Table Of Content
The stunning architectural design has made me an Arts & Crafts fan since I first encountered it. If I get to California, it will be high on my list of things to see. Currently owned by the City of Pasadena and operated by the University of Southern California, the Gamble House is open to the public for tours. Coming from a middle class background, the Greenes understood firsthand what was required to run a household.
Design
While most Craftsman bungalows constructed at the time were small, the Greene brothers expanded on the traditional floor plan to create an “ultimate bungalow” that evokes a sense of grandeur while remaining grounded. A reception and book signing with Smith will follow the lecture, as well as a one-of-a-kind Japanese folk art sale. Items for sale will be available for preview before the lecture.
Craftsman Design
The Gamble House, also known as the David B. Gamble House, was designed by the architectural firm of Charles and Henry Greene in 1908. David was one of ten children born to James Gamble, co-founder of the Proctor and Gamble Company. After spending several of his retirement years wintering in Pasadena, David and wife, Mary, decided to make this their permanent home. So impressed with the work of architects Charles and Henry Greene, Gamble commissioned the firm in 1908 to design a home for them. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have dominated our lives for several months now. At this point in time, I am sure that we would all like nothing more than a long vacation in a favorite place with family and friends.
Listen to Our Residential Architecture Podcast
Expertly joined pieces of wood gave both an extravagant and artistic look to each piece. The Greenes’ also ensured that the end of each piece of wood was also rounded, much the same as the rocks outside. They believed the rounded ends gave the predominantly Mahogany woodwork a “soft” feel. Most of the wood was left either natural to enhance the beauty of the wood or lightly stained to highlight the color and beauty within. In keeping with their love of the Asian culture, the Greenes’ introduced furniture, light fixtures, rugs, paneling, fireplaces and other features to the already exquisite design of the home. The architect’s role in ensuring the continuity of design from beginning to end.
Crews demolish former Gamble House - WLWT Cincinnati
Crews demolish former Gamble House.
Posted: Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Photography and Filming at The Gamble House
They did not miss one detail----the woodworking and craftmanship is stunning, to say the least. I emailed the link to someone, who in turn forwarded the link to two others. Clicking on the first forwarded link got the correct video; clicking on the second time the link was forwarded sent them to a different video even thought the title still read "The Gamble House".... Having lived in New England all of my life so far, I would hate to see what our blizzards, heavy rains, high heat and humidity, would do to all of that wood.
About the Greene and Greene Architects
Paths made with large water-worn stones from the nearby Arroyo Seco are reminiscent of running brooks crossing the lawns. The overall landscape design and constructed garden elements are integrated with the architectural proportion and detailing. The triple front door and transom feature a Japanese black pine motif in plated (more than one layer) leaded art glass, highlighting the Asian influence that runs throughout the house. The architects worked closely with the Gambles in the design of the house, incorporating specific design elements such as the family crest among its motifs. Drawings for the house were completed in February 1908, and ground was broken in March. Ten months later, the house was finished, the first pieces of custom furniture were delivered, and The Gamble House became home to David Gamble, his wife Mary, and their youngest son Clarence.
In 2008, a Los Angeles Times survey included the home in a list of all-time top 10 houses in Los Angeles. SAH Archipedia tells the story of the United States through its buildings, landscapes, and cities. This freely available resource empowers the public with authoritative knowledge that deepens their understanding and appreciation of the built environment.
The Gambles In Pasadena
Not a lot mind you, but it would be so much more beautiful if the wood was broken up a little. I can't tell you how important this residence is to my life. In the late 60's/early 70's when the home became available to tour, my mother took me there to see it. Still in my early teens, it proved to be the inspiration for my professional life.
Los Angeles 'Domestead' listed for $2.3M with 'whimsical' gardens: Take a look inside
Across from the fireplace, there is a window that leads to the terrace, which overlooks the garden. The expansive window was designed to let light brighten the room during the late afternoon. At the far end of the room lie bookcases, a small games table, and a piano to offer entertainment and leisure. The piano was designed by the Greenes to blend into the paneling of the room.
I thought I knew about Arts & Crafts, but I learned a lot from this piece. Despite their success, Greene and Greene dissolved their practice in 1922. Henry mostly withdrew from architecture after the death of his wife in 1935, while Charles remained active through the Depression and later embraced spiritualism and the study of Eastern philosophy. Their contribution to architecture went generally unnoticed until 1948 when they received a citation from the Pasadena chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Mary and her sister, Julia, who was living there at the time, signed Ljuba’s naturalization papers and sponsored her in 1924. And while they considered her part of the family, their generosity had something to do with changing working conditions at the time. Twenty years earlier, service jobs were preferable to factory jobs because one was provided free room and board in addition to salary. Of course that often meant no time off, or one night and one day weekly, usually noon to four on a Sunday.
The Gamble House reserves the right to terminate photo sessions in violation of policies, if staff feels the wellbeing of the structure or grounds are being threatened. The applicant/photographer will be held accountable for any damage to the Gamble House by their own actions and those of their guests, crew members and any other people they bring with them.2. This means hair and makeup must be done before arriving and no clothing changes can be accommodated.3. All photography session activities shall be appropriate and free from obscene content.5. No more than a “carry-on” size bag worth of equipment and props may used during shoots.6. The exterior of the house is delicate, objects of any type are not to be hung or rested against the house.7.
The Gamble House, constructed in 1908 as a home for David B. Gamble, son of the Procter & Gamble founder James Gamble, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of the American Arts and Crafts movement. Today the home is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public for tours and events. The reason the "Attic" is finished out in such a fine manner is that it was designed as the "Billiard Room" but since the gambles had no interest in billiards the room was designated as the attic on the final set of plans. I suspect the uncompromising nature of the architects prevented them from dumbing down the plans even though the Gambles didn't intend to make use of the room for anything but storage.
As expected, the stairwell is narrower and the living space is smaller, but the doorways and passageways are also tighter, and even the bathtub is only 75% normal size. Exterior porches are found off three of the second-floor bedrooms and were used for sleeping or entertaining. The living room was designed without any entry doors so that the room would be as open and inviting as possible. It also consisted of a spacious sitting room, which was decorated with five rugs that were designed by Charles Greene using watercolor.
The house's design reflected the Gambles' love of nature as flowers and trees were brought to the interior—creating pictures in wood, metal, art glass, and semi-precious stone. When the home was initially built, it did not receive any acclaim and was actually the target of harsh criticism among fellow architects, critics, and neighbors. It wasn’t until after World War II that the project was rediscovered and praised by a group of architects who were embracing American design and rejecting European influence. Alongside Frank Lloyd Wright, the Greene brothers' architecture regained newfound popularity in the 1940s and inspired the American-centric Modernist movement.
Ft. of space on the inside of the home our attention was immediately drawn to the beautiful display of color within. The stately oak tree that had been artistically positioned within the stained glass of the front door highlighted the colors and textures as well as providing ample lighting. The Gambles complained that the newly invented electric lighting was too harsh. Mary Gamble softened the glare by setting a Tiffany on the Honduras mahogany table.
No comments:
Post a Comment