Northwest Usonian- 1

Northwest Usonian

Posted on: January 24, 2012 by Build LLC

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

Last weekend we had the rare opportunity to visit one of only 3 Frank Lloyd Wright houses here in Washington State. Recently touted as one of Seattle’s 10 Greatest Homes, the Tracy House is a mid-century gem located in Normandy Park (approximately 30 minutes south of Seattle), and it also has the distinct honor of being listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The house was designed and built for William and Elizabeth Tracy from 1954 to 1955, and they were the sole owners until Elizabeth’s passing a couple years ago. We were extremely honored to see such an exceptional piece of architecture and want to extend our thanks to the organizer, tour guide, and Wright aficionado, Larry Woodin.
지난 주말 우리가 여기 워싱턴 주에서만 3 프랭크 로이드 라이트 (Frank Lloyd Wright)의 주택 중 하나를 방문 할 수있는 드문 기회가 있었다. 최근 시애틀의 10 위대한 주택의 하나로서 선전, 트레이시 하우스 (약 30 분 시애틀 남쪽의) 노르망디 공원에 위치한 세기 중반 보석이며, 또한 역사적 장소의 국가 레지스트리에 등록되는 별개의 명예를 가지고있다. 집 설계 및 1954-1955 윌리엄과 엘리자베스 트레이시 위해 만들어진, 그들은 엘리자베스의가 몇 년 전에 통과 될 때까지 유일한 소유자이었다되었다. 우리는 매우 아키텍처의 이러한 뛰어난 조각을 볼 영광 주최자, 투어 가이드, 그리고 라이트 애호가, 래리 목 공용 우리의 감사를 확장 할되었다.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

While the tour offered an exclusive look at a private residence designed by, perhaps, the most celebrated of American Architects, there was something more serendipitous that struck us. The Tracy house is a remarkable example of Wright’s Usonian Automats – a series of residential designs intended for the middle class. The floor plan is a modest 1,150 square feet which includes 3 simple bedrooms and only the necessary common areas, nothing more. At the same time it seems to have offered the inhabitants a perfectly comfortable life.
여행이 설계 한 개인 주택에서 독점적 인 모습을 제공하는 동안, 아마도, 미국 건축가의 가장 유명한이 우리를 공격하는 더 뜻밖의 일이 있었다. 중산층위한 주거 디자인의 시리즈 - 트레이시의 집은 라이트의 Usonian 자동 판매기의 놀라운 예입니다. 바닥 계획은 간단한 3 개의 침실과 만 필요한 공용 공간, 아무것도 더를 포함하는 겸손한 1,150평방피트이다. 동시에 그것은 주민에게 완벽하게 편안한 삶을 제공하는 것으로 보인다.

[Image Credit: Larry Woodin]

Architecturally, the house demonstrates so many ideals of good design; all the characteristics that we’re always chattering on about with regard to smarter, smaller dwellings. Psychologically, everything had been thought about –even how the interior shadows from natural daylight would change over the course of a day. As far as sustainability, don’t even get us started; given that this house will easily last 100 years, its carbon footprint is negligible compared to the average modern day “green” home (even with its single pane windows). The house embodies a philosophy of design that is now more critical than ever.
구조적으로, 집은 좋은 디자인의 많은 이상을 보여줍니다; 우리는 항상 스마트 작은 주거 관련에 대해에 채터있는 모든 특성. 심리학, 모든 자연광에서 내부 그림자가 일의 과정을 통해 변경하는 방법 -even에 대해 생각하고 있었다. 지금까지 지속 등, 심지어 우리가 시작하지 않는다; 이 집은 쉽게 백년 지속됩니다 주어진, 탄소 발자국 (심지어는 하나의 창을 포함)의 평균 현대의 "녹색"집에 비해 무시할 수있다. 그 집은 지금 그 어느 때보 다 중요합니다 디자인의 철학을 구현한다.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

In organizing our own thoughts we wondered about the constituent components that contribute to such an efficient whole. So we did what we do; we broke it down into our top 10 list of design concepts that make this residence so successful. It could just as easily be called 10 architectural tips for smaller floor plans. Here goes:
우리 자신의 생각을 조직에서 우리는 효율적인 전체에 기여하는 구성 성분에 대해 궁금해했다. 그래서 우리는 우리가 무엇을했다; 우리는이 저택은 매우 성공적 있도록 설계 개념의 우리의 최고 10리스트에 고장. 그냥 쉽게 작은 바닥 계획을 위해 10 건축 팁을 호출 할 수 있습니다. 내용은 다음과 같습니다 :

1. Everything it needs to be and nothing more: There’s no “bonus room/video game room” or other superfluous space that doesn’t have a primary purpose.

[Image Credit: Larry Woodin]

2. Indoor/outdoor spaces: The terrace was designed with the same intention and thoughtfulness as any room inside the home. Given the careful siting and coziness of the terrace, we’re willing to bet that it’s contributed an essential function to the home over the decades.

[Image Credit:  designcrave.com

3. Privacy: The house is nestled comfortably into the landscape with attention paid to neighboring properties. The angle of the home on the property is just right to take advantage of the view and natural light without compromising the sense of privacy from the neighbors.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

4. Deliberate views: Sightlines from the home’s common areas offer clear views over the bluff and out onto the Puget Sound. The expansive view balances out the intimate feel of the interiors.

[Image Credit:  sahafoto

5. Manipulation of spaces: The entry and hallways are deliberately kept low and dark so that the light-filled common areas with their higher ceilings are amplified.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

6. Dynamic spaces: Relief within the concrete walls as well as the intentional breaks of the window bays offer light conditions and shadows that constantly change throughout the day. Apparently there’s even a specific location for flowers based on the shadow patterns between dawn and dusk.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

7. Bedrooms that are just bedrooms: The bedrooms are simple and straight-forward, maintaining their use as places of sleep and rest, while encouraging The Tracys to use the common areas for up and about activities.

8. Walls of glass: This opens the interiors up to the terrace, the view and an abundance of natural light.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

9. Built-in seating: Designed correctly it allows less wasted space in the living room and creates a harmonious feel at the interiors.

[Image Credit: Larry Woodin]

10. Integrated components: Items like lights and scuppers, that are designed into the structure and the concrete block geometry, don’t necessarily save space but lend a feeling of everything being in the right place.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

If you made it to this tour let us know what thoughts you came away with. If you missed this one, stay tuned to the BUILDblog, we’ve got the scoop on the next Frank Lloyd Wright house tour.

You can check out some additional resources about the house here, here, and here.