Principles and Elements

The designers of the Chemosphere incorporated many principles and elements including SHAPE, COLOR, RHYTHM, and PROPORTION all of which are more obvious on the outside of this house. We can also see CONTRAST in the way this building stands out in its environment and UNITY in the way all the elements and materials work together to make one cohesive structure.

Connections

The house itself sits above the city in the mountains which allows its residents to connect with nature while they are living there. The house has a very modern look which brings the natural area it is in to life. The public areas in the house such as the living room, kitchen, and dining room all allow for the residents to connect and for guests to connect with the homeowners.

Materials

The house sits on a concrete column with steel struts that support the floor of the house. The house itself is built out of steel and timber with the roof being supported by curved frames of laminated wood. These materials were chosen because of the earthquakes that occur in the area, so far the house has withstood hurricanes, and floods which has proved the materials and structure successful.

Light and Color

The interior of the house has lots of light and color, from the natural light that comes from the multiple windows to the colorful furniture that fills the house. We will first look at the windows that bring in lots of natural light. Other than the windows that surround the house there is a skylight where the concrete column would have been had it been carried through the house, there is also a window at the bottom of the house that overlooks the carport. We will now look at the colors that fill the house. There are lots of oranges, yellows, reds, and blues that fill the house. These colors contrast nicely with the white and cream color of the carpeting and rugs, they also contrast nicely with the greenery that surrounds the house.

Experience

The house sits above the city which provides a secluded, private experience while still feeling connected to the city that you reside in. Its unique octagonal shape and columnless interior provide an interesting experience for the guests. Getting to the house will provide another interesting and unique experience, once you park your car in a private funicular (inclined railway) you ascend up the slope and land at a narrow bridge that leads you into the house.

Theories

The theory that best fits this building is modernism. The modernism theory is described as a rejection of the past and the embracing of a brave and rational future. This house was built in 1960 during the modernist era of design. The building has a unique octagonal shape which steps outside of the classic four walls and sits on a concrete column which is different than the classic options of building into the side of the mountain or using an open steel framework. The coloring of the interiors also reflects a modernist design with the oranges and reds that we see as accents throughout the house.

Technology

An example of technology in this house is the inclined railway that takes you up the slope to the house. The carport is the start of this system. You park your car in a funicular which takes you up the mountain where you land at a narrow bridge that takes you to the house. This funicular made getting to the house a lot more efficient and quicker, it also made more less ground leveling when building the house.

Finishes

In the image above we are able to see one of the many finishes of the house. This finish includes the curved portal frames that are made of laminated wood. These frames were made to support the roof since there is no column inside to do so. We also get a glimpse of the steel and timber that the house was made out of.

Furnishings

The image above shows the living room of the house where we can see a white couch accompanied by what appears to be purple egg chairs. Along with those there is a circular glass coffee table and two white ottomans. These furnishings make the space feel comfortable and more like a home rather than having office chairs or just stools in the room.

Telling Stories

The Chemosphere was designed in 1960 for an aircraft engineer in a particularly difficult location. Through this house, we can see how the architect, John Lautner worked through this issue to create what has been named “the most modern home built in the world” by Encyclopedia Britannica. This house shows us what design and architecture looked like during the modernist era of design and how people were constantly pushing the boundaries of design.

Additional Information and Resources

18 Characteristics of Modernism – Simplicable.

AD Classics: Malin “Chemosphere” Residence / John Lautner | ArchDaily.

Chemosphere – Wikipedia.