Design is about solving problems. In remodeling or new house construction, a problem might be “how does the space flow” or “let’s make this lovely to look at”, etc. You want to solve problems beautifully, pragmatically, and functionally. Sometimes there are several solutions to the problem, each solution having it’s own pluses and minuses: one may be the least expensive but lacks a certain functionality, another may better solve the issue of “flow” but is more expensive, and another may best solve the issue of how it uses the site in a particular urban setting but doesn’t take maximum advantage of solar design, & etc.etc. Because there are these numerous ways to solve problems, we provide our clients anywhere from two to four options for their projects. The computer renderings here show two of three options for a new house project in Seattle. Each one deals with volume of the public and private spaces differently, along with different exterior aesthetics. What’s your thoughts?
Front Porches everyone!
We love residential architecture and we love our neighborhoods, and the two work really well together when each supports the other. It works out best because when synchronous, architecture and neighborhoods together support “community”. In our new digital world, a world of “seemingly” endless interconnectedness, what we really find is a world of individual isolation. People often appear very open and public, but the reality is that the barriers are up all around them. We have a world of emails and texts instead of talk; a world of being at home on screen instead of being out and about; a world where we watch others and engage in downloaded movies instead of engaging ourselves, or even going to the video store to get our movie, a world where… well, this goes on and on. But to my pet peeve of the day – lots of new houses and remodels are being built in the city with a blank wall to the street, “objects” without so much as a stopping place before you enter the house, nary even a stoop, and where to say the least, there is no front porch from which to sit and interrelate to your neighbors, your neighborhood. Sure, sometimes these porches are catch-alls for junk, but they are an important part of the transition from the outside world to the inside, from the public realm to your private world, from your neighborhood, to your street, to your yard, to your home – this gradual transition to your home is simply an extension of what is already going on in the fabric of the city, and creates neighborliness and neighborhoods. So when you’re building, think front porches!
Kirkland Compound Progress
It’s really fun watching this house develop, and now it is really a house! Remember, the views are from the 3rd level where the living room, kitchen & big deck are located, bedrooms are in the middle level, and mother-in-law apartment on the lower level for accessibility. In this unique collaboration, the owner will be finishing off much of the interior!
We design in a range of styles, and here’s one reason why. This home, owner and neighborhood is nostalgic for the past, for that Arts and Crafts Movement that valued the decorative arts and craftsmanship over the banal machine designs of the industrial age. (Something like that could very well be said for our times too)! This house isn’t old fashioned, it is modern and contemporary reflecting today’s lifestyles, but – it is respectful of it’s past and what it means. Stay tuned for pictures as we begin and progress the construction – a backyard 2 story addition plus basement — studio, family room, master suite with balcony.
Island House Rendering Movie
Island House Rendering Movie Our Island House has been moving right along! We’ve had a number of client meetings to fine-tune the floor plan, which in turn impacts the exterior of the house. Here you can see the latest rendering of the exterior. The opening view is what you’d see approaching the home coming down the driveway. The water is to the right; as the camera moves towards the water, you can see the copse of trees around the back or south side of the house. This is why that upper clerestory has been so critical: to get south sunlight into the house! Notice the couple of bump-outs on the water side: one is a dining nook, the other is a window seat. Snuggling up in either of these places will be a lovely spot to hang out!
The Remodelers’ Open Homes Tour
The Remodelers’ Open Homes Tour is right around the corner! We’re show-casing a remodel/addition that was kept “intentionally small” – following the Not-So-Big principals. Laura and Brian started out with a charming but modest tract house in Medina. They needed more space, but wanted to maintain the small cottage-y feel, and not spend huge amounts of money! So this shows how smart space planning and attention to detail in the right places can pack a lot of “bang for the buck”!
Come see this neat little home during the 2-day home tour next weekend. Visit www.remodelersopenhomes.com for tour details. Hope to see you there!
Island House Update!
After a couple of revision rounds with the little cardboard models, we then turned to our 3-D computer program to really start studying the design. Here are a couple of preliminary computer renderings of the house as it’s taking shape. The first image is the approach to the house; the second is the water side – showing deck and lots of glass facing the water view. Keep in mind that these renderings are more diagrammatic (therefore not much detail); this allows us to focus on the overall form at this early phase in the design process. We are striving to keep this house very pure and simple – it’s the site that warrants all the attention! Stay tuned for more development!
Seattle Design Festival – Free Architect Consultation
The first-ever Seattle Design Festival is coming up quickly! Check this out: http://www.seattledesignfestival.org/
There are all kinds of events planned, including a Design Speed Date where you can have a free 7 minute design consultation with an architect! The Future Shack awards will be announced during the festival. We entered one of our favourite recent small projects – see if you can find it: http://futureshack.aiaseattle.org/2011_gallery
Here are our further developments on the Island Cabin!
A plan is taking shape…responding to cues from the landscape as well as the owners’ “program”. It will be an intentionally small home, but carefully crafted.
These photos show our first “massing model”…a small, rough cardboard model that allows us to play with shapes and forms in a very quick, direct way. You can see the simple roof form that will be the dominant organizing element, but it pops up in the middle to allow south sunlight to enter the main living spaces inside.
Those round poles represent the trees that are blocking our precious sun! Filtered light coming in the upper windows should be lovely. This first photo shows the approach to the house coming down the driveway. The water’s edge and view is beyond the red line. All very rough ideas still! Stay tuned!
New House Design Process
We’re excited to be starting on the design of a new house in the San Juan Islands. We’d love to be designing this one for ourselves! Check back in every week and see the progress unfold; it’s our own architectural reality show!
Here are some images from the very first design ideas as they emerged. The property is low-bank waterfront, with a drop-dead view to the north. The inherent problem is that the best light comes from the south, but is blocked by trees that we want to keep for screening from the road. We’ll have to devise a way to orientate the house to the view (north), AND to get light into the interior from the south.
Julie has some notions of a very simple structure with a very strong roof form: like a native longhouse…like Japanese folk houses…an iconic woods house.
