RODNEY WALKER RESIDENCE

The case study house program sponsored by Arts and Architecture magazine was devised by a group of now well known architects, including Charles and Ray EamesEero Saarinen, and Ralph Rapson to name a few, with the goal to "design and build inexpensive and efficient model homes for the United States residential housing boom caused by the end of World War II and the return of millions of soldiers."  According to the Eames site, 

"THE HOPE WAS TO ALLOW POSTWAR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE IN A MODERN WAY FOR AN AFFORDABLE PRICE TAG WITH A REDUCTION IN MATERIALS AND TIME SPENT BUILDING.

Many of the houses could be sold in quantity as kits stemming from the idea of "normalizing industrial, postwar materials in building."  The program announcement stated that "each house must be capable of duplication and in no sense be an individual 'performance'...It is important that the best material available be used in the best possible way in order to arrive at a 'good' solution of each problem, which in the overall program be general enough to be of practical assistance to the average American in search of a home in which he can afford to live."  

Rodney Walker was a mid-century designer, architect, and builder in Southern California, and was also one of the contributors to the case study house program (building three of them).    

Crosby Doe Associates, Inc. has listed and sold a few of Rodney Walker's homes, including his personal residence.  According to Midcenturia,  

"THE 4,300 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE WAS COMPLETED IN 1959 AND FEATURES A LARGE OPEN LIVING SPACE WITH 17 FOOT HIGH CEILINGS, 4 BEDROOMS, 3 BATHS, AND FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS THAT OVERLOOK THE OKAI VALLEY."

I just absolutely love the concrete floors, floor to ceiling windows, and live garden wall (among so many details)! 



























Images taken by Mayoral Photography for the Crosby Doe Associates, Inc. listing (now expired) via Midcenturia.  To get more inspired, check out other Rodney Walker houses.

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