House in Three Acts | Xlab Students
This project explores and re-examines the conventions of the single family house. Located at 2727 Neutra Place in Silver Lake, it was our intent to not only continue the discourse that was started during the Case Study Houses era, but to simultaneously push past the typologies that were developed by way of adopting a mutation strategy that converted type into species. This allowed for the design to develop in three phases; the project follows the narrative of a couple as they are married, separated, and finally, deal with the aftermath of an earthquake. These three key moments signify the evolution of the House as it adapts to its social and environmental surroundings.
PHASE 1: Three cellular systems were developed to drive the tectonics of the house, beginning with a truss system that also defined its park-like circulation. Secondly, we framed the house by a structural cage that had minimal point of contact to the ground, allowing for the enclosure cell to negotiate between the natural and artificial landscape.
PHASE 2: In dealing with the separation, the house mutates in section, dividing the program of the house into two distinct areas, splitting each personal space above and keeping the shares space below.
PHASE 3: The earthquake creates a drastic change in elevation, causing the structural members to mutate vertically in order to re-stabilize the house in its final evolution.
courtesy of Xlab Students
Credits:
Project Team: Wilson Wu, Nicholas Poulos, Michael Gross
Instructor: Hernan Diaz Alonso, TA: Nick Kinney
Courtesy of ilson Wu, Nicholas Poulos, Michael Gross
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.