Contemporary Architecture May Have Place in Everyday Living
By SANDY ARANT
Mail Tribuna Staff Writer
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In keeping with the modern trend in new church build ings. the design of the new First Christian church here
accents the sculptured sanctuary form. Designed by David R. Harkness. Bakersfield, Calif, the radial plan was
selected to take advantage of the spacious site. The octagonal center portion provides easy access to any part of the
church from the entryway. To the left is the sanctuary, while to the right are wings for the fellowship hall- and
classrooms. The center portion includes administrative fa cilities. The sheltering overhang of the sanctuary roof pro
tects the colored glass from direct sunlight and allows an even flow of light within the chancel area
Built to fit into a hill on the cast side of the valley, the new Is. H. Lovencss home is provided with decking most
of the way around the house for the convenience of out side loungers. Alexander Dicpenbrock designed the house
around the trees and natural boulders to form a shady setting. This view of one portion of the structure shows the
manner in which it is constructed on the hill.
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Effective interior design is an important component of a building. The interior of the new First Federal Savings
and Loan association, designed by Robert .1. Kcency. demonstrate the lichtnrso and comfort of modern finishing ma
terials The buildms if constructed with sound absorbent suspended ceiling, diffused lighting, and solar screen on the
weMern windows. These features all conform to the necessary fire code. iWhilland Locke Photo)
Architecture: the science and art of making buildings
aesthetically pleasing as well as useful.
Although the term applies to buildings throughout the
ages, the increasing popularity of what may be termed
"contemporary architecture" may be seen in the Rogue
valley. By contemporary is meant "of the same period,"
or new designs and ideas coincident with modern times
and attitudes.
' Many new homes are being built on the foothills sur
rounding the valley. Among these is the nearly completed
home of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Loveness, located to the cast
of the city. This modern home, which was designed by
Alexander Dicpenbrock, who studied architecture in Ger
many, is built in a manner that is as much of the hill as
on it. It is designed to fit in with the natural features of
the hill, including the hill contour and all trees left on it,
10-Foot High Living Room
In keeping with the hill contour, the home is construct
ed with a 10-foot high living room. From this point each
portion of the house stairsteps down the hillside. Each of
the many large windows has a special view of the valley.
Where there is an obstruction to the view Dicpenbrock
has placed a wall.
Dicpenbrock calls the home a contemporary design, in
which such details as indirect lighting play a large part.
The house itself blends almost completely with its sur
roundings, painted as it is a subtle green shade.
Landscaping, whether of a natural sort as in the Love
ncss home or ol the planned variety as in many downtown
buildings, adds a touch of interest to a structure.
Dale Coverstonc, local landscape architect, has said that
the purpose of landscaping is to enhance and complement
the architecture.
This may be true ot cither interior or exterior work.
Landscaping In Garden
An incidence of interior landscaping may be seen In
the stairwell garden in the Jackson County Federal Sav
ings and Loan association building.
Mrs. Fred Lorish, who designed the inside garden, said
its purpose is to enhance the structure, even though re
maining subordinate to it in nature.
The garden is composed of river rock and greenery.
The rock adds stability to the setting, while the cntryway
of the building lends itself to the use of plants, Mrs.
Lorish noted. The site under the stairway also calls for a
certain amount of height, and for a variation ot leaf tex
tures. The addition of a small sculpture lends interest to
the small garden as a whole.
Use ot landscaping, cither in this way or on the ex
terior, may be a reflection of the structure itself.
Adds Finishing Touch
Although the exterior design and landscaping of a
structure may offer the first impression, the interior detail
work adds the finishing touch in creating the beauty and
mood of the building. An illustration of this is the in
terior of the First Federal Savings and Loan association
building, for which R. J. Kecney was architect.
It was the firm's desire to relate the structure to the
people and economy of the surrounding area, so a wood
facing was used on the suspended ceiling. The boards are
placed a slight distance apart to allow absorbency of sound.
The suspension of the ceiling is both artistic and conforms
o the requirements of the fire code, Kceney noted.
Other details used also add to the aesthetic effect while
accomplishing a practical purpose. The diffused lighting
system provides a soft glow of light, pleasing to the eye.
The solar screen used over the upper windows on the
western and southern sides of the building, constructed of
ceramic tile, allows light lo enter while excluding the
heat of the sun. In addition, it provides a decorative touch.
In Physical Construction
A great deal of architecture is naturally bound up In
the physical construction of the completed design, but the
importance of a philosophical and artistic expression should
not be underestimated. The architectural philosophy ot Bob
Bosworth is composed of many personal ideas.
Of great importance lo Bosworth is the human clement.
As a building is designed for use by people, Bosworth feels
it should be designed lo people and for people, thereby in
creasing the aesthetic beauty. Aesthetic design and the
human element should interest, resulting in a complete
whole.
Combined with this care for the human concept, Bos
worth, by his own definition, stresses the importance nf
working free from predetermined ideas. Approached In
this manner, the design can bring about an entirety new
solution to a problem, composed of the work of an in
tangible objective called "creative invention."
'Artful Humanistic Expression'
A combinalion of these Iwo ideas results In what Bos
worth likes to call an "artful humanistic expression."
Also considered in planning are such things a.s recognition
of the proposed site and the economy of the area, as fvell
as the ability of the available craftsmen.
Expressing these ideas is Bosworlh'ji admitted "strong
feeling for wood." In wood can be represented the economy
of this region, as well as appropriateness of the sur
rounding mountainous and forested terrain. In addition,
Bosworth noted, it lakes a craftsman to work with wood,
again bringing in the human element needed lo shape and
work with the material.
Although the trend toward contemporary design moves
slowly, increasing numbers of new buildings are showing
the effects of modern ideas.
As the price of individual architecture decreases, pro
portionate to standard construction costs, as Bosworth feels
il may, more people will be in a situation to have con
temporary, individually designed, comparatively inexpen
sive homes.
Contemporary architecture as a practical art form may
well soon develop its own place in everyday living.
Features
MEDFORDsJtli
Sports
Tribune
SECTION S MEDKORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, AUGUST 5. 1962 PAGES 1 to I
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Landscaping has its place inside, as well as outside, the modern structure. This stair
well garden In the Jackson County Federal Savings and Loan association building was
created by Mrs. Fred Lorish. She planned it lo enhance the building, using a tall plant
lo the right-to add height under the stairs, and smaller green plants closer to the front.
The small structure adds interest to the garden as a whole. Use of river rock allows
minimum of maintenance for the indoor landscaping.
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Designed to take advanlage ot a particular site near Jacksonville was this prelimin
ary study of the new home of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin J. Trowbridge Jr. The architectural
design, intended to give a temple effect, was done by Mcdford Artist Robert Bos
worth, and features a living room with ceiling nearly .in feet high. The home is an ex
pandable one, meant to cater lo the needs of a growing family and an active home life.
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