Norskog House : 1963 / 1980
3811 Claire Drive, Carmichael, CA
4 beds / 2 baths / x sq. ft / 35,284 sq ft. lot
Agnes and John Norskog had the house designed by Sparks after wanting a house out of the ordinary and not being able to find it. The Strengs by American River drive were sold out, Eichler was done building, then Agnes found a newspaper clipping about Sparks teaching a night class about the benefits of modern architecture at a local college and decided to attend. After hearing him speak, they felt a camaraderie with the man and his desire to do things different. They commissioned Sparks to design something "with a strange, non-ordinary roof". After waiting three years, Sparks got back to the Norskogs with the hexagonal design, and they were blown away.
The home is almost completely executed in concrete and steel. Instead of traditional 5-sack construction, they chose 6, and steel contractors complained heartily when their tools broke in the extra dense concrete. John, a chemical engineer, insisted on a house that wouldn't burn. The only wood to be found is in the kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
They were unable to get a permits for the structure until they brought in a commercial building official. This seems to be why there is no data on the building from the assessor.
Clerestory windows fashioned of dual "pane" Filon, stained glass in the intersections. Agnes worked on tying the roof mesh and re-bar for 3 years, with assistance from her kids and the neighborhood children. Weddings, funerals, the "1,000" dollar party. Misty the dog.
Affectionately called by neighbors: the circus tent, ufo and hanky.
Original landscape plan by Mark Askew & Associates (1973); not fully implemented
Interior architecture final plans drawn up by John Rotter (1978) after Sparks' initial design.
The Norskogs commissioned and lived in the adjacent Streng Brothers built house to the North while this home was being constructed, so originally the overall lot was much larger.
An interesting side note, Carter Sparks owned the undeveloped property in the late 1950's. He, and his then wife, Billie, designed a home that was never built to go on this site in 1956.
-Listed for Sale, Fall 2023
2006 Photo by Michael Brown / retroOKC, used with permission
Draft Electrical Plan over Carter Sparks drawing, 1962
Elevation drawn by John Rotter, June 1978
Landscape Plan by Marc Askew, 1973
