Prototropic Issue 0.1 | Tropical Case Study House

TCSH No.1 | DAVID ROCKWOOD ARCHITECT

House is

TROP CA STU HOU

Prototropic † ISSUE 0.1 | Tales and Spe

a Decorated Shack | Introduction by Dimitri Damiel Kim

PICAL ASE UDY USE

eculations under the Sun | NOVEMBER 2014

Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / House is a Decorated Shack

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HOUSE IS A DECORATED SHACK A CASE FOR STUDY “Agreeing that the whole matter is surrounded by conditions over which few of us have any control, certainly we can develop a point of view and do some organized thinking, which might come to a practical end†.”

The original program for the ‘Case Study House’ (1945-1966)1, organized by the Art and Architecture magazine, was perhaps a single most important intervention that attributed to experimentation and realization of some of the 20th century’s treasured modernist architecture and architecture of housing.

While this event/phenomenon is considered an exception within the history of modern and American architecture, CSH program has never-the-less, became a highly influential, educational model for design and research of contemporary architecture.

†. Case Study House Program, John Entenza, Art & Architecture 1949

1. Out of 36 deigns that were proposed from the program, 26 were built, including Stahl House (pictured right), Eame’s House, and Chuey House

Case Study House No. XXII | Stahl House | PIERRE KOENIG, 1960

Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / House is a Decorated Shack

Case Study House No. IX / Entenza House / EERO SAARINEN & CHARLES EAMES, 1949

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“…Perhaps we will cling the longest to the symbol of house as we have know it, or perhaps we will realize that in accommodating ourselves to a new world the most important step in avoiding retrogression into the old”† After nearly 65 years later, legacy of the Case Study House has become a mere fable; a history lesson told to the younger generation of architects of how good the Woodstock really was and that there will never be another one like it. However unprecedented and idealized the CSH appears to be today, the original program, the vision and execution was rather practical1 The program outlined a set of rules for handful of select architects (friend and contemporaries of the editor John Entenza) to produce series of houses to be built in southern California for select clients CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

1. The program espoused the “measurement of the average man’s living standards”, hence, practicality was one of the main requisite for all designs

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and their families, using contemporary building techniques and modern ethos1. The program later expanded to include sites beyond southern California to Arizona before finally ending in 1964.

The project, whether built or not, was to be documented and published with full plans and details with the purpose of being built later or to be used as a model towards the design of other houses.

The program also included the requirement for the housing to be affordable and the construction of the houses to be relatively easy and duplicable. At the end of the program, 36 prototype houses were created, with astounding 26 of them being built2.

Whether it was the spirit of its time or perhaps it was mostly about collective expression of modernity, The CSH program did not include any specific consideration for climate as a requirement. At the time (or perhaps still is), the consensus among modernists’ and their proponent’s attitude toward climate and natural environment was primarily indifferent and if not, cold.

However, did climate have any influence in the design of the case study houses? Was the moderate climate of Southern California a factor in the success (or ease) of the design?

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23 1. Foregoing of past traditions and embrace of “contemporary ideas”, including new building materials and styles were part of the program’s prescription 2. Number of Houses in the series, including CSH No.17, 18, 20, 21 were followed by second variation of the previous house; the last 2 CSH houses were Apts.

Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / House is a Decorated Shack

AFTER NEARLY 65 YEARS LATER, LEGACY OF THE CASE STUDY HOUSE HAS BECOME A FABLE; A HISTORY LESSON TOLD TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF ARCHITECTS OF HOW GOOD THE WOODSTOCK REALLY WAS AND THAT THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT Case Study House No. VIII / Eames House / RAY AND CHARLES EAMES, 1949

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MOD ERNITY TROPI CANA This page: Downtown Honolulu HI | Next page: Town of Hawaii Kai HI

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It is hard to argue that significance of the CSH program belongs to the modern discourse and history of modernity, but the bold attempt and sheer inventiveness of the program and its output, namely, the collectivization of design efforts and creation of projects as prototypes, crosses any traditions or pedagogy and deserves a further study and execution toward future discourse.

Tropical Case Study House program and the design for Tropical Case Study House I (TCSH No. 1) by Rockwood, seeks a re-appraisal of the original CSH program, with expanded consideration towards local environment, culture, and climate.

While the original CSH program focused on modernity as the determining factor for producing ideal architecture for the masses, Tropical Case Study House program is centered around unique living conditions of tropical residents. Accordingly, the TCSH No.I design seeks to adopt the design of indigenous tropical house1 as a model for directly addressing the issue of tropical climate.

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1. The indigenous house by native Hawaiian people was built around sensitivity to local climate, environment, and culture, which included the use of open outdoor/indoor space (wall-less) and use of native plants and wild life for building materials

Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / House is a Decorated Shack

Tropical Case Study House No. 1 / Elevation / DAVID ROCKWOOD, 2014

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Whether it was the spirit of its time or perhaps it was mostly about collective expression of modernity, The CSH program did not include any specific consideration for climate as a requirement While formally minimal and modern, the strippeddown design of the Tropical Case Study House No. 1 is driven by the need to minimize necessary elements in the design of a typical housing that requires insulation, barrier for heat/cold, and mechanical systems for heating and cooling in the summer and winter1.

TCSH No.1 is a prototype for ideal built environment in tropical setting and TCSH program is more then just a different flavor of the original Case Study House program, but an impetus for further collectivization of avant-garde ideas in architecture of housing and its practical application towards the masses.

