Frederick + Frederick wins two AIA SC Awards

We were awarded two Robert Mills Residential Design Awards by The American Institute of Architects South Carolina at the annual design award gala on October 23, 2010.

The Fienning Residence in Beaufort was recognized with citation award. Juror, Phil Szostak, FAIA, said "He liked the quiet restraint of the addition to the historical house."

The Cole Residence in Palmetto Bluff won a merit award. Mr. Szostak commented that "He appreciated the vernacular form of the dog-trot and the regionally appropriate material palette."

Beaufort 3 Century New Freedman's Cottage

"What if every simple act of design and construction made the world a better place?"

"WHAT IF EVERY INTERVENTION RESULTED IN GREATER BIODIVERSITY; INCREASED SOIL HEALTH; ADDITIONAL OUTLETS FOR BEAUTY AND PERSONAL EXPRESSIONS; A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE, CULTURE, AND PLACE; A REALIGNMENT OF OUR FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS; AND A MORE PROFOUND SENSE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CITIZEN OF A PLANET WHERE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY?"

THIS IS THE LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE. WE ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE FORM OF BEAUFORT TO HONOR THE UNIQUE CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT AND TO PROTECT THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT. THE 560 SQUARE FOOT "FREEDMEN" COTTAGE IS BASED ON THE CIRCA 1850'S FREEDMEN COTTAGES FOUND IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT. THESE WERE THE HOUSES OF THE NEWLY FREED AFRICAN AMERICANS AND NOW IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WE WILL BE FREE FROM THE GRID OF POWER, WATER, AND THE AUTOMOBILE. EACH HOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL GENERATE AROUND 4000KwH PER YEAR IN ELECTRICITY THROUGH PHOTOVOLTAICS AND WIND TURBINES, WHILE CONSUMING AROUND 2000 KwH PER YEAR; SELLING THE REMAINING ENERGY BACK TO THE POWER COMPANY. EACH HOUSE WILL COLLECT RAINWATER FROM THE ROOF TO TREAT AND USE AS POTABLE WATER IN THE HOUSE. GRAYWATER AND CONDENSATION FROM THE HEAT PUMP WILL BE COLLECTED AND STORED IN A SEPARATE CISTERN AND USED FOR IRRIGATION IN THE COMMUNITY GARDENS. THE PROCESSES, MATERIALS, AND PRODUCTS PRESENTED IN THIS PROJECT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY. AS ENERGY AND WATER FEES INCREASE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES THEY WILL BECOME AFFORDABLE.

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We haven't built a physical model since we started with Revit three years ago. It is much faster to build a model in Revit than by hand! For more infomation on the Beaufort 3 Century Project http://www.beaufortthreecentury.org/ Please visit the exhibition at the Verdier House Mondays - Saturdays 10 am until 4 pm (it's free) and vote on the people's choice!

Beaufort 3 Century Architectural Competition

We have been super busy the last few weeks preparing our competition entry. The description of the competition as found on the Beaufort County Web page http://bcgov.net/about-beaufort-county/public-service/planning/expo_2011/index.php or condensed below.

"The Beaufort Three-Century Project & Historic Beaufort Foundation are hosting a public exhibition of architecture and community design to complement the City of Beaufort tri-centennial celebration. The exhibit will demonstrate how the valued built forms of Beaufort can be successfully fused with the future requirements for sustainability of energy, water, materials, human ecology and indigenous vegetation. The design categories will include the Single Structure Infill and the Neighborhood Plan – each on one of three pre-selected opportunity sites in historic Beaufort. In addition to cash awards for these two categories, there will be a People's Choice award, as voted by exhibition visitors during the three-week long event.

This professional competition is open to architecture and land design professionals & students of those disciplines. Submissions should be physical models, virtual or perspective renderings of single structure infill or community plan models for one of three selected sites in historic Beaufort. Each submission should be accompanied by a specification board headlining the fundamental design principles and sustainable strategies used."

We chose to enter both the neighborhood master plan and individual building categories. The site we selected was the four blocks at the intersection of Wilmington and Washington Street.

The gray buildings on the site plan are recognized as contributing structures to the National Historic Landmark District. The are modest one and two story houses generally built right after the Civil War. This neighborhood was started by freed slaves and the majority of the current residents are African Americans. The white buildings are non-contributing structures.

This is the new master plan. We added a gathering place at the intersection of Wilmington and Washington and community gardens at the rear of each property.

