Victoria Tsui

The vertical materiality of the Petal House is reflective of the vertical materiality of its environment, Los Angeles. The vertical relationship of materials is reflected through the house with the softer materials and vegetation at ground level, shifting to industrial unnatural materials up above. From ground level, there are suburbs and palm trees. As you ascend, the environment changes to a more industrial world with skyscrapers and elevated highways. The highways and skyscrapers poke out from the suburbs, just as the Petal House pokes out from the trees surrounding it. The house also reflects the environment based on the material choices. From bottom to top, the house goes from formal materials to newer, industrial materials. On the bottom of the house, there is traditional siding and window frames that you would see in a regular suburban home. This is reflective of all of the traditional tract homes surrounding it at ground level. As you move upwards, to the renovations and additions, there is asphalt, rebar, and exposed wood, which a “normal” home wouldn’t have. This is symbolic of the Santa Monica Freeway above the neighborhood it resides in. It is symbolic of the changing society and push towards a more industrial future. The Petal House is like a mirrored reflection of the city of Los Angeles. Moss also uses interesting choices to block the sights of the inhabitants. From the bottom floor, the person inside sees the more traditional trees and suburbs. The rebar blocks this view and the circulation, like it is trying to block the person from going into the suburban area. This is similar to the roof because you can see everything from the roof, but the only way down is through a staircase in the house, or a metal cylindrical ladder that would be uncomfortable to go down. It is almost as if he is taking away the freedom he created with the openness of the petals on the roof. This can be a message of keeping people sheltered from these changing times, or even, trying to block out this evolving society. The Petal House may stick out like a sore thumb, but it is truly the only house that visually represents its environment. The Petal House is a powerful symbol of  industrialism stripping away our freedom.