Project Information

Saltzman House

http://abduzeedo.com/architect-day-richard-meie

"Every building project has its own "personality"... after an initial design proposal was rejected by the developer, who didn't want a "white" house built on his site, a much more exciting site was found, which was largely inspired by the evolving form of the house. It is fair to say that in this case the house generated the site." (Meier)

The Saltzman House was a project from the architect Richard Meier. The clients were Renny B. and Ellin Saltzman. This house is located in 20 Spaeth Lane, East Hampton, NY Comissioned in 1967 and finished in 1969, the Saltzman house won an AIANY Merit award in 1972. Now a days is still owned by the Saltzmans. 

Characteristics

"For better or worse, this house sparked a new type of "summer house" in the Hamptons which seems to have multiplied all over eastern Long Island horizon." (Meier)

The main characteristics of this project are a windmill by the shore, an adjoining potato field and the shoreline itself, not visible from ground level. 

Meier studied the site and creates different solutions for the project to relate and coexist with the site. The siting of the house is elevated to permit views of the sea, the open coast, and Montauk Point. Also he creates a distinguish separation between the public and private areas. The public place is an open structure which allows the user to relate with the site, meanwhile the private place is much more inhibited. 

The project consists of to axes which are the two circulation systems. The first level leads to a bridge linking the guesthouse to the main house. At the second level, it continues via interior stairs along the side of the house connecting the second level to the third. Both systems connect are connected to an exterior spiral stair. 

Meier also decides to chose materials depending on the function of the place he was creating. For example he chooses to employ wood load-bearing walls in the private zone and round steel columns in the public zone. This house has a very unique and complex interior. Te way Meier includes this curves and makes them merge to everything makes the diagonal plan appear very dynamic. 

Google Earth Map

Plans

Middle Level Plan

 Upper Level Plan

Top view

Section view

Cross Section

Longitudinal Section

External images

Internal images

http://architectudesign.blogspot.mx/2011/09/saltzman-house.html

http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/meier.htm

References:

Pictures with no reference were taken from: Meier, R., Frampton, K., & Rykwert, J. (1999). Richard Meier, architect. Volume 3 / essays by Kenneth Frampton and Joseph Rykwert. New York : Rizzoli, 1999.

Information:

Meier, R., Frampton, K., & Rykwert, J. (1999). Richard Meier, architect. Volume 3 / essays by Kenneth Frampton and Joseph Rykwert. New York : Rizzoli, 1999.

Meier, R. (n.d). Richard Meier, architect, 1964/1984 / introduction by Joseph Rykwert. New York : Rizzoli, c1991.