My Slice of Heaven

This is my first blog-off challenge and the topic of writing about my "Slice of Heaven" was easy because I am one of the lucky ones who lives in paradise. This is the view from my back terrace overlooking the inter-coastal waterway. I live on Lady's Island which is just across the river from Beaufort, South Carolina. I never tire of the view..there is something about a long view that is very relaxing. One of the best things about being on the marsh is the abundant bird population. We see Herons, Egrets,  and Wood Storks in the marsh. There is a Osprey that preens it feathers every morning in a snag that I can see from our bedroom. Hooded Mergansers arrive in December and were renamed Christmas Ducks by our girls when they were young.

We hear owls every morning and have seen a Great Horned Owl in a tall pine tree and a Screech Owl on our terrace after he collided with our sliding doors. Fortunately he was just stunned and soon flew away.

The kitchen looks out to the river on the West and into a courtyard on the East. I see a different group of birds in the courtyard. The two most exciting to spot are Painted Buntings and Pileated Woodpeckers. We keeps several birdbaths and they are usually full of Cardinals.

One day when we were out kayaking a manatee swam by us...really cool! Michael, my husband fishes behind our house. A few years ago he found a sweet spot and would leave the house asking how many fish I wanted him to bring home for dinner!

The marsh and river views are always changing and can be very dramatic. We watch rain storms approach down the river. You are probably thinking that it is difficult for me to leave my house and go to work... once again, I am lucky. Our office is on the same piece of property as our house but in a different building. The view below is from the office.

Even though I live in paradise, it is on a flat barrier island and is in a small town. So when I leave my slice of heaven I either go to the mountains or to a city. I grew up in Tennessee, so I have to get my mountain fix and enjoy those long views especially when backpacking!

We have a lush, semi-tropical landscape with huge Live Oak trees draping Spanish Moss but there is very little fall color. The marsh changes from bright green to gold and there is an occasional tree here in there sporting some color. So a trip to the mountains in the fall is a real treat.

My priorities when traveling are great architecture, great art and great food!

"I" House or Plantation Plain Style

A typical southern house was the "I" house, named because of the tall narrow profile. This house was two stories with a simple gable roof and a shed roofed one story porch in front and a shed roofed addition on the rear. Typically, there were masonry chimneys on each end of the house. This simple house was one room deep which maximized the amount of light and cross ventilation. It had high ceilings which allowed the heat to rise and provided a more comfortable environment. The one story porch allowed the second floor sleeping rooms to have ventilation on three sides. Occasionally there would be a double porch on the front. Kitchens were usually in a separate building behind the house; this kept the heat from the fireplace out of the main house and also protected the main house in the event of a kitchen fire.

There are a number of "I" houses to be found in Beaufort and the surrounding counties. The challenge with the "I" house is incorporating the necessities of modern day living, such as kitchens, bathrooms, closets and laundry rooms. We recently worked on an "I" house in Beaufort that has an important provenance.

In 1839, Robert Smalls was born a slave on this property. In the civil was he became a U.S. Army captain. He went on to serve in the SC House of Representative, SC Senate and was a United States Congressman for 5 terms. After the civil war, Robert Smalls purchased this and adjacent properties. It is believed that this circa 1855 house was moved to the property as part of the Smalls estate.

The original house was two rooms over two; it appears that a one story wing was added when the house was moved. The double front porches were removed many years ago and replaced with a small stoop. Typical of historic houses, there was only one inadequate bathroom and virtually no closets.

Robert Smalls is an important historical figure in South Carolina, so it was critical to respect the integrity of the house while providing the basic necessities in bathrooms and storage. We added a small L‐shaped second floor addition to house two new bathrooms, master bedroom closet and a small third bedroom. The addition backs up to the existing chimney and we left it exposed in the bathroom. We enclosed an existing small porch to create a breakfast room with a new porch beyond.


In restoring the double front porches, the house now looks like the typical Beaufort house that it is instead of some foreign transplant. The clients desire for a screened porch was met with a free standing enclosure that respects the scale of the historic home and encloses a courtyard on the south of the house.

Outdoor Fireplaces

This is a post on some of our favorite outdoor fireplaces. This fireplace shares a chiminey with two interior fireboxes and one other exterior firebox. This cozy screen porch is perfect for cool fall and winter evenings.

A rice mill chimney was the inspiration for the form of this outdoor fireplace. It is connected to a small building with a screen porch on the lower floor with a fireplace and an office on the second floor.

This was the first house we designed when we moved to Beaufort 21 years ago. This fireplace has a grill on the upper level right outside the kitchen.

This small side porch is perfect for an evening meal.

Another rice mill inspired chimney. This is one of three outdoor fireplaces in this house.