1. Without the need for space and placement of additional elements for cold weather, the design of TCSH No.1 is built around open interior with removable/operable and louvered partition walls to maximize passive cooling for all year warm weather

Tropical Case Study House

TROPICAL C HOUSE P

The Tropical Case Study House Program is inspired by the Arts + A architects, with each built by a client on a site of their choice. The ind environmentally friendly building practices. Unfortunately few indige that use inappropriate materials, have high energy consumption, an protect the occupants from the extremes of wind, sun, and rain, but a tropical living are sitting in the shade, feeling the trad

The Tropical Case Study House Program seeks to provide the impe architecture, and updating the designs to best fit the needs of con simultaneously to live more simply and with a closer connection to n innovative design solutions best fitting contemporary cultural nee

For the initial phase of the program, houses are proposed for constru houses may be built in o

Tropical Case Study House Prog

| Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

CASE STUDY PROGRAM

Architecture magazine model. Houses will be designed by invited top digenous tropical house provides a close fit with climate, culture, and enous houses remain, and most have been replaced by modern houses nd do not fit cultural patterns. A properly designed tropical house can at the same time connect them to the environment. One of the joys of de wind breeze, and contemplating the natural setting.

etus for reinventing the tropical house, using lessons of indigenous ntemporary life. Many desire some modern conveniences, and yet nature. This then is the challenge to the invited architects, to propose eds, exemplary building practices, and fit with the tropical climate.

uction in Hawaii. This will allow a tour program of the houses. Later other tropical locations.

gram by David Rockwood 2014

Tropical Case Study House

The Tropical Case Study House program seeks to reinvent th

by Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry in their book Tropical Archit

comfort in dry and humid tropical zones, such as siting, typo

conducted to extend these basic principles and finding soluti

relation to the tropical natural environment. Most contemp

zones, resulting in the need to use mechanical space conditio

their surroundin

TCSH No.I / Sketch Study

| Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

he tropical house, extending the pioneering work elaborated

tecture of 1964. The authors cite specific strategies to provide

ology, shading, and ventilation. Little research has since been

ions matching current needs for appropriate ways of living in

porary tropical housing adapts designs used in other climate

oning to provide basic comfort, thus isolating occupants from

ngs. (continued)

y 1 / DAVID ROCKWOOD, 2014

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In contrast, the indigenous tropical house provides a close fit with climate, culture, and ecologically sound building practices. A typical indigenous house uses a large overhanging roof to protect the occupants from the extremes of sun and rain, a narrow floor plate, unrestricted plan, and open frame structure to maximize ventilation, and a raised floor to protect the building and occupants from ground moisture and flooding1. At the same time, indigenous houses open up to the environment and bring about a closer connection to nature.

The design of Tropical Case Study House No. I sought to incorporate and evolve key features identified by Drew and Frey and as seen in indigenous houses.

The floor of the house is raised above the ground to protect from groundwater and increase ventilation.

Concrete piers act as an extension of the terra firma, and reduce to linear elements adjustable to varying topography.

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Indigenous Native Hawaiian Shack

1. Tropical Architecture in the Dry and Humid Zones, Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew, Batsford 1956

Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

TCSH No.I / Sketch Study 2 / DAVID ROCKWOOD, 2014

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Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

Little research has since been conducted to extend these basic principles and finding solutions matching current needs for appropriate ways of living in relation to the tropical natural environment.

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TROPICAL CASE STUDY HOUSE I

David Rockwood | 2014

Exploded axo (Left) | Axonometric (Right)

Tropical Case Study House

TROPICAL CASE

David Rockw

Sectio

| Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

1 Steel Tension Rod 2 Central Mast 3 Suspended Canopy Roof 4 Steel Brace 5 Movable/Removable Exterior Walls

STUDY HOUSE I

wood | 2014

on 1

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The archetypal tropical house frame structure was minimized to erase the vertical boundary condition of the house, opening it to view, breezes, and nature.

The structure is an “umbrella� form with a central mast and suspended canopy roof. Such a structure reduces the mass of vertical elements, and places the columns toward the center of the building.

Stainless steel tension rod diagonal braces provide needed lateral load resistance while maintaining maximum transparency.

Most contemporary tropical housing adapts designs used in other climate zones, resulting in the need to use mechanical space conditioning to provide basic comfort, thus isolating occupants from their surroundings.

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Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

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TROPICAL CASE STUDY HOUSE I

David Rockwood | 2014 Elevation Render 1

Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

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TROPICAL CASE STUDY HOUSE I

David Rockwood | 2014 Exterior Render 1

Tropical Case Study House

TROPICAL CASE

David Rockw Floor

| Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

1 Master Bedroom 2 Closet 3 Master Bathroom 4 Bedroom 5 Bathroom 6 Kitchen 7 Dining Room 8 Living Room 9 Entry Platform

STUDY HOUSE I

wood | 2014 Plan

Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

The Tropical Case Study House Program seeks to provide the impetus for reinventing the tropical house, using lessons of indigenous architecture, and updating the designs to best fit the needs of contemporary life

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TROPICAL CASE STUDY HOUSE I

David Rockwood | 2014 Interior Render

Tropical Case Study House | Prototropic 0.1 / TCSH No.I

TROPICAL CASE STUDY HOUSE I David Rockwood | 2014 Exterior Render 2

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The house is conceived as a modified pavilion type using a “porous” central core. Siding louvered doors allow the house to open for light and ventilation or be closed for security or during inclement weather.

While many people desire some modern conveniences in their house, they will often wish to return to living modestly and simply. As a response, the house is made relatively small, and contains a limited number of spaces and technological devices. Overall, the design seeks to provide for a rich and connected, unfolding of life in the tropics using a minimum of means. Indeed, less may still be more.

“A properly designed tropical house can connect occupants to the environment”†

END OF THE ARTICLE

†. Tropical Case Study House Program, David Rockwood, 2014

Prototropic † ISSUE 0.1 | Tales and Speculations under the Sun | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ® / COPYRIGHT © 2015 XMANIFOLD A.D.R.L.