Pdf richard meier, over a five decade career, has been associated with a recognizable design language that consistently evolved across a. The douglas house was a milestone in meier s career, thr ough which he formulated a consistent and mature f ormal language that persists throughout his later w orks dahabreh 20. The james and jean douglas house or just douglas house is a residence located at 3490. Richard meiers characteristic geometric designs make prominent use of the colour white, as illustrated here in two of his iconic residential works from the late. Taking the douglas house as a case study, the aim of the paper is not only to clarify the. Completed in 1973 in harbor springs, united states. Here, as the sharp downhill grade of the land requires the house to. Today, one of richard meier s most notable and acclaimed residences, the 1973 douglas house, has been named to the national register of historic places, the federal list of cultural resources. Richard meiers douglas house added to national register. Meiers style involves the interaction of spatial motifs and the douglas house themes. The white form of the house hovers on pilotis above the podium like an opaque plane, pierced by a number of discrete openings. The house was designed to be completely private from to the east, and is reached by a long bridge, an extension of the house.
So steep is the fall of the land from the road down to the water. The douglas house is dramatically situated on an isolated site that slopes down to lake michigan. So steep is the fall of the land from the road down to the water that the house appears to have been notched into the site, a machined object perched in a natural world. It has been restored twice most recently by current owners michael mccarthy and marcia myers over a 10year period. The house established passionate dialectics between the mechanical and the natural, among itself, the lake, the forest, the blue of the sky and the blues and greens of the waters of the lake. This study aims to uncover the hidden geometry that regulates and orders the design of the douglas house by richard meier. Today, one of richard meier s most notable and acclaimed residences, the 1973 douglas house, has been named to the national register of historic places, the federal list of cultural resources worthy of preservation across the united states.
Hovering over the shores of lake michigan, the douglas house was built by richard meier in 19711973 for jim and jean douglas. Richard meier, over a five decade career, has been associated with a recognizable design language that has a clear set of formal characteristics. Research article the hidden geometry of the douglas house. The hidden geometry of the douglas house slideshare. Over a five decade career, richard meier has been associated with a. Taking the douglas house as a case study, the aim of the paper is not only to clarify the design themes and motifs of meiers language, but also to show how these themes and motifs are employed. Set in a suburban landscape, this houseprivate museum is anchored to the ground by a podium faced in black granite that extends both in front of and behind the main body of the building. National register of historic places registration form. Pdf this study aims to uncover the hidden geometry that regulates and orders the design of the douglas house by richard meier. The douglas house 19711973 designed by richard meier is well known. The house was completed in 1967 and featured on the cover of a magazine, where it was seen by james and jean douglas of grand rapids, michigan. In 1965, renowned architect richard meier was commissioned to design the frederick j.
Pdf the hidden geometry of the douglas house researchgate. Richard meier, over a five decade career, has been associated with a. The douglass house harbor springs, michigan, 19711973 is placed inside a conifer forest with a privileged position with respect to the michigan lake. The douglases contacted meier and asked him to create a similar design in northern michigan. Today, one of richard meiers most notable and acclaimed residences, the 1973 douglas house, has been named to the national register of historic places, the federal list of cultural resources. Richard meier art media architectural design scribd. Perched on a steep slope overlooking the lake michigan in friendship township near harbor springs, mi, united states, douglas house is a fivestorey modern residence of 1973. The entry to the house extends beyond the building envelope.
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