Prefabrication experiments - 181 - Exhibition houses - 02 - The Kwikset Lock company and the Eames' office

Crossbreeding industrial knowledge with architecture was an underlying theme of modernism. As the post WW2 era set off a baby boom brought on by both economic expansion and a renewed optimism of peace time, the modern house and its definition was the topic of many architectural machinations. Many architects had been employed toward the war effort and the material knowledge they acquired was being deployed toward civilian use. Charles and Ray Eames’ office was notably active in bring modern materials such as plywood and plastics to daily use in furniture or for housing. The Eames’, known in architecture for their work on their Case Study House 8 and partnering with Eero Saarinen on Case Study House 9, were active in all design disciplines from industrial design to graphic design. 

A lesser known work by the Eames’ office was mandated by the Kwikset lock company. The interest in housing and producing prototypes for the modern world was shared by architects and industrialists as both sought to serve and supply the masses. The Kwikset lock company was founded by Adolf Schoepe and Karl Rhinehart in 1946 on the basis of a quickly installed tubular door lock. in 1948 the company set up as factory in Anaheim and became familiar with the Eames’ and their work through common acquaintances. 

The Kwikset house prototype designed in 1951 was never built but was proposed as a self-build affordable timber kit. The Kwikset company intended to market and sell the kit to include their hardware. The simple kit was composed of a vertical post and curved beam timber structure which outlined a flexible and adaptable interior space. The one-inch model that was built to showcase the design included Eames’ furniture and the signature modular curtain wall organisation developed for the CSH 8 and in other homes designed by the Eames office. The focal point was the curved plywood roof that would cover an entirely free and open simply organized living space. The square plan was divided in two.  Clearly defined sleeping quarters included three bedrooms. The living space was divided by modular furniture that could rearranged as needed. The kwikset prototype envisioned a customizable transparent environment sandwiched between a modular floor plane and an arched canopy roof.

1/2 inch model and system axonometric