Often, we think about adding a room, expanding our kitchen, or reconfiguring the spaces in our home by removing a few walls here and there. We may call a contractor and go ahead. However, what we get will most likely be less than what we could have had. Besides having spent more time on the details, we should have spent more time considering the whole picture!

Way back when I was a student, I remember being called to a potential client's house and asked if I could design them a third bedroom upstairs. I was thrilled to have a real life job! So I measured up the house and took the info home with me and drew a plan of the existing house. After studying the plan, I realized this was a more difficult problem than I had thought. You don't simply glue on a bedroom! Among other things (like zoning and building codes), there's access and structure to consider. And in this case, building on top of that part of the house which, in itself, was "iffy" was even more "iffy"!I was stuck and worried that I had taken on more than I could handle.

Slowly, it began to dawn on me that if I reconfigured the existing spaces in a more efficient manner and added a simple extension of the living room and therefore not having to deal with the "iffy" structure of the house, I could get a third bedroom plus a much more gracious living room! And, it would be a lot less costly.

What I had done was look beyond the boundaries of the particular "problem" and at a much larger picture. In essence, I had stumbled onto the value of holistic thinking in relationship to a project . In the parlance of designers, it's called master planning.

If you're finding your home now is inadequate, whether aesthetically or functionally, you generally will be better off not to simply attack the immediate problem but to think in terms of long-range plans and goals. Then you can design your home to be what you really want it to be, even if you can't do the all work right now. The advantages are numerous. For example, you can:

1. design in such a way that you can phase the work as your budget and needs
allow;
2. insure that what you do today won't negatively impact what you'll be needing
or wanting in the future;
3. price the project at an early stage, in parts and in whole, to help you make those
money-related decisions;
4. decide from these plans whether your current house will actually meet your
goals or whether you should realistically think about moving; and
5. understand better how all the spaces will interrelate.

So, when you're thinking about building or remodeling, think big! You can always pare it down later.

(For more information, see our website: http://www.ctabuilds.com/range_of_services.html)

Labels: architecture and design, remodeling and building

As Seattle Architects and Contractors, we have entered two of our remodel projects in this competition for new city housing. Remodeling, we believe, is the ultimate green building, i.e. reusing existing buildings and not sending them to the landfill.

Check them out!

http://www.ctabuilds.com/queenanne_foursquare.html

http://www.ctabuilds.com/blueridge.html

We think you can remodel and have a beautiful house for today's and future generations!

Here's more information on the FutureShack competition:

Speaking of the "ugly town house" problem, the American Institute of Architects Seattle is taking a hard look at the new model for city living with Future Shack: Housing the 21st Century.

On September 13th, in a celebration of urban living done well, 10 projects will be recognized for housing design that not only meets our needs, but elevates our style of living. Those projects will also be featured in the September 13th Pacific Northwest Magazine.

The jury is looking at projects that offer solutions for families, incorporate Seattle's historic fabric, offer new models of production and delivery, use resources economically and are adaptable. Only projects completed after June 2004 are eligible.

The public is welcome to the event, beginning at 5pm at the Fisher Pavilion in the Seattle Center. It includes a discussion by the jury, made up of three outspoken Seattle citizens and four architectural/design professionals. Steve Scher, host of KUOW-FM's "Weekday" will moderate.

Cost is $15 general admission, $5 for students and seniors. For more information go to www.aiaseattle.org/futureshack.

Labels: architecture and design, remodeling and building

There's so much talk these days about "building green"; how does one sort through the spin and hype? I personally think that so much of this buzz is generated primarily to sell magazines and services! That said, I also believe it's extremely important to consider the products we surround ourselves with, and the impact of our footprint on our environment.

Building construction is one of the most intensively consumptive activities on our plant. It consumes resources and produces waste more than most other effort humans perform! So it's certainly a step in the right direction to "think green" when embarking on a new construction project - even at the scale of your individual single home. But green thinking gets complicated when faced with ever-increasing possibilities in designing your home to be as green as possible. This is where some common sense can be the best guide.

It's our believe that, in general, simple moves can be the most effective, especially for residential construction. For example, proper siting that enables breezes to blow through operable windows is far easier on the plant than air-conditioning. A well-insulated roof that simply allows water to drain into rain barrels or gardens is better off in the end than "green roofs" that require extra structure and waterproof membranes that produce toxins during their manufacturing process. Metals and plastics require much more energy to produce than wood - timber is sustainable. As a general rule, if we think back to how indigenous peoples built their dwellings in response to their local environments, usually we'll find simple, creative, very effective solutions to those same issues for which we now have expensive not-very-sustainable technologies to solve!

So what ARE sensible suggestions for building green? Here's my list!

1. Design and Build small. Less building equals less resources, less cost, and a cozier home! Sarah Susanka has written an informative, breath-of-fresh-air series of books under the Not-So-Big banner. Visit her website to get a sense of this timely building philosophy, whether you're planning a project or not! http://www.notsobig.com/

2. Remodel instead of tearing down/building new! Much less waste into the landfill - very simple. And a good remodel can usually create as much transformation as you can imagine.

3. Design in response to your local environment and micro climate. Sun exposure, prevailing breezes, optimal garden space, orientation away from noise and undesirable elements: all these should figure into your design to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your home, lessening the need for technological interventions.

4. Recycle, reuse construction debris. Opportunities abound for construction waste recycling. CTA recycles almost ALL of our construction waste. Old cabinets, fixtures, windows & doors, trim and appliances can often find new uses through one of several resale venues. In Seattle: http://www.earthwise-salvage.com/ and http://www.seconduse.com/ and http://www.re-store.com/ are just a few. You can also find the same for your own project - like hardwood flooring from a local gym demo! There's an ever changing offering of cool stuff! Habitat for Humanity also will take good working appliances and cabinets.

5. Materials and finishes: there are many new and exciting legitimate green products on the market. Low VOC paints, lumber composite products, carpet and finishes (i.e. floor finishes) that are healthier within your home, and more sustainable in their manufacturing process; recycled tile, concrete counters, cork flooring: the list here is too long to cite. There is a great resource here in Seattle that researches and showcases green building materials: http://www.echohaus.com/

Overall, I think that "building green" is building simply. It just requires some forethought!

(see about our principals to for info about their long history of building green: http://www.ctabuilds.com/principals.html)

Labels: architecture and design, green building