Collection by Allie Weiss
Architecture Firm You Should Know: Höweler + Yoon
In our June 2015 issue, we visit the dwelling that Höweler + Yoon Architecture built to accommodate three generations of a tight-knit family in Virginia. In anticipation of the story, we take a look at a few modern structures by the multidisciplinary Boston firm, run by J. Meejin Yoon and Eric Höweler.
A series of bedrooms was replaced by an open-plan living arrangement. The kitchens are White Fantasy quartzite paired with white lacquered millwork.
This exhibition space in Chengdu, China features numerous interior courtyards to let light enter.
The building features an angled roofline and a textured brick facade.
The Sean Collier Memorial on MIT's campus was built with 32 solid blocks of granite. A single-axis robotic block saw and a multiple axis KUKA 500 robot were used to cut the stone and shape it into this curved form.
An installation brought 20 circular, glowing swings to a grassy area near the Boston Convention Center. LED lights embedded in the polypropylene swings change color depending on its motion.
The 16,000-square-foot home base for the Boston Society of Architects features a grand green staircase that connects levels and is visible from the exterior.
Japanese joinery is an interest of Höweler + Yoon. "One of my exercises is to have students make a Japanese joint. The idea is that a void can kind of become a lock or an intersection to fit two pieces together," says Meejin. "There's something very strong about certain wedge Japanese joints. The courtyard wasn't intended to look like one—it just happened."
The house, shown here from the street, was designed for two full-time residents and to accommodate visiting children and grandchildren. Its name—the 10 Degree House—comes from the roof's angle.