Geoffrey von Oeyen (Summer 2020)
During the summer of 2020, I was hired by my professor to be part of a small team working on various projects with three peers and my professor as the main project architect.
All projects were drawn in Rhino 3D and/or AutoCAD. Then using Enscape to make renderings or Illustrator to create diagrams showing the necessary information.
Residential Backyard
My main project that I was responsible for was the development of a design for a backyard of a residential home in the northeast of Los Angeles.
Many things need to be considered even when redesigning a backyard. For example:
When an electricity pole (as these lines run in the air along the houses) is nearby, a lot of additional paperwork is involved.
Los Angeles is on a complicated piece of land; the soil is dry, which can move due to earthquakes, sudden rainfall or even unforeseen landslides, and the landscape is at minimum hilly. Therefore many yards (front and back) have retaining walls, that need to be considered when redesigning a backyard.
Almost all additions need their own paperwork: a pool (which needs to be offset a minimum distance from a neighbor's yard and/or retaining wall), solar panels and the additional equipment necessary, etc.
When an electricity pole (as these lines run in the air along the houses) is nearby, a lot of additional paperwork is involved.
Los Angeles is on a complicated piece of land; the soil is dry, which can move due to earthquakes, sudden rainfall or even unforeseen landslides, and the landscape is at minimum hilly. Therefore many yards (front and back) have retaining walls, that need to be considered when redesigning a backyard.
Almost all additions need their own paperwork: a pool (which needs to be offset a minimum distance from a neighbor's yard and/or retaining wall), solar panels and the additional equipment necessary, etc.
Horizon House 2
The most important and defining work at this office was the second Horizon House;
a large freestanding house in the Malibu Hills overlooking the ocean and: the horizon.
a large freestanding house in the Malibu Hills overlooking the ocean and: the horizon.
The first Horizon House had been completed on this same lot, but shortly after completion had been destroyed in the Woolsey Fire of 2018. Tragically, nothing but ruins remained. Fortunately, the owners were able to have the unique house rebuilt.
With much of the original idea still desired by the client, many changes had to be made to the design as well. The house had originally been an adaptive reuse project, whereas now it would be new-built. Additionally, the new house would have many features to prevent another tragedy.
As shown below, I would diagram all aspects that would protect the house during another devastating wild fire, as well as the natural cool and hot air exchange.
To the right a few impressions of the light entering the bedroom and bathroom spaces.
To the right a few impressions of the light entering the bedroom and bathroom spaces.
