schneiderism

I’ve been reading and really enjoying “House: Black Swan Theory” by Steven Holl. The book comprises a selection of 15 of Holl’s more recent residential projects, focusing on site-specific homes that range from a +20,000sf ambassadorial residence (see image above) to a small and efficient sub-100sf lakeside studio. This idea of the ‘black swan theory’ stems from analyzing design needs from a “specific-to-universal” point of view, one built upon dissimilarity and variation. Each of the examples in the book is a house that has a completely different focus. One grows from a musical analogy of Bartok, one inspired by Moby Dick, while another is the reinvestigation of an 18th century nail factory. All are elemental in their use of natural light and the integration of the surrounding environment, with the result being that each home is an integrated dynamic instead of simply being an object. Each home represents a series of relationships.

The homes featured in the book are from all over the globe, including an intimate and private location in Hawaii, to the Hague in the Netherlands. Each of the projects includes examples of Holl’s initial sketches and ideations for the project, as well as specific details and observations that were incorporated into the design solution. It is a beautiful book, and Steven Holl is an excellent designer. Getting a window into his process and approach is immensely interesting.