Architecture and Society: Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to the Loblolly Blog

On the right you will see a blog archive with all of the assignment contents. Each blog entry has a citation at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!

Thanks,

Laney Sheffel

Loblolly in the Architectural Record

Loblolly House: in stock and ready to ship

The article written by the Architectural Record gives insight to what KTA hybrid prefabricated building truly entails. The article explains that Kieran and Timberlake wanted the Loblolly House to be a "complete realization of way to build more like the automotive or aviation industry... to develop a product that works anywhere in the world." They wanted the production of the building to be so universal that is could be unbolted and reconfigured at another site, or even sold off in pieces on Ebay. What is truly astounding about the production of the Loblolly House is the incredibly condensed and synergistic supply chain used in its manufacturing. The architects divided the supply chain between three tiers of suppliers and a final assembler. 

Below: Loblolly House Supply Chain

Below: All of the parts required for the construction of Loblolly 

Fortmeyer, Russell. "Loblolly House: In Stock and Ready to Ship." Architectural Record Nov. 2006: 185-88. Avery Indext to Architectural Periodicals. Web. 04 Feb. 2015

Loblolly House Website

Below is a link to a website that provides information about the inspiration,  and creation, of the Loblolly House:

Loblolly House

Loblolly was made using integrated parts that were created offsite. This prevented environmental degradation of the house site. Loblolly's basic four elements were: scaffold, cartridge, block, and equipment. All of these elements are able to be put together by hand.

The Loblolly House is an excellent example of the type of sustainable architecture that should be revolutionized. The construction of the Loblolly House took merely six weeks - incredibly impressive. Despite it being a prefab construction, the architecture is clearly made with authenticity and with a personal focus.

"Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature." Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature. KieranTimberlake Associates, n.d. Web 03 Feb. 2015

Meet the Architects

James Timberlake

• James Timberlakes architecturally values "beautifully crafted, thoughtfully made buildings holistically integrated to site, program, and people."

• It is clear that environmental ingenuity is at the forefront of Timberlake's mind. He has been a partner in the production of SmartWrap and Cellophane House, both of which are environmental breakthroughs in architecture. 

• In 2012, he was appointed by the Obama Administration to serve on the Board of the National Institute of Building Sciences. 

Below is a link with more information on James Timberlake:

More on James Timberlake

Stephen Kieran

• Stephen Kieran holds "thorough examination of the craft of architecture at all scales" as one of his highest ideals. 

• He is the co-author of five books on architecture.

• He has served on several award juries, including the AIA College of Fellows Latrobe Prize Jury.

Below is a link with more information on Stephan Kieran:

More on Stephen Kieram

"James Timeberlake | Partner." James Timeberlake | Partner. KieranTimberlake Associates, n.d. Web. 05 Feb 2015.

"Stephen Kieran | Partner." Stephen Kieran | Partner. KieranTimberlake Associates, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2015

Interview with Architects and Home User

Interview with Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake

"Episode 68 - Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake - Part 02." Youtube. The Drexell Interview, 15 June 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2015

Arcdaily Film Over Production of Loblolly House

Below is a link to film produced by acridly over the Loblolly House

Arcdaily Film

The video explains the planning, modeling, and building of the home. The drawing tools they use are parametric modeling integrated with 3-D software tools referred to as building information modeling.
The video also allows the viewer to observe the process prefabrication, taking us from construction of the parts to the actual placement on sight.

Cilento, Karen "Loblolly House / Kieran Timberlake" 11 June 2010. ArchDaily. 05 Feb 2015

Google Earth View

Below is the Google Earth view of the building.

Loblolly house proceeds a dense grove of Loblolly pines, within a grassy expanse, and before the shores of the bay. This elemental environment feels very natural with the basic composition of the building. From the living room of the house, a totally unobstructed view of the Chesapeake Bay and the distance horizon is revealed.

     "Loblolly House." 38°26'14.93" N and 76°18'00.93" W. Google Earth. 19 Oct. 2013. 5 Feb. 2015.

Interior Photographs

Master Bedroom

Adjustable west facade in open position.

