Expert: Chris Barclay - 11/23/2009

Question
Hi Chris! I read an answer of yours to a question that was posed on the layout of the Brady Bunch house that sits in L.A. The factoid you mentioned was concerning the area of the house (specifically the A-frame section where the fake window was hung). You said something to the effect that that section of the home was not a true second story, but actually an "atrium?" I'm not sure what you meant by this. I've been to the house, as I'm sure you have, and after having given that section a good looking over, it seems to me that this portion of the house is indeed a "2nd story." There is a living space that exists at the driveway level, and above it exists another living space, which I assume is the master bedroom. The other half of the house, where you enter the home, is ( in my estimation) a level all to its own, making this house a split-level. The elevation is deceivingly flat, which isn't the case (the street slopes downward at the driveway side of the home), suggesting the gabled section of the house couldn't possibly have a floor below it, but there certainly appears to be one! And when you consider the street's slope, it makes the idea of the house being split-level conceivable. I don't make any claims to knowing all. I've just been studying the home for a number of years, and have compiled an extensive set of composite renderings you might be interested in seeing. The main set of renderings are on Flickr, and I've done a 3-D virtual walkthru as well that I have on DVD, which takes viewers through the house and the soundstage as though you're walking through virtual reality. I posted clips of the tour on Youtube under the name "bradyhousetour" If you're interested, you can go to these sites and check them out. Let me know what you think! :-)
Best
Scott

Answer
Hi Scott,
You obviously know a lot more about the Brady House than I do!  I believe it was another "expert" who answered the question about the layout of the Brady house.  A question came in several months ago about the location of the Brady house and I believe I that's the one I answered.  In any case, I appreciate your feedback and I will definitely check out your Youtube video.  Thanks for all your insight!

Cheers!
Chris