Today I wanted to dedicate this post to what still is, personally, the ultimate dream house: The Eames House (also known as Case Study House No. 8)

 

This  mid-20th century modern architecture icon is located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. It was designed and constructed in 1949 by one of the design world’s most creative and prolific couples, Charles and Ray Eames to serve as their home and studio. 

 

 

 

The home itself is like something out of a dream. What I absolutely adore about it is its relationship to the environment and this indoor/outdoor feeling. There is so much nature! And appreciation for nature was for the designers an essential part of life in the house. Its constant proximity to the whole vast order of nature acted as a “re-orientor and shock absorber” providing the needed relaxation from the daily complications arising within problems.

 

 

 

The trees surrounding the house are mainly eucalyptus trees. At the end of the day, when Ray would arrive home from the Office, she would step out of her car, pause, inhale deeply and smile. It was always a joyful homecoming to the scent of the trees. The scent, the sound of birds, the shadow of the trees against the structure whether inside or out, the openness of the site—all the elements join seamlessly.

 

 

What also captivates me about the Eames house It's the beautiful continuation of space. The double-height make the rooms feel so liberating, flowing into one another. And the interior of the house gives such a warm and comforting sensation with the soft light penetrating into each room. The importance given to light in the design, with the exterior arranged in this particular way, can be connected to Japanese influence and the use of natural materials on the interior give the appearance of the house resting softly on the earth, integrating effortlessly with the natural world.

 

 

 

 

For more Eames House magic -if you cannot pay a visit to this modernist masterpiece-, I'd recommend a beautiful film dated 1955 which I've recently came across titled 'House: After Five Years of Living'  consisting of a visual exploration of more than 300 photographs taken sporadically by the Eameses during the first five years in which they lived in their house.

 

Today, the Eames Foundation is responsible for its care and operations, ensuring that future generations visiting the house may enjoy the same authentic experience as people do today.