Wednesday, 16 July 2014

The House in the rocks

So as i said today's post will be on summer houses, not all summer houses need to be by the ocean, there are some amazing ones placed in the dessert, near rivers and on hills ect...I came across this spectacular house in the Coachella Vally in California, that i hope to visit when i attend the Coachella Festival next year. This festival happens around easter time every year. Where a gathering of people come and dance and camp in the dessert while different artist  perform for 3 days.

Little History of the Architect:
Albert Frey (1903-19980 is one of the most important modern architects of our time! He lived and worked in Palm Springs since 1934. Over a long prolific career, he produced over 200 building designs, including such notable local landmarks as Palm Springs City Hall and the Aerial Tramway Valley Station with John Porter Clark. 


The House on the hills:
The Frey House ll designed by Albert Freys, as this was his second home in Palm springs. It was completed in 1964 and at the time built it was the highest elevation of and residence in the city.Frey took five years to select the site and a year to measure the movement of the sun using a 305cm pole.  “I had a very careful survey made showing the contours and all the rock,” Frey told an interviewer  “Then I put up some strings to see how the design would work out. We then established the levels, and then I had to fit the glass to the rock. The slope of the roof follows the slope of the terrain,” he said. “The contrast between the natural rock and the high tech materials is rather exciting.” After reviewing his plans, the Palm Springs City Hall called his design "crazy " but gave their approval.

af1.jpgPerched in the San Jacinto mountains, Freys house has become a well know landmark. The house looks across the Coachella Valley and was designed to have little impact on the surrounding environment. Measuring only 800sqr feet. The house is compact but yet very functional. The concrete block podium forms the base of the simple steel structure house. It has a steel-frame with large spans of glass and sheathing in paint corrugated metal. A platform. parallel to the road, projects in front of the house and acts as a deck for the pool and as a roof for the carport below. The design includes a flat corrugated- aluminium roof, overhangs to block the summer sun  and sliding glass doors that opens the interior to the exterior. The house has many walls of glass, which showcase the astounding views. The swimming pool and small deck functions as the roof of the carport.

The Upper level features a dinning/work table and the bathroom, while the lower level includes a sitting area,master bedroom and kitchen. Frey then added an additional guest bedroom ( measuring 300 sqr feet) in 1967. Being keenly conscious of nature, Frey choose the colour of his curtains to match the yellow Encilla flowers that bloom each spring in the desert. He also painted the ceiling blue to match the skies.



One of the most famous elements of the property is the incorporation of the large boulder into the design. It protrudes into the house and acts as a diver between the bedroom and living room. By incorporating the boulder into the design, Frey acknowledged our role with nature.

This is one of the first modern homes ever design and to my amazement the simplicity makes the home even more spectacular.




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