During WWII, the Eames perfected the technique of plywood molding to produce leg splints. They were able to perfect the process so that large quantities could be made effectively at little cost.
This approach to design underpinned many of their designs, from the Eames house itself using members from an industrial kit-of-parts, similar to many of the Case Study houses, to their chairs that utilized manufacturing techniques pioneered during the design of the leg splint.
The Home.IO design features an adaptive approach to accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The passage of the ADU bill in California effectively made it permissible to construct a 1,200 SF unit in the backyard of any residential lot, overriding setback rules imposed by local municipalities.
Using contemporary materials, a cool envelope, and storefront-like glazing, the design poses the question, “Is possible to deliver a contemporary an accessory dwelling unit using high-performance materials on a budget?”
Another driver for design decisions in this project is using two conventional building systems, CMU block and wood framing, yet highlighting the materials by exposing them in the interior. The project asks the questions of whether common exposed materials can be configured to be aesthetically pleasing.
Project Team: Kirill Volchinskiy, Ehsaan Mesghali, Yevheniia Kudria
