Sky Cottage by Archimania
Archimania’s Barry Alan Yoakum, designed the “Sky Cottage” house in Memphis, Tennessee.
Full description after the photos….
Photography by Jeffrey Jacobs Photography
Sky Cottage by Archimania
Project:
A 2,500 SF residence for a couple occupying a tiny, pie-shaped site with views of the Mississippi River.
Solution:
The house is decidedly modern as it responds to both the neighborhood and its primary asset, an unobstructed view of the Mississippi River. The design is composed of two components; a white-brick cube, which aligns itself with the established streetscape of rowhouses; and an elevated box, which resists this grid. By progressing into the home’s upper levels, one realizes the reason for the box’s unusual orientation — a focused and remarkable view of the river.
Bottom-line:
This house, designed and owned by archimania’s Barry Alan Yoakum, accepts a forgotten site and maximizes its positive characteristics to serve as a force of contemporary architecture.
Visit the Archimania website – here.
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Michael McTigue on 15 Jan 2010 at 7:37 am #
An interesting design. However, it looks like it would be more at home in Chicago than in this neighborhood in Memphis. It seems like there is more resistance to the neighbors than engaging in a conversation.
DJ on 15 Jan 2010 at 9:37 am #
Love it. Excellent urban infill project. Quite a contrast with the neighbors.
Billy on 15 Jan 2010 at 3:42 pm #
Awesome.
I would love to hear the comments uttered by passing cars.
Zach on 15 Jan 2010 at 3:50 pm #
I like the house quite a bit. However, good architecture is aware of its surroundings. This structure seems to be completely out of place and quite possibly reduces the property value of the homes around it. The neighbors are probably not pleased about this and now neither the traditional structures nor the nice modern home are going to be as good or as desirable as they might have been with a better site choice.
ok on 15 Jan 2010 at 4:20 pm #
it just doesnt seem to fit in that street. if you look at the houses next to it you get the picture why i mean that. just doesnt do it for me.
Kory Drahos on 15 Jan 2010 at 7:25 pm #
I actually have a friend who lives in this neighborhood lol
F-J on 15 Jan 2010 at 7:29 pm #
I love this abode. Simple and clean with a great use of materials. It serves as a beacon for others to consider fresh influences when building in cookie-cutter neighborhoods.
Eric G on 16 Jan 2010 at 10:43 am #
@zach, so basically if you live in Memphis, you can’t have a contemporary designed house?
Luc on 16 Jan 2010 at 10:57 am #
It is a beautiful house but like most of the comments…really is an affront to the neighbors. This looks to be on mud island which was designed as a walking community with contemporary interpretations of traditional architecture. I can’t understand why this house was allowed in the context of this neighborhood. I too love a mix up of architecture styles but without some modern peers in the neighborhood…no matter how good a design…its going to look like a black eye.
Bruce on 16 Jan 2010 at 3:38 pm #
I think the challenge posed to the neighbors and the community is very appropriate. Why should everyone, or anyone for that matter, continue to build houses that look like they were designed two centuries, or more, ago? The house appears to take advantage of its site, the view, the neighborhood scale, and privacy concerns for all. Hopefully it was designed and built consistent with the concepts of sustainability the owner’s firm talks about on the firm’s website. If that is the case, it appears to have been a success; especially if there is an awakening as gaged by the discussion and comments on this site.
Adam Crain on 16 Jan 2010 at 4:10 pm #
I went by this house in my of this year. It does stand out from its neighbors but blends in as well, it’s a fantastically done house on a small leftover lot. That large glass expanse gives it the best view on the street of the water nearby.
Eric G on 16 Jan 2010 at 8:35 pm #
@luc “without some modern peers” .. well you have to start with one, don’t you?
Wes R on 17 Jan 2010 at 4:21 am #
I love this design, unfortunately not many contemps here in memphis. Theres an older rundown contemporary home at the corner of cottonwood and mendenhall, but its so badly out of shape and old it wouldnt qualify for this website’s approval, lol.
Rob on 17 Jan 2010 at 8:57 pm #
This stands out from the other houses around it because the modern house looks fabulous and the other houses are a bland hodgepodge of historicist kitsch — this is the kind of dreck builders throw up who don’t have any use for real architecture. The modern house is about today, the other houses are a weak regurgitation of past styles, with plenty of room to park the SUVs. Neighborhoods should not be theme parks — developers should explore real architecture and contribute something to the world.
Zach on 18 Jan 2010 at 2:16 pm #
Wow, Eric G. You’re very sensitive about this house. Is it yours??
I don’t think anyone is saying Mephis can’t have modern houses. I think what is being said is that it doesn’t fit where it is put. Frank Gehry often gets criticized for not taking into consideration the surroundings when he designs a building. Personally, I like this house. I would love to have one designed in a similar way. However, I think it is disrespectful to move into a traditional neighborhood with traditional architecture and build a structure like this. There are many areas this would fit, or at least fit better, than it does on this traditionally styled street.
In response to your snipe at Luc; no, you don’t have to start with one. There is a place for things and this neighborhood does not appear to be the place for this house. Now, if this street is in the process of a change and many of the other lots on the street were under renovations to become a modern styled neighborhood then great. This thing looks as out of place as if it were in a McMansion suburban American neighborhood.
David on 19 Jan 2010 at 12:15 pm #
I think the fact that this house . . . in this neighborhood has prompted such a lively discussion on context and architectural type has more than validated it’s place in this Memphis neighborhood.
Though I”m not usually a fan of building types that seem directly out of context with their surrounding neighborhoods. I think this house addresses a need to express different archetypes outside of historical references and the sometimes cookie cutter nature of “New Urbanism”. Which quite often mistakes historical pastiche for creative, energetic and diverse communities.
This house doesn’t seem to be disrespectful or intrusive as much as it seems to add some diversity with a lively exchange of forms and styles. It goes it’s own way (a very traditional southern trait) and by doing so creates dialogue. We need more of this in our communities, not less.
Keenan on 19 Jan 2010 at 2:56 pm #
Shock & Awe…
I have to echo everyone else’ sentiments about the home. As a stand alone piece of modern architecture I think it is awesome. Downright sexy from certain angles.
However, to place it in this neighborhood seems like a big f’you to all of the neighbors. There is absolutely no continuity. Actually this would make a great metaphor for the selfish, pompous attitude that this country has adopted.
P.S. This project would actually be a “Suburban” infill, whatever that makes it…
Curtis on 19 Jan 2010 at 9:26 pm #
By looks of this conversation I would say the creator of contemporist.has met his objectives. The back and forth is very enjoyable and interesting. You definitely don’t get the same dialogue from a design magazine.
In my opinion modern design is beautiful and should be allowed in any neighborhoood, but I’m glad everyone doesn’t think so. Art is never agreeable by all.
Judy McWillie on 20 Jun 2010 at 9:04 am #
This is a wonderful addition to the collection of interesting architecture in Memphis. My question is whether or not the builders were aware of the tendency of the river neighborhoods act as buffers for the many severe thunderstorms that roll in from the plains each spring. Even with safety glass, repairing the Sky Cottage could be dicey. Would appreciate a reply form the architect on this one. Thank you.
Kyle on 12 Jan 2011 at 10:27 am #
It was a pleasure to find this article. I’d noticed the house back in 2008 when I started working downtown. At least now I know what it looks like on the inside.
It does stand out in comparison to the style of the other houses, but it fills in a lot that probably wouldn’t have been built on. You’ll find several more modern houses located along the Bluff and for that reason, I don’t think it sticks out as badly as it would in Suburbia.