OPTIC HOUSE in Bennington, Nebraska by RANDY BROWN ARCHITECTS

Optics:/  the branch of physics which studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of  instruments that use or detect it.

Overall Image of Optic House

• Architect: RANDY BROWN ARCHITECTS
• Project: Optic House
• Location: Bennington, NE 68164
• Studio: RANDY BROWN ARCHITECTS
  1925 N 120th St.
  Omaha, NE 68154
  (402) 551-7097

• Credits: Randy Brown FAIA Principal in charge  Shane Fowler, Jonny Kaufman, Andrea Kelly,  Brian Kelly, Neil Legband , Jenni Luebbert, Brandon Schumacker
• Client: Alan Tipp
• Contractor: Landmark Custom Homes
• Photographer: Farshid Assassi

Stepping up the rolling hills of this sparse Nebraska landscape, the house sits on the edge of a 100 acre lake.  The client, an eyeglass designer, requested an instrument for viewing and to be viewed.

Detail

The house is a foreign gesture on the land, terracing up the hill to take advantage of the dramatic views.  The concrete plinth is tucked into the hillside with a wood framed cement board clad fragmented form which stands out as a sculpture in the landscape.   Closer inspection of the site reveals that the folding ground plane was the inspiration for the folded walls that cant and slide creating spaces and voids that come to life with sunlight.   Dancing shadows bring dimension to the exterior as the sun moves around the house.   The voids create apertures to allow the sunlight inside and to frame views of the lake and horizon.

Detail of Front Entry

Inside a monumental steel stair connects the bedrooms with the living spaces.  The main floor is a series of open spaces that allow for cooking, eating, relaxing and working.  The main entertaining space is a two story volume with an adjacent terrace that overlooks the lake.

Kitchen

The optic house is an instrument that allows the client to study light and its interaction.

Living Room

Product Credits:

Roofing: Versico Versiguard EPDM Roof

Millwork: IKEA Built-in Cabinets, Akurum Rationell Series, Arlig White

Hardware: Forms + Surfaces, HC421, Satin Clear Anondized Aluminum

Exterior Siding: 7/16” thick Georgia Pacific Cadence Lap Siding

Lap Siding Paint: Sherwin Williams, Grays Harbour

Gyp. Board Paint: Sherwin Williams, Extra White

Windows: Kawneer, 1” Insulated, Tri-fab Versaglaze 450 Standard

Downlight: RSA, Accurus Downlight, ACT1985, White

Surface Mounted Lighting: Juno, ULH-322-WH

Pendant Lighting: Artemide, Logico Suspension Triple Linear

Ceiling Lamp: IKEA, Pult

Wall Mounted Lighting: IKEA, Fartyg

Surface Mounted Lighting: Stonco, CLD1500, Industrial Series

Shower: Kohler, Lakewood K-1685, White

Toilet: TOTO, Aqua Dual Flush 1.6 GPF/0.9 GPF

Bathroom Sink: Decolav, 1420-CWH

Kitchen Sink: Blanco, Blanco Precision Series, 512-750-A

Jet Tub: Duravit, Starck 710119.2001000

Tags: Bennington, Nebraska

Category: House

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at 5:33 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.