Armstrong Architectural Office -- west elevation

West elevation drawing.
Uploaded by Andrew Raimist.

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.