Naef Toy

A little over a year ago I submitted an entry for a competition put on by the Naef toy company. Although the original idea was not to make a puzzle, the toy developed as such. Essentially the toy is intended to be a manipulation of classic blocks that introduces rare-earth magnets as an added level of complexity. The competition board shows how multiple sets of eight blocks can be used together.

axonometric conceptualization

competition board

the finished product

Corners are eased by chamfering them so that there are no sharp edges to chip off as the toy is played with over time.

here you can see one of the neodymium magnets before being glued into a block

the cubes are sized for tactility and ease of manipulation

Rice House

Some weeks ago I took a trip to Richmond, VA to visit a firm and see a house designed by Richard Neutra there. Prior to my visit I attempted somewhat unsuccessfully to find some pictures/information on the house. Neutra, of course is famous for being one of Modernism's most influential architects. He was influenced by Otto Wagner and studied under such masters as Adolf Loos and Frank Lloyd Wright. The Rice House was designed and built between 1962 and 1965 for Walter and Inger Rice on a hilltop site that overlooks the James River by the Williams Dam. It was donated by Ambassador Rice to the Science Museum of Virginia in 1996. Hopefully the photographs provide a fairly adequate documentation of the best parts of the house.

a view of the house from the James River

One of my favorite details in the house was this recessed tub/shower.

Neutra uses the continuation of material and structure to blend the outdoors with indoor spaces. He also utilizes huge panes of glass usually in operable sliding doors to dematerialize the walls.

There are four hearths in the house one of which is outside on a balcony. 

A view from the driveway as a visitor would approach.

a view of the James River from the balcony

This balcony is bordered not by a three foot handrail but by a three foot reflecting pool. (somewhat dry in the photo)

the outdoor hearth

This support wall for the porte cochere/balcony is the only curved wall in the house.

 

The spacial complexity that Neutra creates by layering balconies, terraces, and interior spaces is somewhat reminiscent of Wright's Fallingwater, although certainly not derivative of it.

More Reading/Photographs:

Lamprecht, Barbara Mac Richard Neutra: Complete Works Cologne: Taschen, 2000

Ramert, David "Rice House Designed by Richard Neutra" Metro Modern 13,April, 2009 (http://metromodern.biz/galleries/midcentury_neutra.html)