Invoking Eames - Take Two - LaMiDesign's Steel Case House

A few days ago I was daydreaming of the Eames House and posted up some newer homes that give me the same vibe. I mentioned the 6040 and 6030 EcoSteel houses designed by Greg La Vardera, but somehow I overlooked his Steel Case House. I wanted to bring it to the attention of all you Eames fans out there, because Greg directly references CSH#8 as a point of reference for this design:

The Steel Case House has emerged out of requests from early visitors to the site for a steel house that was a "simple box". This request has been repeated many times. For inspiration we turned to the Case Study houses built in the late 1940s and 50s by Arts and Architecture magazine. Case Study house number 8, the Eames House is probably the quintessential "simple steel box" and is a point of inspiration for this design. When the Case Study houses were built it was hoped that the industrial might of the US built up during WW2 could now turn to producing modern houses of standardized industrial components at a scale that would make them affordable. As we all know that industry never materialized, and stick framed houses remain the status quo. We see this design as an evolution of the Case Study goals. By combining readily available residential building components with a simple steel frame we hope to arrive at a hybrid that makes the house easier to realize.

This image of the house takes me right where my mind's eye wants to go ...




... and I like the floor plan too.




The interior spaces are really roomy for a house of 2,000 square feet. It looks like it would live much bigger than its footprint. Not too many houses that size have three bedrooms and a double height living room. There's a more intimate nook off the main living area too, just like the Eames House. And I really, really like the roomy kitchen and dining space. I could go with this plan with very few changes.





With tons of glass on three sides, this house was meant for a site with good views - maybe not urban infill lots. If you think this design might not be appropriate for your cold climate (like mine in Detroit) take comfort in the fact that there's a SIPS version with much more insulating value in the walls - around R30. And if the steel frame isn't your thing there's also a another version called the Timber Case House that utilizes engineered lumber members. Additionally, the Amount of windows can also be varied to suit the climate and site conditions for optimum energy efficiency. A very well thought out home by Greg, and an option I personally would seriously consider.

The legacy of the Case Study Homes and Eames is very much alive and well!

Image credits - LaMiDesign