The Ball Residence
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Address
Omaha, Nebraska
Year Completed
1975
Building Type
Architect:
Firm/Partnership
Project Description
An article on the residence stated that: “The large doses of daylight that reach the deepest interior areas give these spaces and surfaces a richness, a warmth and a tone that the plants play on an augment. From almost any vantage, the spaces are lively and expressive – and all the elements that contribute to the character of the Ball residence were achieved using the simplest of means.”1
Another article notes, “This residence is skillfully placed among the existing oak trees and utilizes the slope of the site to define three major interior levels, with the bedrooms and den in the upper level, breakfast and dining at mid level, and living and master bedroom on the lower level. By stepping the residence downward to the rear of the site, the architect has created interior spaces which flow out naturally to become part of the landscape, producing a horizontal interior and exterior exchange of space.”2
The owners of the home wanted to achieve a space that maintained a relationship between the indoors and outdoors. In order to do that, Mr. Astle, “punctuated both walls and roof with extensive amounts of glazing. Adapted to the sloping site, the house was designed in three parts that step down the terrain. Running laterally through the house to make these divisions are skylit [sic] corridors.”3
Additionally, courtyards walled with glass and covered walkways throughout the house were created in order to achieve this indoor/outdoor relationship.
Sources
1. “Ball Residence,” Architectural Record (May 1977): 1. “Misc. Publications,” from The Neil L. Astle Papers. Accn 1930, Box 106, Folder 14. From the Special Collections and Archives Department, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
2. “First Honor Award; Project: Dale Ball Residence, Omaha,” Architecture Nebraska, Schluntz Publication (1977): 1. “Misc. Publications,” from The Neil L. Astle Papers. Accn 1930, Box 106, Folder 14. From the Special Collections and Archives Department, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
3. “People Who Live in Glass Houses,” House Beautiful’s Building Manual (Spring/Summer 1978): 3. “Misc. Publications,” from The Neil L. Astle Papers, accn 1930, box 106, folder 14. From the Special Collections and Archives Department, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
4. “Ball Residence,” Nikkei Architecture (August 1977): 2.
