small projects

boardformed house

two storey bungalow.

The boardformed house began
with a healthy budget and a client
who voiced preference for work
that could have come out of a
portfolio by Ando. And so he was
given something quite different.

The usual focus given to an
enclosure of reinforced concrete
was limited to just two side walls,
intended to be hidden in time
with creepers to render them
distinctly unJapanese.The budget
was instead poured into the finish
of concrete ceilings, the forms of
which were constructed of lightly
grooved plywood run through
the entire house for greater
perceived spatial flow. Capped by
a concrete version of the safari
roof, the remaining dollars were
put to somewhat justifiable use.
The boardformed house was an
exercise in construction effect
and the ‘unseen’ detail required
of its particular finesse.