Charles Moore House Analysis

The 60’s in the United States, the peak in popularity of postmodernism in architecture and philosophy, are also the years that mark the construction of millions of residential houses across the United States. But as the famous American architects such as Venturi, Graves and Neutra explore the modernist ideas of simplicity and functionality while building skyscrapers and residential complexes for wealthy clients, one architect decides to experiment on his own with the concept of a modern house, and builds one for himself trying to test some of his original ideas. The Moore House built in 1962 by Charles Moore in the outskirts of sunny Orinda, California, peacefully sits on the slope of a sunlit valley surrounded by an oak forest that gives the

It also seems probable that the idea of aediculas lit by daylight was inspired by ancient Roman houses where it was common to have a space (an atrium)surrounded by columns and similar to a courtyard, without the roof coverage, where impulvium was situated (a pool of rainwater). This description matches the way the bath is designed and situated in the house in California. Although it might be strange for a postmodernist artist Moore could also be inspired by some of the principles of modernism. The concept of making the inhabitant feel in between the outside and the inside or the idea of an open space, which are typical for the beginning of the 20th century, are clearly implemented in this project. To achieve the feeling of being outdoors the architect used sliding glass doors and even when they are closed people inside still feel the proximity of nature and the outside world. The interior itself was designed so that every piece of furniture could be moved to a different place and the whole configuration of sofas, tables and chairs changed into a different

The truth is that this particular architect is most known for his work as an academic educator and writer. He did design many prominent buildings recognised as influential but his legacy mostly consists of the academic literature about theory of architecture. His career began at the University of Michigan and later at the Princeton University where during his Ph. D. studies he became friends with people who would have later become the most known postmodern architects. With four of them – Lyndon, Turnbull and Whitaker – he later founded an architectural studio MLTW responsible for building the famous Sea Ranch Condominium I. Also at Princeton Moore practiced as an assistant to professor Luis Kahn, who greatly influenced his design process and his general approach to architecture. Through the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s he had work as a lecturer and teacher in a number of well-known Universities such as University of Utah, Princeton University, University of California, Yale University, University of Texas. During this time he also wrote many books about his philosophy as an architect and different aspects of a design process. Some of his most famous publications include “Water and Architecture” and “Poetics of