Yes the same Kwikset that makes locks! Or nearly the same….there might have been a few bankruptcies between then and now.

This house is named the Kwikset house due to the partnership between the Kwikset Lock Company and the Eames Office. Kwikset commissioned the Eameses to build an affordable home for the average American that reduced construction time and material usage.

This modular home was a single story and would be constructed out exposed wooden beams that supported a curved plywood roof. The Eameses constructed a one-inch scale model complete with miniature Eames furniture to showcase their plan. Unfortunately, Kwikset changed owners and soon thereafter went bankrupt. A prototype home was never built.

Looking at the scale model the home is quite interesting. The interior was intended to be modular and allow the owner to move the layout around. The front had large windows that shown plenty of light into the open concept floor plan. I think my biggest hesitation over the entire concept is the idea of a plywood roof.

We all know that wood absorbs moisture and over time even the most durable sealer will erode under UV rays. This makes me wonder if the Eames were actually caught up in their own fad of building with curved plywood structures. Also, the idea of using a curved roof supported by wood wasn’t a very economical choice in my opinion.

Modular homes have gone through a long history of evolution since then. From my childhood years, I’ve seen them go from being just “trailer homes” to now being full-on wood structures built in a warehouse and shipped to the site. These have been around for some time, but only recently have they gained popularity due to sustainable building & design trends.

While primarily known for their design and construction of furniture, Charles and Ray Eames also were adept at designing homes.

Max and Esther De Pree commissioned the Eameses to build their home in Zeeland Michigan. This was a unique commission because Max was the son of Herman Miller’s CEO and Founder D. J. De Pree who Charles and Ray worked closely with in developing their furniture.

The house was constructed entirely of timber frame and was required by Max (the owner) to be built by local craftsmen who immigrated to Michigan from Holland. The front is quite plain with horizontal wood members spanning between vertical timber posts. Windows line the upper roofline. This two-story home features a long deck on the second floor above what appears to be a sunroom encased in glass.

Personally I don’t see much about the design that I like. It seems bland and very flat on the front. The back is more interesting but still doesn’t catch my eye. There are some odd buildings in from of the house which I can’t find a description of. I’m not sure if they are original to the home or were added later.

The basis of this house was actually a modular home initially designed for the Kwikset Lock Company. I look forward to writing about that project.

Pictures were retrieved from https://www.eamesoffice.com/the-work/max-and-esther-de-pree-house/

S2-1790 is the model number assigned by the United States Navy to the Eames Splint. The Eames Splint was created during WWII in response to military medical professionals seeking an alternative to the metal splints previously used.

Originally field medics used metallic splints that when worn by a wounded service member would clash against the stretcher causing a jarring impact that worsened existing injuries. Hence the Eames Splint.

Charles and Ray Eames responded to the military’s solicitation in true architectural fashion. They focused on the need and functionality of the splint while leveraging their experience working with molded plywood furniture.

The cross-grain lamination process combined with resin glue produced a strong yet flexible splint. It was soft enough to resist impacts while providing a rigid support for injuries. Several different holes were added to increase flexibility with the added benefit of being tie points for bandages and straps.

Many different shapes to support legs, arms, and neck injuries. Charles Eames used his own body as a mold at times.

To me this is a unique application of architecture outside of what we often associate with the profession. This wasn’t a building or artwork however the principles of design, function, and form were interwoven to satisfy a critical need during this time period.

Pictures retrieved from https://www.eamesoffice.com/blog/eames-molded-splints/

The first time I ever laid eyes on The Prairie House was during a lecture taught by Professor Bryan Bloom. Oddly enough, it wasn’t an architecture class but Bryan has always done an amazing job of teaching students to explore the built environment outside of what their typical career degree entails. Initially, I though this house looked so odd that calling it a “Chicken House” was a compliment. Who would want to live in something like this?

It wasn’t until a few years after that introductory construction class that I actually got to visit The Prairie House thanks to Bryan. We hosted a small gathering there to celebrate the completion of our classes’ Tiny Home project. Bryan just so happened to know the owner and was able to let us look around.

This is perhaps the first house I’ve ever been in / seen in person that wasn’t a traditional style home. I remember thinking the outside looked like a pile of scrap lumber that was waiting to be burned. The weathered cedar was more reminiscent of suburban fences that have aged over time.

When I walked inside my initial assumption that it would look dilapidated changed instantly. While it was sparse and the material simplistic the cedar shingles still had a rich red/brown hue. It looks almost new aside from a few water stains from a leaking roof. The tar paper that cladded the outside under the cedar has held up well over the years it seems.

The most impressive thing for me was the sheer amount of space hidden away inside. While you standing outside it doesn’t look that wide, or tall for that matter but changes once you go inside where you get the sense that it could go on forever. There are two stories and even a roof-top access that could double as a patio…..not a great idea on a TPO style roof.

I really liked visiting this house because it showed me that appearances can be deceiving and you never know what something will look like once you peel back that first layer. While an idea might be outlandish and foreign, you can’t make assumptions until you’ve seen and experienced it in person. There was talk that the owner might want to restore it and a coalition of Architecture and Construction Science students might get to participate (free labor). I wish it would have happened during my time at OU, it would have been a very interesting project.

No, this isn’t some weird torture chamber in the middle of a forest. It is actually a climate controlled storage shed for the Osage Forest of Peace in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

I’m not sure if you would call this a building per se but to me it is an important structure. This shed was built by myself and fellow students for a Design-Build class we took here at OU.

The concept was to provide a climate-controlled storage shed so the Forest could store spare beds, linens, and other assets not used on a daily basis.

Students did everything from concept design, material selection, constructability reviews, budgeting, material buyout, earthwork, concrete, all the way to final construction. This is an important building for me because it was the first structure I have ever build from scratch with my own two hands.

We prefabricated the wall assemblies and roof trusses at the Creating Making Lab on campus and then erected them on site. Our 2020 Spring Break was spent living at the Forest and building the structure. On average we worked about 14 hours a day to finish on time. Despite all the hard work and effort put in by the students we still needed a second half day visit to finish everything up.

Overall it was one of the best experiences I’ve had at OU. I would highly encourage any Architect, Construction Science, or Engineering student to participate in this class. I give it a thumbs up!

Bishop Castle is an interesting phenomenon being built by one man named Jim Bishop in central Colorado. Jim spends his time constructing this life-scaled castle on his own private property, with his own money (plus a few donations).

I first visited the castle in the Summer of 2019 while I was in Colorado Springs for a company training event. I had been sitting in my hotel room most afternoons due to the cold and rain. Yes, it was snowing and raining during the early summer. One the first bright day I decided to set out and do something. That something, was drive over an hour just to visit Bishop Castle.

I’ve always had an affinity for castles and ruins due to too many Tolkien books in my childhood. When I got to the castle I was dumbfounded. I didn’t expect it to be so large, solid, and intimidating, just like a real castle would be in my mind.

I’ve never seen an actual castle so this was a great experience for me. It was like fulfilling a childhood dream in a way. I couldn’t fathom that this entire structure was build by one man in his spare time. It is a true testament to what we’re capable of if given the right mindset. It will definitely be place I visit again in the future, maybe once I have kids.

Side Note: This dude might have a screw or two loose, the entire front of the site’s entrance is covered in hand made signs denouncing the government, and a bunch of other weird stuff. To each their own though.