Fred E. and Elaine Cox Clever House
Encyclopedia
The Fred E. and Elaine Cox Clever House at 417 Sherry Way, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
, was designed by architect Louis Kahn
. The Clevers commissioned Kahn to design it in 1957 after seeing his influential Trenton Bath House
; it was completed in 1962. It is one of only nine built houses designed by Kahn, who is best known for designing institutional buildings.
In the center of the house is a spacious living room, around which are grouped five smaller rooms, each with its own pyramidal roof. The living room itself is capped by a complex roof composed of four large angular structures that look something like four oversize gables that meet in the center. The two flat surfaces that form the sides of each gable-like structure extend far downwards diagonally to meet the corresponding surfaces from the two adjacent structures. The four meeting points of all of these structures rest on four L-shaped concrete block formations positioned at the edges of the living room. They are about the height of standard rooms and have the appearance of small rooms protruding into the high-ceilinged living room. Their reverse sides provide closet-like spaces for other parts of the house.
The roof structure, which is about 18 feet (5.5 m) high at its highest point and whose underside is finished with narrow wooden strips, forms the ceiling of the living room. Large triangular windows with protruding hoods in each of the four gables provide natural light for the living room while minimizing direct sunlight. The triangular windows are fixed in place, but beside them are wooden panels that can be opened for ventilation.
The house was designed during a period in which Kahn was interested in structures based on triangular geometries, largely inspired by Anne Tyng
, a co-worker and the mother of one of his children.
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
, was designed by architect Louis Kahn
Louis Kahn
Louis Isadore Kahn was an American architect, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After working in various capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935...
. The Clevers commissioned Kahn to design it in 1957 after seeing his influential Trenton Bath House
Trenton Bath House
The Trenton Bath House is a pivotal, influential design by the architect Louis Kahn at 999 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, New Jersey. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984....
; it was completed in 1962. It is one of only nine built houses designed by Kahn, who is best known for designing institutional buildings.
In the center of the house is a spacious living room, around which are grouped five smaller rooms, each with its own pyramidal roof. The living room itself is capped by a complex roof composed of four large angular structures that look something like four oversize gables that meet in the center. The two flat surfaces that form the sides of each gable-like structure extend far downwards diagonally to meet the corresponding surfaces from the two adjacent structures. The four meeting points of all of these structures rest on four L-shaped concrete block formations positioned at the edges of the living room. They are about the height of standard rooms and have the appearance of small rooms protruding into the high-ceilinged living room. Their reverse sides provide closet-like spaces for other parts of the house.
The roof structure, which is about 18 feet (5.5 m) high at its highest point and whose underside is finished with narrow wooden strips, forms the ceiling of the living room. Large triangular windows with protruding hoods in each of the four gables provide natural light for the living room while minimizing direct sunlight. The triangular windows are fixed in place, but beside them are wooden panels that can be opened for ventilation.
The house was designed during a period in which Kahn was interested in structures based on triangular geometries, largely inspired by Anne Tyng
Anne Tyng
Anne Griswold Tyng is an architect and professor. She is best known for collaborating with Louis I. Kahn at his practice in Philadelphia. She served as a professor at the University of Pennsylvania for 27 years, following 29 years of collaboration with Kahn...
, a co-worker and the mother of one of his children.
External links
- The Clever House project page at the Louis I. Kahn Archives at the University of Pennsylvania
- Google StreetView