Charles and Ray Eames spent their entire lives designing-so much so that hardly any books, documentaries or exhibitions can truly contain their legacy. This includes films, toys, objects of all kinds, but above all some images that have become almost archetypal: the single-shell, shell-like chair, and their home-studio in California - the famous Eames House - for which we all feared the worst during the Los Angeles fires and which is instead, thankfully, safe (and is again open to the public).
In the 1940s, while working on this building, the two devoted themselves to the study and development of prefabricated elements that make up its walls. On closer inspection, the result built in the eucalyptus forest is just one of the possible configurations: the combinations are potentially endless. The panels alternate between different materials - glass, opaque surfaces, colored backgrounds reminiscent of Mondrian - framed by the black profiles of the metal structure.
An open system: the Eames House becomes modular
There is a novelty, however, that radically changes the status of this project: those panels can be bought. Not as a nostalgic replica, but as a contemporary building system that can be used for homes, restaurants or other spaces.
The Eames Pavilion System was created with precisely this goal in mind: to carry forward the couple's original insight and transform their research on modularity into something accessible. It was developed by Demetrios Eames, grandson of Charles and Ray and director of the Eames Office since 1988, in collaboration with Kettal.
Two full-scale pavilions at the Triennale
In the meantime, the most direct way to understand it will be to see it up close-and it happens in Milan. During the Fuorisalone, the Triennale is hosting The Eames Houses, an exhibition that explores the two designers' human-centred approach through the possibilities of building by modules.
On closer inspection, the result built in the eucalyptus forest is just one of the possible configurations-the combinations are potentially endless.
In the exhibition are two life-size pavilions and models of eight houses designed for the occasion, along with drawings, films and extremely rare photographs from the Eames archive. The exhibition project is accompanied by a volume of the same name.
The Eames Houses can be visited at the Milan Triennale from April 20 to 26, from 10:30 am to 9 pm. Admission is free.