DSDN 171 | Blog Five | Locovisual
Ryan Smith | 300241815
The Sutch House | Ernst Plischke
Background
The
Sutch House is located in Brooklyn, Wellington and is Ernst Plischke’s biggest
and most radical house design in New Zealand. The Sutch House has been described as architectural idealism
as opposed to architectural pragmatism. Alistair Luke, the architect
participated in the refurbishing of the Sutch House, explained how Ernst was
obsessed with the idea and artistry of the detailing, instead of the capability
of the building to endure Wellington’s weather conditions.
Influence
There are two historic styles evident in the design of the
Sutch House and they are Modernist and the Austrian movement called Neues Bauen
which means ‘New Construction’, a movement Ernst had been apart of since the
1930’s. “I consider the aim to be to achieve a synthesis of the conception of
space and sculptural quality. Each of these two components must be evolved out
of the function and the construction of a building." (E. Plischke, 1969).
Evidence
The Sutch House bears multiple characteristics of modernism
such as; the design reflecting the
function and purpose which is apparent in the square structure which is two
storied with large windows allowing plenty of light in. The house’s simplicity
and accuracy in detail as well as disregarding unnecessary detail, again apparent
in the squareness of the design with no sign of rococo like swirling designs.
The house represents are major factor of modernism, which is the concept of ‘Truth
to Materials’. This is made obvious by the natural look of the materials being
seen as opposed to being hidden or adapted to appear as something else. The
Sutch house also places a strong emphasis on vertical and horizontal lines, no
circles or waves.
References
Gesamtwerk, D. (2003). Ernst Plischke: Das Neue Bauen und die Neue Welt. Munich, Prestel Verlag.
O'Brien, G (2004). New Zealand Historic Places: Pouhere Taonga. Auckland, Weldon Owen Education Ltd.
