Jourgensen House
"we feel that a house is not an end in itself, but is in addition to a protective environment, a means of expression of mood, ideas, hangups, etc. It should inspire, help, comfort, in general be varied enough to cause reaction."
A house on a steep slope for the intensive use of a family of parents, two boys and a girl. The program was accompanied with this quote from Walter Gropius:
"The architecture we produce will inevitably reveal the degree to which we have been able to show respect for the developing social pattern which we are a part of, without devitalizing our individual contribution to it."
A great center hall (happening space) was created, the two story aspect of which allows for hanging banners, displays, etc., of concern that is engaging the intellectual energies of the family. Its location is a reminder and an exciter of ideas. The desire for the division of the family sleeping spaces has resulted in the vertical pattern. The four towers serve practical functions of concentrating loads on the steep site, they contain stairs , storage, bath and utility functions and they also serve as large kiosks for posters, etc. Vertical movement is enlivened by the stair center pole which extends four flights from the father's "roost" retreat area to the kid's level. This is a dynamically used house and the design fits that purpose. The exterior copper was used to minimize maintenance, and more importantly, to achieve the green oxidation color which should harmonize with the lichen on surrounding rocky backdrop.
The towers are constructed of block masonry (selective cores filled for support) with large concave vertical joints. Steel beams support the wood framed structure off of the towers. With the exception of the towers all exposed exterior surfaces are covered with copper (16 oz.)
(Description by CAH with edits by Joel Haertling)
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