Case Study House #26, Harrison House
Case Study House 26, Harrison House, presented architect Beverley (David) Thorne with the challenge of designing a steel-framed home on a difficult sloped site for the same price as traditional construction. His solution was to create a “space platform” where he placed the main areas of the house below the entry and carport, therefore avoiding significant excavation of the site. The four-bedroom, two-bath home was sponsored as a demonstration project by Bethlehem Steel Company and Twentieth Century Homes.
Concrete caissons supported the living level over which a steel framework on a structural module of 10 feet was positioned. Sliding glass walls at the rear of the house offered views and access to the deck. In 1960 Thorne planned an addition of 1,400 square feet to the house which enclosed the underfloor area and created space for a rumpus room, guest quarters, maid’s room, storage, and a swimming pool.
