Corum Residence was designed by
Substance Architecture
and is a display of modern living at its best. The only aspect that
differentiate this house from the majestic residences we commonly
display on Freshome is this project’s dimensions. Here is more from the
architects:
This modest, single family residence on a four acre site
was designed for a family looking to “downsize” their domestic lives.
The resulting home expresses itself and gestures beyond — to the rural
Iowa landscape. The elemental design consists of a galvanized metal clad
“tube” gently resting on a cast-in-place concrete “plinth” and pointed
toward the view. The home’s simple form and materials reference
agricultural buildings prevalent in the central United States.The
more-public “living” spaces have direct access to the view. The private
“bed and bath” functions are sequestered deep within the metal-clad
wedge and concrete plinth. Internally, the home utilizes a system of
maple and acrylic shelving, an open-riser stair, and a fireplace mass to
vertically organize the section and link its three levels. (Photography by Bob Shimer/Hedrich Blessing)
19 Apr 2011
A reader recently emailed me and asked why
I’m always posting sterile architecture with cold hard lines. Well,
it’s because I happen to like that type of architecture — minimalist,
clean, simple… sometimes cold. However, today’s house is IMHO the
opposite of cold and sterile.
Located in Glendale, CA, The Schaffer
Residence is a warm, inviting cozy space. Not only is it a fully
restored and meticulously cared for 1949 mid-century home by
John Lautner, it had a cameo in the movie
A Single Man. And it’s for sale, so that means you could live here.
19 Apr 2011
The CG House rests on a generous 17,250
sq. ft. site adjacent to the Sierra Madre mountains. While the site’s
steep slope presented a number of design challenges, the dramatic views
it afforded of the city of Monterrey provided the architect with a
number of opportunities as well.
From the street, two massive oak tress
rise to provide privacy and welcome shade to the swimming pool terrace
above. Due to the sloping nature of the site, a massive, exposed
concrete wall defines and encloses the swimming pool and garden areas of
the house and sets the tone for the design of the house itself, which
is clad in brown/black volcanic stone, IPE wood, white stucco and steel.
A wide exterior granite staircase lead to
an intimate garden of palm trees. Directly ahead is a 12 feet-high dark
oak door whose grand scale offers a hint of the dramatic scale of this
10,650 sq. ft. home that lies beyond, beginning with an entry foyer
whose 15 feet-high walls are adorned with silver leaf. A massive
sculptural piece of coconut roots, steel and rocks was designed
specifically for this space.

The living room, as well as the dining and
family rooms, all have large windows with views of the garden, allowing
light to penetrate deep within the spaces as well as creating a
seamless interplay between the interior and exterior spaces. Also,
within the house, subtle level changes between rooms not only add
interest to the interior layout but these changes also reflect the
site’s topography.

In the private areas of the home, which is articulated through a long
corridor, the occupants have access to a second garden, located at the
highest point on the building site, which is less formal and more
recreational.
Credits :
Project Team: Enrique Salas, Tomas Güereña, Felipe González
Photography: Jorge Taboada