Built between 1965 and 1967 by Richard Meier, the Smith House originated when Carole Smith, who had bought a property with her husband inDarien, Connecticut, told Meier about the area.
At that time I was working in a room in a two-room apartment building that was separated from Marcel Breuer‘s office. One day I got a call from Carol Smiht and she asked me if I could design a Smith House for them. She was looking for a young architect who could give her house his full attention.
-Richard Meier
Located in a stony and densely vegetated area, it was not a suitable place to build a house. When Meier visited the site, he realized that the original plan for the site was the most expensive possible. The ground for the house was almost completely flooded and the excavation of this area would be even more costly than the project itself. Under the circumstances, Meier decided to extend the house vertically rather than horizontally, thus avoiding the cost of digging and allowing every room in the house to take advantage of the spectacular views.
Newly released under-construction footage of the house reveals that the house was in fact built on a wooden frame, as envisioned.
Richard Meier’s photo with the house during its construction is among these newly released images.
Meier has designed a programmed separation of private and public spaces within the house. Unlike most houses, he deprived the entrance of the house of charm and positioned the private rooms on that façade. Closed and cellular spaces are shown in the entrance part of the house facing the street.
With its unconventional design, the house has made the openness and spaciousness it provides from the private to the public areas effective in the general areas.
A long ceiling structure has been provided throughout the house and thus the spaciousness of the house has integrated both floors.
The house, which uses large glass panels, is characterized by a spacious atmosphere and large living spaces. Such a free design of the places where the most time is spent at home has a great impact on perception.
On the rear facade of the house, 50 years of wear and tear has resulted in the appearance of red under the white facade, giving the house an old look.
This house, which has a minimalist air, enhances life and gives more meaning to the general specialty of human life, is the perfect place to give a family a taste of life.
Architect: Richard Meier
Year: 1965-1967
Location: Darien,Connecticut USA