ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Craig Ellwood 02 (above) Case Study House #18 Craig Ellwood was a Los Angeles-based architect working in the early 1950s to the mid 1970s. Ellwood was born Jon Nelson Burke and started a contracting business naming it ‘Craig Ellwood’ after a liquor store on Beverly Blvd. Ellwood was trained in steel construction and plastics and never in architecture. Ellwood’s fine architectural detailing can be credited to this training in construction. Case Study #16 was one of three homes Ellwood designed for Arts and Architecture magazine, and was also one of his earliest projects. Ellwood is best known for these works and also for the design of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. 03 The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Meis van der Rohe Ellwood’s training in steel construction gave him advantage of experience and knowledge over other architects. He was greatly influenced by Mies van der Rohe and the simple structural design of his architecture. Ellwood has been described combining the breezy California architecture with Mies’s formalism.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Obscure glass façade of #16 -The Case Study Houses: The Complete CSH Program 1945-1966, Taschen -www.artsandarchitecturemag.com/case.houses

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 West Coast 02 Los Angeles today Case Study House #16 was built in 1953 in Bel Air, Los Angeles. The case study program called for architects to design a contemporary way of living for post-war families. Most case study houses were built in Los Angeles.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Bel Air 02 Sunset Blvd. The house is sited on Bel Air Road. This section of LA became popular for it’s situation on the hillside and its nearness to Sunset Boulevard.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Site 02 Floor Plan The house is oriented for the living areas to have views to the west of mountains and valleys, and to the south to have views of city and sea. The limited site is on a level hillside, about 70’ x 100’. The basic plan is 4’ modular rectangle.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Program 02 Open plan The house is a two-bedroom, two bath home. Ellwood designed an open plan for house-garden penetration. Interior walls extend through perimeter walls of glass. This way the occupant’s perception of space is not limited to the room boundaries, also making a small home feel bigger. The structure is steel framing at and 8’ module.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 South roof overhang 02 West sun shade Ellwood designed roof overhands and sunshades on the perimeter of the living area so the occupant can enjoy views of the city and keep in the shade. LA’s climate is very temperate so the use of glass walls is appropriate. The temp ranges from 55-70.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Shared space / Private space 02 Materials as separate planes “To provide visual freedom and definition of architectural elements the roof slab is floated over vertical wall planes and walls are lifted from floor slab with a black recessed base … each element is articulated as separate unit, governed by its function and the integrity of the material.” -Ellwood

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Exposed steel frame 02 Shared space The steel framing is explosed on the interior and painted with red lead oxide paint, so that the steel structure becomes the basic architectural expression. A gap is left between the walls and ceiling to express this further.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Primary structure, steel frame 02 Construction photo The steel structural system is 8’ module using 2 1/2” square pipe columns and 6” I-beams. Ellwood used the square pipe for detail simplification. The thin structural line created is complementary to other detailing. 2 1/2” of the bottom flange is left visible through plaster to align with the exposed steel columns.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Secondary structure, glass façade and walls The obscure glass façade provides privacy in the courtyards without limiting light.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Secondary structure, stone chimney, steel frame shading 02 Photograph of steel frame sun shade The rectangular mass and rough texture of the chimney contrasts with the fineness of detailing and openness of plan. The mass secures the home to the site which is appropriate because of the steep embankment at that corner of the site.

ARCHITECT I PLACE+PROGRAM I SPACE+ORDER I CONSTRUCTION+EXPRESSION biography regional context urban context primary structural system influence building typology building diagrams secondary structural system bibliography environmental context interior conditions mechanical systems materials 01 Back corner of home Ellwood chose to express the steel construction of the home, as well as the individual integrity of each plane of material. The use of form, line, color, and texture and the application of detailing were all implemented by Ellwood. He used the colors black, white, terra cotta, wood and masonry to form both strong contrasts and subtle harmonies. “Articulation of each element, however minor, has played an important part in achieving the overall crispness and completeness of detailing.” -Ellwood