Valuable insights
1.Erickson Centennial Focuses on Experimental Houses: The symposium celebrated Arthur Erickson's centenary by examining three pivotal experimental residential projects: the Philberg House, Smith House 2, and the Hillborn House, each offering unique insights into his design evolution.
2.Philberg House Influenced by Neutra and Personal Crisis: The Philberg House synthesized Richard Neutra's site integration theories while addressing the client's severe personal anguish, aiming to use light and beauty to provide a sense of purpose.
3.Smith House 2: Austerity Meets Evolving Stewardship: The Smith House 2 exemplifies Erickson's structural rigor and site sensitivity; its ongoing stewardship demands balancing preservation with functional updates needed for contemporary use.
4.Hillborn House: Ontario's Unique Masonry Experiment: The Hillborn House stands as Erickson's only masonry residence in Ontario, characterized by its negotiation between topography and domestic precedence, inspired by Japanese spatial concepts.
5.Scholarship Must Move Beyond Hagiography: A critical need exists in Erickson studies to move past purely descriptive or reverential accounts toward honest criticism, assessing both successes and programmatic challenges in the built work.
6.Future Research Requires Deep Monographic Focus: The next wave of scholarship should focus on deep monographs analyzing individual buildings, integrating client history, construction details, and site analysis for comprehensive understanding.
7.Contextualizing Erickson in Global Architecture: Erickson's legacy benefits from being situated within broader international architectural discourse, rather than being solely framed as Canada's most famous architect.
Symposium Opening and Panelist Introductions
The Arthur Erickson Centennial Symposium commenced with remarks from Matthew Souls of the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), marking a collaboration with the Arthur Erickson Foundation. This event is part of a larger series celebrating Erickson, who was born in Vancouver in 1924. Gratitude was expressed to the federal government for sponsorship and acknowledgement was made to the unseated and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Slaywatuth nations.
Introducing the Moderator Leslie Vanuzer
The session, titled Living Labs: Three Experimental Houses, was moderated by Leslie Vanuzer, a SALA professor and former director, recognized for her extensive body of work co-authoring and co-editing monographs on architecture, including studies on Villa Mueller and the Crefield villas.
Presenters for the Three Experimental Houses
- Adele Weider: Architectural writer, curator, and scholar focusing on the 1959 Philberg House.
- Clinton Cington: Architect entrusted with the renovation of Smith House 2.
- Dr. Michael Proa: Cultural historian and curator speaking on the 1972 Hillborn House.
The Philberg House: Site, Joy, and Uncertain Future
Adele Weider initiated the presentations by focusing on the Philberg House, designed between 1957 and 1960, which served as a foundational work for many of Erickson's later concepts. She acknowledged support from the West Vancouver Art Museum and the Canadian Architectural Archives in Calgary for providing necessary documentation.
Neutra's Influence and Site Modulation
A primary influence on the design was Richard Neutra’s 1951 book, *Mystery and Realities of the Site*, which articulated the importance of integrating architecture with the terrain rather than imposing upon it. The Philberg House consciously modulated its seven-acre site in the Komox Valley to nestle the structure within the landscape, a concept that was radical at the time.
- Richard Neutra’s lectures emphasizing site continuity over leveling the terrain.
- Erickson’s travels in the Middle East and Europe, particularly the delicacy observed in the Alhambra.
The conceptual influence is sort of ether reality; it's not heavy.
Design Brief Driven by Personal Need
The design brief was highly unusual: it was intended as a cultural center for world leaders while simultaneously serving as a residence for the client, Rob Filberg Jr., who suffered from severe depression and alcoholism following estrangement from his powerful father. The architecture sought explicitly to generate joy and purpose for the client.
The house features a bifurcated structure: a solid granite lower level contrasted by an incredibly light and lofty second level, achieving what Erickson termed a pervasive luminosity. This design contrasted sharply with the client's father's narrow world, offering expansive views via wraparound glazing.
I felt like I was racing against time.
The House's Troubled Present Status
Despite being celebrated nationally, even by non-architects, the house's future is uncertain. The client died accidentally shortly before completion, meaning the architectural experiment did not technically fail. Currently, the property is listed for rent at
Smith House 2: Renovation as Working Vessel
Clinton Cington approached the Smith House 2 (1963–1966, costing
Questions
Common questions and answers from the video to help you understand the content better.
What was the unique design brief for Arthur Erickson's 1959 Philberg House?
The design brief for the Philberg House was dual-purpose: to function as a cultural center for visiting world leaders and, more personally, to create an environment of light and beauty intended to alleviate the client's severe depression and provide him with a sense of purpose.
Why did Clinton Cington argue against treating the Smith House 2 as a static shrine during its renovation?
Cington argued that the Smith House 2 should be viewed as a working vessel rather than a paralyzed shrine. Stewardship requires intervention to ensure relevance over time, necessitating updates to antiquated spaces while preserving the fundamental structural and experiential cues.
What distinguishes the Hillborn House from other Arthur Erickson residential projects?
The Hillborn House, built in 1974, is notable as Arthur Erickson's only masonry house constructed in Ontario. It reflects a deep interest in unfolding spatial experience, drawing precedents from Japanese architecture while negotiating the topography of its steeply descending Southern Ontario site.
What specific influence did Richard Neutra's work have on Erickson's approach to site integration, particularly seen in the Philberg House?
Richard Neutra's 1951 publication strongly influenced Erickson by advocating for treating the site as contiguous with the architecture, urging designers away from the default practice of leveling the terrain into a neutral canvas.
What impediment to serious scholarship regarding Arthur Erickson's work was noted during the symposium discussion?
One noted impediment is the reluctance of the design press and architectural community to accept honest, stark criticism of Erickson's buildings, leading to a tendency toward hagiography that avoids addressing works with noted programmatic or aesthetic challenges.
Useful links
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