24 November 2005

Armstrong Residence III -- southeast


The home Harris Armstrong designed for his family in 1951. It is essentially a rectangular volume clad with wood and perforated by glass. The large clear glazing toward the right corresponds to the double-height Living Room.

Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Armstrong Residence III -- pool & rear yard


This home is the last of the three residences Armstrong built for his family. Armstrong designed this one in 1951, just a few years after his studio down the lane was completed.

The lap pool is located on the west side of the rear yard. The extensive glazing on the south side of the house is protected by several methods: roof overhangs, trellis elements, and deciduous vines growing up the trellis and wires.

The pool is located at the southwest corner of the house. Beyond the pool is a brick masonry screen wall separating the carport from the rear yard. Firewood can be seen stacked on the flat roof over the carport.


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

22 November 2005

Magic Chef Building -- HA logo


A detail of Harris Armstrong's t-square and triangle logo carved into a stone column base at the Magic Chef Building (1947). Armstrong designed the building for the American Stove Company as their national headquarters.

Today, the building is used as a U-Haul storage facility. Most of the facades have been encased in corrugated metal siding).


Photograph by Andrew Raimist.

13 November 2005

Invitation to Harris Armstrong talk


An overview of Harris Armstrong's architectural career, roughly in chronological order, from bottom left (1930) to upper right (1962).

The structures pictured are:
- 40-Story Tower (1930)
- Shell Gas Station (1934)
- Cori Residence (1935)
- Shanley Building (1935)
- House to be Built in Moberly, Missouri (1937)
- Graham Residence (1941)
- Scruggs-Vandervoort-Barney Interior (1946)
- Magic Chef Building (1947)
- Stockstrom Residence (1949)
- Andrews Residence (1950)
- Epiphany Episcopal Church (1960)
- Ethical Society (1962)

The overlapping triangle and t-square was Armstrong's logo. It was derived from his first initials turned into architectural drafting tools.

12 November 2005

Monday Club, 1932


Monday Club
37 South Maple Avenue
Webster Groves, Missouri
Designed and built in 1932


Armstrong added to and remodeled the smaller existing Monday Club structure that was already present on the site. Armstrong's addition includes the two-story portion toward the West including the new entry facing East Cedar Avenue. The original entrance for the older one-story portion of the building remained in place facing East at 37 South Maple Avenue.


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

10 November 2005

Armstrong Architectural Office -- drafting room


This view looking along the length of the drafting room depicts the view Armstrong had sitting at his desk.

At his left were the large thermal pane glazing facing northward. On the end wall, Armstrong mounted Isamu Noguchi's plaster model for the ceiling of the Magic Chef Building. In this image, Armstrong is seated in the dark sweater below the model.

To the right, the exposed cedar columns are highlighted with counter, cabinets, and lighting.

The rendering against the right wall is for Armstrong's Cancer Research Center for the Washington University Medical Center. This project was his largest one to date (c. 1949).


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

Armstrong Architectural Office -- northwest corner


934 Singlepath Lane
Oakland, Missouri 693122

Harris Armstrong's Architectural Office (1948) was designed and built shortly after his success with the Magic Chef Building. By locating his studio at the bottom of the hill, it allowed him to move the office outside of his home, yet still be able to take a short walk to work.

In creating the pond, Armstrong addressed a critical problem with the site: it was prone to flooding and served as a drainage way along the South side of the Westwood Country Club's golf course. He took the site's major drawback and made it a wonderful opportunity to place the structure lightly above the ground.


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

Armstrong Architectural Office -- southeast corner


The overhang on the south elevation serves to protect the library and work room from the hot Saint Louis summer sun. Armstrong carved a channel into the base of the hillside to create the appearance of a stream flowing from behind his office.

Outside the back door, a punching bag hangs providing a means for letting off steam when necessary. Armstrong periodically had a bit of a temper.


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

09 November 2005

Armstrong inside studio


Harris Armstrong standing in the drafting room of his Architectural Office (1948). The large north-facing glass panes admit filtered light to the drafting room. The photograph appears to have been taken in the mid to late 1960s.


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

Armstrong inside studio


Harris Armstrong standing in the drafting room looking outward. The photograph appears to have been taken in the mid to late 1960s.


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

07 November 2005

Armstrong Architectural Office -- night view


A night view of Harris Armstrong's Architectural Office of 1948 in Oakland, Missouri.


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

06 November 2005

Armstrong Architectural Office -- floor plan


The architectural floor plan of Harris Armstrong's Architectural Office of 1948 in Oakland, Missouri (a suburb of Saint Louis).


Drawing courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

Armstrong Architectural Office -- mechanical plan


Mechanical plan drawing of Harris Armstrong's Architectural Office of 1948. The darkened rectangles represent radiant heat panels installed in the ceiling providing the primary heat source for the office.


Drawing courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

Armstrong Architectural Office -- west elevation


Elevation drawing of Harris Armstrong's Architectural Office of 1948. The central glazed section indicates the main entry. To the right, the tongue and groove wood siding is set vertically. To the left, the siding is set diagonally, providing stability for racking. This use of diagonal boards in modern architecture is often considered to be decorative. In truth its based upon a tradition method of sheathing wood walls, floors, and roofs with individual boards prior to the advent of plywood. These boards provided bracing for its wall.


Drawing courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

04 November 2005

Armstrong standing on bridge


Armstrong standing on the bridge to his architectural office. This photograph was most likely taken in the 1950s. Toward the left, the bridge crosses over the pond and toward the right where it meets the ground, it connects to a path leading up to the Armstrong Residence at #3 Sappington Spur.

Note the mailbox custom fabricated with Armstrong's new logo designed by Peter Geist.

The cantilevered entry canopy leading to the entry is an Armstrong signature. He would often extend such canopies to visually indicate to visitors where the entry was located, to provide protection from the elements, and to protect the glazing around the entry from intense sunlight.


Photograph courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.

01 November 2005

"Seasons Greetings from the Harris Armstrong's"


A blueprint of a perspective sketch of Harris Armstrong's Architectural Office (1948)was sent by the Armstrong's as a holiday greeting. The sketched image (by Armstrong) is printed "reversed" in the sense that the very whitest areas indicate the darkest shadows. This method is the traditional "blueprint" which today is rarely if ever used (initally replaced by "blueline" and "blackline").



Drawing courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis.