That's Interesting! 6 Designs That Defy Labels
Get inspired by the lines and textures of these homes, categorized only by the fact that they have no category
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
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Many of the subjects for the ideabooks that I write come about by browsing through photos on Houzz. Regardless of what sorts of filters I'm using (exterior vs. living room, modern vs. contemporary, metropolitan area, search terms, etc.), I always find something new, and eventually I'll see a common strand that reveals a design story. Other times some aspects of a design are so unique that they stand apart, resistant to be lumped in with other houses. I've assembled some examples here, designs that share the trait of making me think, "That's interesting!"
| What looks like a green screen punctured by a glass box is exactly that, but what makes it particularly interesting is the fact that it sits in front of a ranch house. The screen was intended "to transform the traditional into the organic transitional," as Shinberg Levinas Architectural Design describes it. |
| In this shot, we can see the existing house's roof above the screen and part of the front wall through the glass box, but on both counts just barely. The architectural camouflage is pretty successful, and it points to an equally thoughtful strategy in the yard. |
The same designers crafted another residence where the wood exterior wraps a walk-in closet and bathroom. The designers call it a "protective shell," but it is one that is punctured by gill-like vertical strips.
The effect of the vertical strips is apparent inside the bathroom, where shadows from the trees dance on the translucent glass surface.
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| More strips can be found on this garage for Dan Wheeler, co-founder of Chicago's Wheeler Kearns Architects, with partner Larry Kearns, who helped build the horizontal veil. |
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| Yet what looks like oversized siding during the day glows like a lantern at night. Beautiful. |
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| This photograph of a residence's front yard is intriguing not only for the pillowy landscape designed by H. Keith Wagner Partnership, but also for the way the strips move through it and across the various elements. The one on the left continues under a rock before stopping at a stone wall, while the one on the right just misses a tree before it cuts through the same stone wall. |
The strip cutting through the wall is actually glass with lights underneath, illuminating a path that continues into the building as a tall, narrow window. The stone of the partial-height wall is echoed in the wall of the house designed by Truex Cullins & Partners Architects, with the beam of light uniting the two.
Another interesting detail in front of the house happens at the path leading to the front door. Instead of routing the path around a tree or siting the house so the two wouldn't coincide, the two elements merge. Even though far from normal, it seems to work really well, perhaps because of the tall and skinny nature of the tree.
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| I'm a fan of creative uses of brick in modern designs, so I really like the way the texture of this freestanding wall — part of a three-house project by Richard Wintersole Architect — is created through the orientation and placement of bricks. The narrow openings that align with the heads of people sitting on the wood benches are a nice touch. |
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| Another brick wall on the project arranges the material in a herringbone pattern. Even though the wall is flat compared with the ridges in the previous photos, the pattern gives the wall an apparent texture, as well as rhythm accentuated by the uplights. |
The last project is interesting for the way Dale Jones-Evans Pty Ltd Architecture renovated an early 20th-century landmark warehouse into residences, particularly in the way they retained and worked the 1980s columns into the design. These columns have what look like orthogonal mushroom caps, giving the interiors a strong industrial character.
| The oblong column is actually wall-like, and the architects laid out the living area so the structure helps to define the different areas in the double-height space. |
Comments
cillisa Amazing.
7 months ago · Like
Richard Wintersole Architect Thank you for your kind words, on the zig zag brick wall the slots below become crenellations on top. Richard Wintersole
7 months ago · Like
Tyson Outstanding. It is a joy to see this balanced architecture with so many textures and large scale pieces - simply a job worth every moment to complete! 
7 months ago · Like
Marcy Thornton Your posts are always very thought provoking, John, only wish I could see some of them up close.
7 months ago · Like
greenthumb2 thinking outside the norm creates a platform for ingenuity, progress in design, and ultimately translates impact on clients, and all their visiting guests. well done. Can't say which one is my favorite since they all speak a new and exciting language.
7 months ago · Like
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julietr Another great article John. Really enjoy your writing style, architects eye and ability to put them together. Keep them coming. Juliet
7 months ago · Like
CAROLE MEYER I love these! So creative and beautiful.
7 months ago · Like
marsia Wow!!!
7 months ago · Like
Daniel M Martin, Architect LLC Thanks John. Your articles help others understand how trained architects think in terms of space and use of light in innovative ways. Houzz is a great teaching tool for expanding persceptions about the power of thoughtful design. Keep it up.
7 months ago · Like
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maddecorator I LOVE designs that are different. Thank you for this, and keep 'em coming!
7 months ago · Like
quatorze That slatted garage the turns into a magic lantern at night is genius. The idea can be used in so many ways. Two smaller ones in a formal landscape would be great; one can hide the A/C mechanicals, allowing ventilation while protecting the unit, the other could be a gardener's shed to hold all the tools. Could also be used as a well head, even atop a seaside home as a whimsical light house. The variations are endless, and look to be relatively affordable, and if made of cedar, long-lasting and green.
7 months ago · Like
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Nicole Orner I love the zig zag wall!
7 months ago · Like
Rough Linen Original and refreshing, my mind is blown, thank you!
7 months ago · Like
judyg Richard Wintersole, the home, the landscaping, the lighting are spectacular. Just plain "WOW"!
7 months ago · Like
Jan Yatsko The first idea is amazing!!!!! But I wonder about the amount of natural light that enters the actual house. I know there is glass but I also see alot of vines (?) on that outer shell which could prevent air and light from entering the house.
7 months ago · Like
Glory star 喜欢...
7 months ago · Like
bldearman Unfortunately the glass box, like windows, kills lots of birds. It is estimated that at least one billion birds die each year from window strikes. Birds fleeing from predators believe they can fly through the glass box, like in the instance of windows that do not have the blinds pulled down etc. Its very sad and I think things like this should be considered over looks.
7 months ago · Like
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fragrantgardener I always find your ideas interesting! please do keep it up, John!
7 months ago · Like
Cathy Minard__OShea I love the various designs making wonderful use of light play. Really lovely residences.
7 months ago · Like
fredericklc I am a big fan of using light as a decorating/enhancement tool. Thanks for the post, I am inspired.
7 months ago · Like
cherialli absolutely beautiful!
7 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Nov. 20, 2012.
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