Eames House

A landmark of mid-20th century modern architecture created in 1949 by husband-and-wife design pioneers Charles and Ray (Kaiser) Eames, located in Pacific Palisades, California (a suburb of Los Angeles). Conceived as one of the famous Case Study Houses for Paul Entenza's Arts and Architecture magazine (house number eight), this was designed and built to serve as the Eameses' primary residence. The simplicity of the design-- two boxes connected by a breezeway and structural wall-- allows it to blend seamlessly into the eucalyptus grove in which it stands. The entire house is built from off-the-shelf industrial materials, including a spiral staircase ordered from a marine supplies catalogue. Of the Case Study Houses, this is considered the most successful as an architectural statement and as a comfortable, functional living space.

Charles and Ray Eames were a successful union of classically-inclined architect (Charles) and avant-garde abstract artist (Ray), whose commercial output as designers bears both their names without crediting individual contributions (although, in the late 1940s, their work bore Charles' name only; this was corrected starting in the 1950s). Charles' background does indicate a major role in the structural design of the Eames House; however, Ray's artistic background and guiding aesthetic as a member of the American Abstract School meshed well with Charles' expertise in their design, deriving maximum function and comfort with material and spatial constraints. In fact, after much pre-construction time spent exploring the lot where the house would stand (picnics and outdoor play were a favorite pastime), Charles and Ray famously redesigned the entire house to add space and to respect the surrounding meadow, having to order only one additional part. The Mondrianesque colored exterior panels, a careful selection of complementary building materials, and unexpected decorative details make the Eames House remarkably un-"prefab" in feel. The sleekness of the design made it a favorite backdrop for fashion shoots in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Eameses' daughter Lucia Eames currently occupies the Eames House (as of 2003). For more information, please contact the Eames Office in Santa Monica, California.