The details are not details. They make the design ” – Charles Eames
Since commencing my studies at Chelsea College of Art and Design, my design practice has been developed by each project. Every project includes research which increases the exposure to world renowned architects and designers, whose work acts as a demonstration of successfully executed design.
Prior to studying Interior Design at Chelsea, and throughout my studies at Chelsea, Charles Eames plays a critical part in influencing my conceptual design. The conceptual design of each project refers to the initial phase of the design process where function and form are established.
Charles Eames is famous for his work in the fields of architecture, furniture, graphic design, art, and film. A project of his which inspired my university project 02: Window for contemplation, was ‘The Eames House’, also referred to as ‘Case Study House 8’. This house was one of the homes built as part of The Case Study House Program (1940s – mid 1960s), of which John Etenza, of Arts & Architecture Magazine, played a pivotal role.
The homes in the case study were designed to express life in the modern world. The purpose of the Eames House was to house a married couple, whose children no longer lived at home, and who worked in design and graphic arts. Charles Eames stated that “The house would make no demands for itself and would serve as a background for life in work, with nature as a shock absorber”.
Charles Eames’ design of the Eames house was the most significant inspiration for my work for project 02. Project 02: Window for contemplation, involved the design of a window where reflection could take place. The client is a textiles designer who also researched textile creation and pattern design. The Eames House is characterised by its colourful panelled windows which particularly attracted my attention. The striking design inspired potential designs for my own project, due to the colour and patterns of the panes of glass offering a striking yet serene solution. I was particularly interested in the way in which different colours and patterns would filter in natural light, due to anticipating the space would take on the form of a library, where bright sunlight would impact a reading experience.
For my own design, I chose to use book shelves to filter the natural light, just as the colour and patterns of the glass in the Eames House would. The shelves would be angled with a ledge on the bottom edge to prevent books falling. The shelves would also need to be accessed using a ladder.
Charles Eames’ work, particularly the Eames House in relation to my Chelsea project 02, inspires me to create designs which communicate stories and evoke emotion through physical elements.