The Kiesling Residence

• The house for this project was found in the Dwell Magazine, October 2006 Edition, Volume 6. The project was completed in mid-2005. The designer of this modern home is Gregory La Vardera. The project location is in Berryville, Arkansas. The house is 1,420 square feet and is located on a site that is made up of forest land. The house was built for Elieen and Jelle Kiesling as a vacation home. The couple wanted a house that was modern and affordable and based on a stock plan. The finished product was valued at $150,000

The Interior

The Kitchen/Living room

• Roof Inside and Out• The outside shape of the room

makes both the living room and kitchen’s ceilings higher.

• The Flow Through Rooms• There is a flow from the

kitchen to the living room without the use of any doors. There is also a nice flow from the kitchen to the dining room and from the living room to the dining room.

Kitchen/Living room Continued

• Lighting• There is ambient lighting produced by the large bulb

hanging from the living room ceiling. There is also task lighting used to illuminate the area above the counters.

• Non-Load Bearing Systems• The columns are not necessary to hold up the walls in

this house; however, they do produce a sense of structure within the room.

• Composing With Materials• The materials in this room are monochromatic because

the same type of wood is used for the cabinets, floors, tables, arms of chairs, and columns.

Kitchen/Living room Continued

• Colors• There is a sharp contrast between the black and

beige/wood colored materials used in this room.• Creating Rooms Outside and In• The glass doors create a continuation from the inside of

the house to the outside porch area.• Private Edges, Common Core• The dining room is connected to the kitchen and living

room, however it still allows for privacy.

The Kitchen/Dining room

• Linear in Structure• There is an emphasis on lines

throughout the room when looking at the windows, columns, and beams.

• Parts in Proportion• There is both unity and variety of

windows because they have the same shape but are different sizes.

• Capturing Light• Light enters the room from all

sides, including from above, creating balanced light. The large windows suite kitchen activities.

The Kitchen/Dining room Continued

• Large Column• The large column is distinct in marking the entryway into the

room.• Window Sizes• The size of the windows allow for a feeling of being indoor and

outdoor at the same time, while also assuring a sense of privacy and security.

• Ambient Lighting• The large bulb hanging from the kitchen ceiling creates ambient

lighting in the room. • Sheltering room• There are a variety of ceiling heights, ranging from low to high

within the same room.

The Fireplace

• Lighting• The fireplace adds light for

visual interests.• Shape• This fireplace is very

geometric and is in a cylinder shape.

• Volume• The fireplace is very heavy

with volume. It is solid yet there are voids within it, located at the bottom for the wood, the middle for the fire, and once more at the top.

The Fireplace Continued

• Balance• There is a sense of balance between light and

dark colors in and around the fireplace. The glass panes behind the fireplace and the black base underneath it also help to create balance.

• Flow• Because the glass panes behind the fireplace

are mostly translucent, there seems to be a natural flow to the room regardless of this small separation.

The Bedroom

• Capturing Light• The large windows capture light

by allowing natural light to enter into the bedroom at all times of day.

• Composing With Materials• The same type of wood is used to

make the floor, bed, and nightstand. This creates a sense of simplification and calmness throughout the bedroom.

• Volume• The bed appears to have volume

due to its heavy, solid, and sturdy frame.

The Bedroom Continued

• Capturing Light• The large windows capture light by allowing natural

light to enter into the bedroom at all times of day.• Composing With Materials• The same type of wood is used to make the floor, bed,

and nightstand. This creates a sense of simplification and calmness throughout the bedroom.

• Volume• The bed appears to have volume due to its heavy, solid,

and sturdy frame.

The Exterior

The Backyard

• Sheltering Roof• Standing metal seam roof –

creates industrial feel• Composing with Materials• Metal roof and wood house

create contrast, allow each material to be experienced separately and stand out

• Inhabiting the Site• House composed with same

materials as surroundings – fits in with wilderness on the site

The Deck Area

• Creating Rooms, Outside and In• Whole wall is made of glass,

continuation of inside rooms to a space outdoors that can be used as a room

• Refuge and Outlook• Place of security where one can

look out onto landscape and be outdoors but can still feel protected

• Rhythm• Wires, steel pieces supporting

roof are all very symmetrical and are same repeated pattern

The Deck Area Continued

• Inhabiting the Site• House on stilts – allows for plants,

animals, water to pass underneath• Sheltering Roof• Ends extend down, creating protection

from sunlight and heat • Emphasis on lines - repeated use of lines

throughout exterior

The Floor Plan

The Floor Plan Continued

• Parts in Proportion• Rooms are unified in shape but variety of sizes – house

also balanced symmetrically along a horizontal/vertical axis

• Flow Through Rooms• Main flow of traffic moves along edges of common

rooms• Private Edges, Common Core• Small areas off of common rooms that can be used for

privacy, but still allow connection to main areas of home

The Master Bathroom

The Sink

• Sink- The sink is black to add contrast to the walls and floor. There is a metal facet and legs to math the house’s industrial side. The furniture in the living room has some metal and the roof is made of metal.

The Jacuzzi

• Jacuzzi- It will be light beige to blend in with the walls and floor. It has clean straight lines that compare with the furniture and geometry of the rest of the house.

The Toilet

• Toilet- The toilet will be black to add contrast to the bathroom walls and floor.

The Shower

• Shower- The base is rectangular and geometric. It will also be light beige to match to Jacuzzi. The doors will be a crystal glass with the exception of an opaque middle where the person would be standing. This glass matches the glass behind the fireplace.

The Mirror

• Mirror- It is linear and simple. It will be painted black around the perimeter.

Lighting

• Lighting- Simple lighting will be placed above the Jacuzzi above the large window. There will also be one placed above the mirror.

Large Window

• Large Window- These window panes would be a painted to match the walls. It is similar to the other windows in the house, especially the dinning room window.

Skylight Windows

• Skylight Windows- These will let light in from more than one place. There will be two skylight windows above the Jacuzzi.

Flooring

• Floor- It will be a hardwood ash floor. This wood is the same used throughout the house.

Paint

• We liked the Dune color for the bathroom. It matched the rest of the house.