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Feature Articles Architecture Critic James Britton Towards a Definition of San Diego Modernism Modernism: How The Principles Developed Sim Bruce Richards: A Legacy in Wood San Diego's Contemporary Modernists Definition of San Diego Modernism Frank Lloyd Wright's Legacy in San Diego
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The Horizon Home Contest Houses For several years in the early 1960s, a national competition created several progressive designs utilitizing concrete and masonry exclusively in the design. The Concrete Industries sponsored the contest to display to the public, architects and to the building trades the merits of using concrete products in home building. From the brochure
for the 1964 Horizon Home:
According to Robert Des Lauriers, “Around 1961-62 our firm was selected to do a residence using concrete & concrete masonry as the primary construction material. This was a joint effort by the three major National Concrete Associations, San Diego Transit Concrete Co., American Housing Guild, the builders and our firm.” Des Lauriers continued, “This was a national competition, and I guess we won the honor of being the first recipient of this endeavor. Our model traveled all over the US and was returned in mess, as I remember... The project garnered a large amount of press, "newspaper articles and write-ups...three pages in the L.A. Times...” The home was, “1900 sq.ft., roofed with a concrete thin shell hyperbolic paraboloid, walls were the first use of mortar-less grout lock masonry. A 4 bedroom 2-1/2 bath, extremely flexible floor plan. And the kicker was it only cost $20,000 to build (1961 prices were more like $18-$20 per square ft.). Also, there was a hyperbolic parabaloid tree house for the kids.
John Mock's design in La Jolla was given its 1964 Merit award by the concrete industry - including Portland Cement Association, National Ready-Mix Concrete Association, National Concrete Masonry Association, Pre-Stressed Concrete Institute, and the Mineral Fiber Products Bureau (now that's a mouthful).
While each project was unique, Schrock Construction Company worked with Hendrick and Mock to build the fourth design. Their advertising materials boasted that over 1000 visited the home on opening day - the house remained on display during "National Home Week." In an article in the local press, "Another 1964 Horizon Home is nearing completion in Claremont and will be ready for public showing in early October." Hendrick & Mock's design was on display between September 20-27, 1964, on the eve of Criley and McDowell's design opening weeks later. Criley and McDowell's project was built by Claraboya Development Co. Landscaping for "the all electric Claraboya project" was done by Warren E. Toy of Claremont. Partial List of Projects Horizon Home Contest
Winner Horizon Home Contest
Residence for American Housing Guild Concrete Industries
Horizon Home Concrete Industries
Horizon Home
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