This is the second of three fireplaces. This sleeping porch is complete with a murphy bed. The owners say they sleep out here most of the time.

The third outdoor fireplace in the house is actually a pizza oven.

The family room addition to the historic house created a wonderful opportunity for an outdoor fireplace.

Renovation Project

This is a sweet renovation and addition project in "The Point" neighborhood in Beaufort. The original front porch had been removed so we added it back with a new comfy porch swing.

Greening your Bathroom

The terms “Green” and ‘Sustainable” are the hot new buzz words but when you consider that buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all greenhouse gas emissions annually it is imperative that we make our houses more environmentally responsible. Bathroom renovations create ample opportunities for saving water and energy. Begin your planning process by inventorying the existing space and determine your requirements. The survey should be broken into four categories; space allocation; water usage, ventilation and electrical usage, and materials and finishes.

Space Allocation: Best practices suggest that you design the space for your needs and not add additional square footage for resale value. If you only shower and never take a bath, do not add the extra square footage for a large soaking tub. A dedicated toilet closet will allow multiple people to use the bathroom at the same time and may reduce the number of bathrooms needed. Provide generous storage space; rooms can be smaller when there is ample storage space. Consider allowing enough space for aging in place; are the doors wide enough for a wheel chair or walker? Provide blocking in the shower walls for future grab bars.

Water Usage: There are huge water saving opportunities for bathrooms. An inexpensive solution is to replace existing shower heads with low water use showerhead. Old showerheads use up to five gallons per minute (gpm). Current federal law requires a maximum flow rate for of 2.5 gpm. One ultra low flow brands are Oxygenics showerhead 1.75 gpm for $30.00.

Toilets manufactured prior to 1992, use between 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf) and 7 gpf. Federal Law now mandates no more that 1.6 gpf for all new toilets. Many manufacturers are making super low flush toilets and dual flush toilets. The dual flush toilet typically uses 1.1 gpf for liquid waste and 1.6 gpf for solid waste. Available products include: American Standard FloWise™ 1.28 gpf for $359; Kohler Wellworth Pressure Lite dual flush 1.1/1.6 gpf for $451; Mansfield Eco-Quantum dual flush 1.1/1.6 gpf for $493; and Toto Aquia™ dual flush 0.8/1.6 gpf for $435. Another option to consider is a composting toilet that uses no water; they cost about $2,000.

Heating water typically uses between 14 and 25% of a household’s energy. Three options in water heating are Solar, conventional storage tanks, and tankless (on-demand) heaters. Solar Water Heaters are the most efficient but also have the highest initial costs ($4,500 to $9,000). Solar Water heaters are either a passive or active system. The passive systems are less expensive, more reliable, and have a longer life. The passive systems are not as efficient as active systems.

When selecting a conventional water heater look at the EnergyGuide label and the Energy Factor which rates the overall efficiency of the unit, the higher the number the better. The standby heat loss of traditional water heaters can be lessened with heavily insulated tanks. The thermal resistance (R-Value) of the tank should be between at minimum R-12 and preferably R-25.

Tankless (on demand) water heaters are gaining popularity in the United States because they save between 15 and 40% of water heating energy costs. The cost of the unit typically is about twice the cost of a conventional tank water heater. They are available in both gas and electric models. Popular brands include Rinnai and Bosch.

Mechanical Systems – Ventilation and Electrical – In bathroom remodels, the changes to the HVAC is limited unless you are replacing the entire system. At the very least you need exhaust fans vented to the exterior. Best practices include installing the fans on a timer to shut off thirty minutes after use.

The bathroom lighting needs to include general overall lighting, task lighting at the lavatories and a ceiling light in the shower. Consider separate switches for the three types of lights to minimize energy requirements. Look for EnergyStar qualified light fixtures, they typically use 75% less energy, produce 75% less heat and last up to 10 times longer than a standard fixture.


Materials and Finishes – The materials mantra is reused first, recycled second, and purchase rapidly renewable resources third. In a renovation project, deconstruct instead of demolish the existing space. Reuse all the existing material that you can. Donate or recycle any material that is not used to keep it out of the waste stream. Look for salvaged building materials to use in the project instead of purchasing new products. Recycled products reduce the burden on our landfills and conserve our resources. Locally manufactured products are preferable because of the reduced energy requirements for transportation.

Bathroom finishes should be durable and water resistant. Ceramic tile with recycled content is the best option for walls and floors. Stone is a very durable option but because it is not local to the Lowcountry the shipping costs make it a less environmentally friendly selection. Natural Linoleum is made from linseed, oil, jute, and wood dust and is the preferred alternative to vinyl flooring. Care should be taken in selecting adhesives that contain low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds).