Covered Deck

Connected to the master bedroom is the covered deck. The bamboo garden has grown over and into the deck, creating a 'within the environment' atmosphere.

The Main Living Area

Notice the sweeping view of the bay, a person inside cannot dismiss the environment around them while living in this home.

"Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature." Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature. KieranTimberlake Associates, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015

Personal Drawing

Below is my very rough personal drawing of the Loblolly House

I would like to draw attention to the timber piles that elevate the home off of the ground. These piles serve multiple functions to the building. The timber piles protect the home from flooding due to its close proximity to the shore of Taylors Island. Not only that, but they also alleviate some of the environmental impact of the home by lifting it off of the ground. The piles were driven into the ground at diverse angles to mimic the natural form of the forest.

Print Sources

Loblolly House : elements of a new architecture / Stephen Kieran, James Timberlake ; preface by Barry Bergdoll ; introduction by Michael Stace

This book writes about the location and process of the Loblolly House, going into specific detail about the piles, scaffold, cartridge, block, and FFE. 

"[Loblolly House] reveals that architecture, conceived as a product, can be customized for an individual client and a specific site without compromising he clarity of its union of designing fabrication thereby putting to rest two of the oldest anxieties about factory-made architecture." 

KieranTimberlake : inquiry / Karl Wallick ; introduction by Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake.

Rather than a listing of the projects done by KieranTimberlake, this books goes into ten architectural actions, or possibly even innovations, that give insight to the minds of KieranTimberlake

"Architecture is not exactly whole: we remember instances, elements, and details, but rarely are the experiences and sensations in architectural experience comprehensive. The context of what we do as architects is also fragmentary, even as it seeks to be resolved comprehensively. Rather than insisting on the totality of complete works, architecture might 

be better understood as an infinite matrix of detailed moments."

Kieran, Stephen, and James Timberlake. Loblolly House: Elements of a New Architecture. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2008. Print. 

Wallick, Karl, Stephen Kieran, and James Timberlake. KieranTimberlake: Inquiry. New York: Rizzoli, 2011. Print.

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Exterior Photographs

West Wall

The Loblolly House at dusks features two key points of the architecture; the lightweight enclosure of volumes through the translucent bi-folding doors, and the way the orange glass evokes the light of  the setting sun, creating a glowing warmth throughout the space. 

West Wall's Adjustable Glaze System

The translucent polycarbonate bi-folding doors communicate beautifully with the afternoon sun.

East Wall

The staggered vertical board timber rain screen on the east wall creates a camouflage for the house among the loblolly pines. The siding is placed over both solid wall and glass, creating a unsymmetrical, yet balanced view of the home, similar to its environment. 

"Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature." Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature. KieranTimberlake Associates, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015

Architectural Drawings

Sketch:

Plan: 

1. Wood Walkway 2. Bamboo and Rock Garden 3. Exterior Stair 4. Mechanical Piles 5. Spiral Stair
6. Guest Bedroom 1 7. Mechanical Room 8. Outdoor Deck 9. First Floor Entry 10. Master Bedroom
11. Master Bath 12. Closet/Mechanical Room 13. Guest Bedroom 2 14. Guest Bath 15. Bridge
16. Kitchen 17. Living Room 18. Dining Room 19. Second Floor Entry 20. Active Facade

Section:

"Loblolly House, Image: Plans and Sections." OpenBuildings. Despair, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2015

"Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature." Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature. KieranTimberlake Associates, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015

Introduction to the Loblolly House

Basic Facts:

Name: Loblolly House
Date of Construction: 2006
Location: Taylors Island, Maryland
Architect: Kieran Timberlake Associates

Purpose and Function: 

Kieran and Timberlake transform the way architecture is made by delivering a quality building at a reasonable cost and in less time. New means of industrial production and organized communication through our digital environment can create a truly sustainable, aesthetically moving shelter. 

Loblolly House is inspired by our childlike tendency to camouflage into the environment by playing in a treehouse, but the house also exists within an adult understanding that mankind's impact on the environment needs to be a lighter, more sustainable, relationship.

Program: 

Single family home

"Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature." Loblolly House | Prefabricated Architecture Integrated with Nature. KieranTimberlake Associates, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015