Marvin House by Ted Cullinan - Case Study Example

Marvin House by Ted Cullinan Over time, the world has experienced countless variations in the home styles. America has equally experienced the same variation that arises due to numerous architectural deigns. Many designs are a combination of one style or more. The brief as well as broad overviews of the sections of this paper highlights the Marvin house designs. All the Marvin designs are built with a new unique style to fit the clients. The designers have to sit with their client to listen to their needs before coming up with the desired structure. Ted Cullinan designed a house in Hampshire for his uncle in 1958. The house was constructed in a lushly crease on the landscape. As at the point of construction, the steeply wooded bank joined with the grassy valley. The building appeared to be the most radical among all the works by Ted Cullinan. The house explored a new territory in the passive solar design. It has an approximate deconstruction in the formal language of twisted and tilted planes. As observed, the model contains a rigorous plan diagram consisting of several spaces and a picturesque sensibility aimed at putting the objects in the landscape idiosyncratically to the English version of the structure to portray the glass box in the woods. The house is a considered to be of high value especially because there is not any other house of its kind. The house remains to be one of it kind since a similar one in California got demolished five years ago. According to Ted Cullinan, the house is still very strong just the way it was constructed. However, a few things have to be fixed. For instance, the over-ceiling glass leading to the porches needs some reinstatement. Additionally, the house needs new kitchen fittings and some painting to give it another bright look. The old concept or rooms engrossed with names behind the doors lead their way from the corridors and vanish together forms distinct display of the Marvin house. The house is made with a sequence of ‘green rooms’ obtained by using concrete masonry aimed to serve as a single stage obtained from the wood sawn from the Californian redwood. All the green rooms in the structure are top-lit. However, some windows are strategically placed for purposes of viewing. They are made from the concrete blocks that are laid sideways with glazing. As mentioned, the houses consist of green rooms, guest shower with a water closet, two magnificent dressing rooms with gigantic shower placed between them, an all-inclusive kitchen, a study as well as an entrance. When constructing the house, the initial plan had been drafted in a way that there will be two more houses of this kind, to be constructed later. They were to be used for different purposes. The plan had that one should serve as a guest house, while the other one to be a green house. The green house should be set further apart down to the hill and should have a driveway comprised of cobbles to serve it. The cobles were to run straight, in the same way, as the Francisco Street up the hillside. Despite the good plans, illness forced the Marvins to move. Due to the moving out, houses remained deserted. Eventually, they became a common entrance hall to the expanse hyperbolic paraboloid prior to pulling down of the place. With time, the whole place was destroyed the whole place getting pulled down. The Marvin house has been seen to provide everybody with what they desire, in terms of art and style. The Marvin products can provide with the right mix for any structure that one wishes to establish. The architectural designs, details, together with the enhancements have been adopted to express several styles and complement individual designs. The Marvin houses come in various styles which include the contemporary, traditional and transitional styles. Firstly, the contemporary style gives a clear reflection of the modern houses. It has updated aesthetic traits. The house encompasses of very large windows, open spaces, symmetrical design schemes as well very clean lines demarcating the art used form part of the contemporary homes. The contemporary design is very broad. It includes all the appealing terms used in the homes designs. The major characteristics associated with contemporary designs include the wide-open floor plans for maximum light and flexibility, tall and expansive windows to equally allow enough light. The roof tops adopted vary from the flat tops to the gabled designs. The gabled tops are completed with exposed beams having the cathedral ceilings. Other common features accustomed with the contemporary designs include the simple, clean lines as well as the exteriors that have incorporated natural materials. The main natural materials used in this case are stones and the cedar. Several categories exist under the contemporary designs. They include the electric, Prairie and Art Deco, Transitional and the modern styles. Traditional styles: They are rooted in a similar way adopted by the historical and regional aesthetics. The traditional designs displayed curves that are bold and are often, if not always, very symmetrical in the considerations in both the interiors and exteriors sections. Transitional designs. Transitional is a very wide category that elucidates more to bring a feeling and restriction between a home and an architectural definition containing very refined art. It implies the mixing of more than one design or style. It enables the mixing and blending more than one style to obtain a more robust and distinct structure for the customer. It enables the home owners to combine both the contemporary and traditional elements successfully without mix-ups. One major hallmark associated with the contemporary style involves neutral color palate, which assists heavily in bringing the various elements together for a profound timeless and classic look that surpasses what would have been attained had they not been blended together. Modern styles The style and term “modern” has a very large and varied interpretation. However, the primary definition can be obtained by gaining knowledge that it is the movement from the historically formal architectural precedents, as well as the traditional adornment and ornamentation to a more simplistic focus. Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, Craftsman, Craftsman and Prairie were all the early signs and designs adopted by the modern designers. However, the demonstrations marked nowadays involve simple, angular and expansive shapes. It also involves the unadorned windows designs made to maximize the light as well as calling attention to the details contained in the interior sections. Other distinct characteristics include the asymmetrical design, an absence of an all non-functional decoration and an incorporation of the low horizontal lines. There are other distinct features that designers incorporate in their work. They include: Architecture and stainable design Marvin house was constructed by a group that principally deals with architectural designs, and delivers design services on all stages. The construction of the projects involves a brief development, carrying out public consultations with the planning authorities as well as the local stakeholders. It also involves securing planning permissions in the projects deemed to be very sensitive projects. The houses have created value among its users maximizing the economic, social as well as environmental viability. The building is sustainable and has very low amounts of carbons. It ensures passive energy saving strategies. Where possible, they have been gauged to be among the low-cost houses, despite maintaining the finest house designs. Smart refurbishment Refurbishing the house brings specific challenges. However, the Marvin houses have been looked into strategically, in order to utilize the space appropriately. It also helps improve the fabric used in the building and offer a conducive environment for people to work in it. Additionally, the energy strategy has been applied appropriately with the aim of reducing carbon emissions. The master plan and urban design in Marvin houses The company works across all sectors ranging from the commercial, cultural and educational sectors. Marvin is also experienced in master-planning for both rural and urban homes. The projects constructed, both at home and abroad, aim at creating beautiful, successful as well as sustainable places to the benefit of the whole community and society. The landscape The landscape in a construction is as beautiful as the design of the house itself. Most of the buildings done by Marvin include landscapes, carefully designed, to bring out the greatest benefits out of their contexts and to attain environmental benefits. Another aspect involved relies on the house interiors and fit outs. In the process of designing the house, all details get refined. The details that have to be looked into include the interior of the finishing to be attained in the interior of the building. The fittings and finishes must complement the set designs as well as create a very attractive space that works well as well as supports and upholds the building’s environmental strategy. The Design Quality Indicator is another major factor put into consideration in coming up with the buildings. The Construction Industry Council has to be involved right from the commencement of the project to develop the DQI. Materials The design and construction of all the structures rely heavily on the materials used. The buildings have to adhere to the biodiversity changes. To achieve this objective, the materials used must be natural and above all, local. Materials such as timber, low energy environmental solution such as wind turbines, biomass boiler, and a green roof for harvesting rainwater, natural ventilator as well a passive night cooling form part of the materials. Culture Culture has influenced the Cullinan master planners and architects. The plans range from individual homes to urban master plans. While construction of the Marvin, the designers had to talk to, listen and respond creatively to the clients’ needs. In so doing, an intelligent, beautiful and sustainable building was constructed. Depending on the culture, the Cullinan studio designs building with the highest level of creativity and skill. The clients, who are the building users, remain at the center of the design process. The architects’ cooperative nature remains to be the foundation of an excellent business practice. Sharing of knowledge has also enabled the designers to come up with structures that do not oppose the culture of a particular region. There are several themes that Cullinan observed while making his constructions. The Camden Mews is an example of the passive solar house. The house was constructed facing almost south in order to gain light and heat from the sun during the low winter. Additionally, the house has overhangs in order to offer protection to the house from unwanted solar gain and the suns glare arising from the high summer sun. On the same note, the overhangs offer protection to the softwood from rotting during rainy weather. The house was built with a floor of 3.3m thick of concrete to offer support to the long Canadian hemlock beams. Additionally, the roof was made and waterproofed very early in the construction processes. By so doing, the site was made very secure and as well as dry for the protection of the tools, possessions and other materials. Several factors contributed to the way Cullinan designs his structure. Climate, weather as well as technology, all had an effect on the house. The structure had to be created in a very strong way in order to withstand strong winds as well as bad weather. Furthermore, the people’s living standards directly determines the type of structure. Architectural drawings indicating the houses reveal that most houses had large window panes to allow visibility of the interior sections. The windows also allowed in a substantial amount of sun light. The twentieth-century society as well as the current designers consider the structure to be Ted Cullinan’s imperative and innovative early work. Due to the artistic design, the Marvin house should be retained for future art and to maintain the wider oeuvre of the architect. Bibliography Architecture. Cullinan Studio, n.d. http://cullinanstudio.com/services#sthash.orTbtW2q.dpuf (accessed December 3, 2014). Cullinan Studio Architecture. Cullinan Studio, n.d. http://cullinanstudio.com/ (accessed December 3, 2014). Horder House. Cullinan Studio, n.d. http://www.edwardcullinanarchitects.com/project/horder-house#sthash.8xxdHQgf.dpuf (accessed December 3, 2014). Marvin Windows and Doors Photo Gallery. Marvin Windows and Doors, 2011. http://www.marvin.com/images/2011/gallery/style/styleIndex_contemporary_img01.jpg (accessed December 3, 2014). Seminal early Ted Cullinan House threatened with demolition. Twentieth Century Society, 2005. http://www.c20society.org.uk/news/seminal-early-ted-cullinan-house-threatened-with-demolition/ (accessed December 3, 2014). Read More