Holy Cow! This looks a like the concept house in the header, begging the question; “do I own it or change it?”
Artistic Logic – Where do I start with this one? The temptation is to say what makes a home owner do things like this, until I think, “maybe the homeowner didn’t do it.” Maybe it was a builder? Probably not. Those guys are all about conformity and resale value. What/wherever the idea came from doesn’t matter. I looks pretty strange to most of us. Yet, I hesitate to criticize, because I somehow find artistic logic in what was done. Honestly, I see things like this in modern art museums all the time. There has been a kind of purists pursuit of geometry while totally ignoring everything else. The effect is humorous. It makes me smile which is not such a bad thing for a house to do.
Typical Vernacular House.
Vernacular Building – It also points to another interesting question. Is the split level house a form of “new” vernacular? What does that word mean? Wikipedia says it is “an architectural style that is designed based on local needs, availability of construction materials and reflecting local traditions..,” without the use of “…formally-schooled architects.” There are text books written on the subject, but I like this definition. It sums up how I think about vernacular building (notice that I did not call it architecture, but that is a subject for another day). The definition almost, but not quite, fits the split level place. There is a utilitarian and historical implication associated with vernacular buildings that often manifest as a foundation for some future style, or expression of a recognizable over riding unity. The split level house meets the utilitarian criteria but hardy the historical one. The log cabin meets them both.
Noteworthy? – Psychologist define many different ways of learning. I suppose that perception is particular to each individual and that mine is visual. Often, I see something noteworthy without any idea why. Only after some time and conscious analysis does the meaning reveal itself. For me the split level house is like that. It sent a message that read; ” I may be an anomaly but I am also an individual who is unconscious of, and therefore uninfluenced by, architectural and stylistic mores.” The message is totally unsophisticated. It redefines how we think about building and points toward a fresh approach to design, the pursuit of which being the reason for this this blog.
Real people don't hire architects...? 