In our hot humid climate, wall paper, especially vinyl wall paper, should not be used. The wall paper acts a vapor barrier; moisture is trapped behind the paper and provides an ideal condition for mold. Carpet is another bad material for bathrooms because it also traps moisture.

Indoor air quality is affected by off-gasses from cabinets and paints. Cabinets should be constructed from materials that contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins and paints should be low VOC. Solid wood is a healthy alternative and should preferably be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Resources – Some helpful websites are www.buildinggreen.com www.greenhomeguide.org www.goodtobegreen.com www.greenbuildingpage.com www.energystar.gov www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/

Kitchen Cabinets

As any cook will tell you, the design of the kitchen makes a huge difference in how well the kitchen functions. The basic layout of the kitchen is a work triangle measured from the center of the sink, refrigerator and cook top or range. The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends that each leg of the triangle be between four and nine feet and the sum of the legs should not exceed twenty-six feet. Omit obstructions in the triangle and through traffic. Design counters to be a minimum of 42” apart for one cook and 48” for two cooks. Consider two sinks and therefore two work triangles for kitchens with multiple cooks.

There are three options in cabinet door construction with significant price differences. In Flush Overlay construction the doors and drawers completely cover the cabinet box. It has clean contemporary lines and hidden hinges. Flush overlay construction is always used for a contemporary look but can also work with a traditional door panel. It is the medium price option and creates a great look for the money spent. Reveal Overlay doors and drawers partially cover the cabinet box. The reveal dimension can be varied by the designer. Hinges can either be exposed or concealed in reveal overlay construction. This is the least expensive cabinet construction type. Flush Inset with Face Frame construction is the most expensive due to the care necessary in fitting the doors into the frames. The doors and drawers are flush with the cabinet box and are crafted as well as a piece of fine furniture. Flush inset cabinets create a very traditional look with an exposed butt hinge.

The Architectural Woodwork Institute defines three quality levels of construction for cabinetry. Premium Grade, the highest level generally reserved for special projects or features. Custom Grade is specified for most cabinetry and provides a well defined degree of control over the quality of craftsmanship, materials, and installation. Economy Grade defines a minimum expectation of work.

The next cabinet decision is whether to use stock cabinets or have them custom made by a local cabinet maker. Stock Cabinets generally have a multitude of door designs, woods and finishes, and hardware to choose between. They come in 3” increments, so you might have to use a filler panel to fit a particular wall. Custom Cabinets can be designed as a major detail component of your house. You have an endless choice of door designs, woods and finishes, as well as hardware. They can also be made to perfectly fit the dimensions of the space. We often find that custom cabinets are not more expensive than good quality stock cabinets.

The goal of any room design is for the first impression to be “Wow, what a nice room”. Only after the pleasing impact of the overall design should you then begin to notice the details. One important detail in the kitchen is the cabinet hardware. Traditional Hardware brands include Baldwin, the very popular Rocky Mountain Hardware, and Sun Valley Bronze. Contemporary Hardware is typically stainless steel and favorite brands include Häfele, Valli & Valli, and Linnea. There are many Fanciful Hardware companies. The company Modern Objects gets its inspiration from nature; they have twigs, branches, shells and stones. Susan Goldsmith creates little works of art of for each cabinet pull. Soko Studio has dogs, people and all sorts of fun pulls.

Lowcountry Sources

These are some of my favorite vendors in the Lowcountry. It is best to call and make an appointment before visiting.

Appliances:
Livingood’s
63 Riverwalk Blvd
Okatie, SC
843.379.5800
www.livingoodsonline.com

Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery
114 Bluffton Road
Bluffton, SC
843.815.6080

Apex Supply
1 Kitties Landing
Bluffton, SC
843.706.2921

Billy Wood Appliance
6 Marshland Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
843.681.8441
www.billywoodappliance.com

Bath Fixtures:
Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery
114 Bluffton Road 1563 Sam Rittenburg
Bluffton, SC Charleston, SC
843.815.6080 843.571.5712

Apex Supply
1 Kitties Landing
Bluffton, SC
843.706.2921

Bird Decorative Hardware
6-A Plantation Business Park 1081 Morrison Drive
Bluffton, SC Charleston, SC 843.815.5625 843.577.5440
www.birddecorativehardware.com


Design on Tap
69 Sheridan Park Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
ph 1-843-815-7644
fax 1-843-815-7645
www.designontap.net


