BITS AND PIECES (INSPIRED BY FALL) / DAY 4 - TRANSPARENT HOME

Peeps

Not too long ago, only in the pages of the glossy magazines devoted to the triumphs of architecture, would a house such as this (pictured above and source unknown) be seen.  We somehow knew that design professionals (and some homeowners) in Europe and Asia had grasped the idea of an almost pure modernity paired with traditionalism, yet this philosophy was long resisted in most American cities where neighborhood advisory committees and historic preservation boards wielded considerable influence, and the proliferation of 'appropriateness' continued without much opposition, to the sometimes chagrin of the more enlightened.  Yet, new ideas are accepted -- if sometimes painfully slow; recent additions to many city landmarks (such as museums in New York City, Houston, Chicago, and St Paul), and various boroughs around the nation's metropolitan areas -- where the scarcity of urban real-estate has made a total demolition costly, prohibitive, or unwanted, offer ample evidence that if done well, the result(s) can be spectacular (as well as environmentally sound and user friendly).  

Privacy is a concern, I am sure for many who many approach such a venture as this with trepidation.  Virginia-based architect, Harlan Hadley, notes that motorized window shades and screens, automatic light adjusters, draperies, and the availability of Privalite* should allay any fears of being summoned by the morality police on charges of exhibitionism or corruption to the morals of minors.  For those who choose to embrace the modern glass+steel addition (and its numerous advantages), the experience of light and space can seem limitless, and as a favorite designer of mine once noted, these are the real luxuries (in one's environment or habitat).


Please enjoy today's visual treat, and keeping thinking outside the box....


Sincerely,
Shane

* French company Saint-Gobain produces an “intelligent” glass called Privalite, which can be switched from an ordinary-looking clear glass to a foggy-looking frosted glass by running an electrical current over a polymer liquid-crystal film sandwiched between two plates of glass.