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AN ARCHITECT SHOULD KNOW HIS STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

  My development of the modular system “ CONCEPT ENVIRONMENT’in the early 1960’s was gaining an understanding of a particular type of  truss system which was paramount in my modular system..

 

   RE-INVENTING THE ROOF TRUSS                  

My initial use of the truss system was for a motivated salesman for a large structural truss manufacturer. When we began drawings for the Lyster House on Diamond Street in Laguna Beach in 1960, We utilized what is called an attic Truss, A large truss that had a large enough area in the middle for a small room which was the bedroom. This was a large triangular truss that incorporated the entire roof of the house The owner, Tom, Wanted to preserve the old 20’s garden which runs thru with a small   stream. He also wanted a spec house on the site (which resulted in a bridge house,) which spanned the site and initiated the Truss house design, as we realized one could walk thru the truss openings if they were tall enough. I chose the Warren Type of truss as it had the fewer upright members.

   We wanted to do another spec home so I revised my plan and used the Warren Truss, 10 foot high, But combined it with a Vereendal Truss, which substitutes diagonal members with moment connections at all points. Since the diagonal loads are smallest at the center of the span, I substituted the Vereendal. Truss instead.  This avoided any door that was  needed on the center span.. But With 4 trusses I could span a parking area below , with only 6 points for bearing all loads with a 20’ cantilever on each end. This opened up a lot of possibilities for steep lots.

wood mosaic picture

ART DECO IN PARIS

  We had discovered the Bar at Hotel Lenox on the Rive Gauche (left Bank) which was a true mind bender as there were a few wall murals made of different woods of Satchmo (Louis Armstrong) larger than life,  , plus a Jazzquartet and then a large picture of a flapper framed behind the Main Desk (See right). There must be at least 20 types of hardwoods used on the work. Where did the craftsman find a white wood for Satchmo’s hanky?   But all the furniture and lights were in an Art Deco motive and  all done in excellent taste.  Not only that, but it was one of the few places in the early days  (1980’s) where you could be assured of an American Cocktail well made.  Harry’s bar was on the Rive Droit, near the Opera. I have an agent living in Paris who is responsible to investigate
purchase of the Hotel by a hotel line called KULT. I cannot believe anyone would destroy a Wood Mural work of that magnitude so keep tuned  and I’ll let you know if MJ is successful in her search for truth among the denisons of the Rive Gauche.

 

                                           The  Left Bank

MAP OF RIVE GAUCHE

  We always stay on the Left Bank of Paris so it was de rigueur for me to make my own map to remember where the boulangerie was. Each time we’re there I add a couple of places, like the market street where cars are not allowed. (Rue Cler).

  Our favorite sidewalk café id Le Fregate, which has an interesting history. The owner, a friend of alexander Dumas ( of Count of Monte Christo fame), Owned the building and it is a prime location      being on the end of the Pont Royal Bridge and looking across the river at the end of the Louvre building. Dumas convinced him that it would be a good spot for a Café.

BOOK REVIEW

 Tim Snyder – Gives us 20 LESSONS FROM THE THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

   This small book contains  bold connections between past and present.

“The Founding fathers tried to protect us from the threats they knew , the tyranny that ovecame ancient democracy, today our political order faces new threats, not unlike the totalitarianism of the twentieth century. We are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience.”

UTOPIAS

  I Can’t find  my book of history of most authors of Utopias, But I’m still trying to find someone who had the right idea.  I’ve looked again at Platos’ ‘Republic’, Found Sir Thomas Moore (1550), 1984 of George Orwell , even discovered H.G. Wellls got into the act.  I guess I’m not the first one to try and organize the perfect world. It is rather ubsettling to find most of these were based on a communist format but run by wonderful people.I’ll let you know when I find out more.

JUST FOR FUN

  If you’re a gourmet you might like a You Tube Video called ‘Le Petit Chef (by Skull Mapping).

You’ll find a tiny chef pulling food out of the table to cook on the Barbie, etc.

JUST FOR NO FUN

  You might see how far the international consortium has come building the largest  moveable object on Earth, The Chernoble Containment Arch, to last 100  years, is nearing completion afterabout 12 years.