of-the-future/8677551.article [Accessed on: 11/05/17] Zapatel, J. A. (01/01) The Malagueira Quarter in Évora, Portugal; Vitruvies, Architextos. Available from: http:// www.vitruvius.com.br/revistas/read/arquitextos/01.008/936 [Accessed on: 11/05/17] author unknown (date unpublished) My Adams Crossing; Available from: http://www.myadamscrossing.com/ info.php?pnum=3 [Accessed on: 10/05/17]

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