Whitney R. Smith’s Case Study House #5 radically broke from the conventional house plan of the program and although unbuilt, became widely known as the most extreme of the group. The central space of the home, which includes the loggia, sitting room and kitchen, features sliding glass partitions that allow for a fluid transition between a more separate or open realization of space. The architect eliminated hallways and a breakfast nook in order to bring one’s attention to the outside; an emphasis echoed in the home’s layout of four main rooms within a garden. Smith’s unusual design also featured materials atypical to the program: adobe brick within a steel framework, glass block accents on the façade, and brick and cork flooring throughout.
Construction Methods, Materials and Features:
Architect specified adobe brick within a steel frame with glass block on the facade, and brick and cork flooring throughout.