Hardware:
Bird Decorative Hardware
6-A Plantation Business Park
Bluffton, SC
843.815.5625
www.birddecorativehardware.com


Lighting:
The Light Post
40 Pennington Drive
Sheridan Park
Bluffton, SC
843.815.8080
www.thelightpost.com


Candelabra
404 Coleman Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC
843.849.7714
www.shopcandelabra.com


Smart House:
Coastal Home Technology
2121 Boundary Street, Suite 106
Beaufort, SC
843.5229333
www.coastalhometechnology.com

Genisystems
843.470.0700

Stone Slabs:

Distinctive Granite & Marble
516 A Browns Cove Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
843.689.3237

Stone Horse Imports

1181 May River Road
Bluffton, SC
843.757.7866

AGM Imports
4250 Scott Street
North Charleston, SC
843.747.0088

www.agmimporters.com


Stone Paving:

Savannah Hardscapes
64 McDowell Circle
Hardeeville, SC
843.784.6060
www.savannahhardscapes.com




Tile:

Creative Interiors
1404 Boundary Street
Beaufort, SC
843.524.2612

Garden State Tile

2500 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA
912.234.1122
www.gstile.com


Custom Cabinet Makers:

WD Bosworth woodworking
59 Luther Warren Drive
St. Helena island, SC 29920
843.838.9490

Marshland Millworks
50 Palmetto Bay Road, #11

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

843.341.3070

Bay Point Contractors
343 Sea Island Parkway
Beaufort, SC 29907
843.522.0083

Southern Living Award

We are really excited that our project was recogonized by Southern Living. Here is a link to the article http://tinyurl.com/csu438

Details

As I mentioned last month, the detailing of your house is extremely important because the details of your project can tie your rooms, site, and overall design together. The goal is to design the details to reinforce the overall concept of the project; to create a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. To accomplish this you want to have a consistency of materials and language throughout the house. Whether your house is traditional or contemporary, use regionally appropriate building materials and respect the natural qualities of the materials. In the Lowcountry, a stacked stone fireplace and chimney look out of place because there is no local stone. Likewise, materials that try to be something that they are not scream at you. An example of a confused material that is often seen in fast food restaurants, is a brick shaped floor tile with a wood grain pattern.

A holistic approach to detailing also simplifies your design decisions. When choosing your hardware, decide on a finish that will be carried throughout the house. You might choose oil rubbed bronze or stainless steel, but you should almost always use the same finish on your door hardware, bathroom faucets, bathroom accessories, metallic finishes on light fixtures, window hardware and cabinet hardware. Similarly, you will want the door and window trim to be the same throughout your house.

Staircases, both interior and exterior, present an opportunity to create a sculptural focal point in your house. In one project the clients’ had a collection of Pacific Island art, objects and furniture, to build on the island concept we used bamboo flooring and designed a custom stair rail out of bamboo with leather lashing at the newel posts. In another project with a grand exterior entry staircase, we designed a custom iron railing with a cascading fountain along one side. The glass tile surface on the fountain sparkles with the water.

Fireplaces are another major sculptural element in many houses. Consideration should include not only the form but the materials of the chimney, the height and width of the firebox, the height of the hearth, whether there is to be a mantel and what is it’s material. The interior firebrick is a material that is often left to happenchance. All fireplaces have to have noncombustible material around the firebox; stone slabs, brick, and tile are common choices.

The exterior and interior detailing of your house should be harmonious in order to bridge the connection. For example, exposed rafters in an interior room should continue to the exterior as exposed rafter tails.

The details are what make a house a exceptional place. The best description of the importance of details was by the architect, Jeremiah Eck, “Details transmit an enduring sense of quality, warmth, and character.”

Lowcountry Weekly

Check out the article about our house in Lowcountry Weekly...http://www.lcweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1012&Itemid=1&ed=39

Making Your House Work for You

Is this economy making you think that your starter home will be your retirement home? Or maybe you bought your house because you have a great view but not a great house. Many of our clients come to us because they are unhappy with their current house but are unsure of what to do to make it better.

Before we start considering the design of the house, you need to rethink the spaces in your house. Ask yourself, what would I change in this house to improve my quality of life? Consider all the problem areas in your house; is the work triangle in your kitchen too big; does the washer and dryer in your kitchen cause noise and moisture problems; or does the pink bathroom tile and plumbing fixtures give you a headache? Write down all the activities that currently occur or that you want to occur in your house. Categorize the activities as formal/informal and public/private. This list will be different for every household. One family might have an artist who likes to paint in the same room while the children are doing their homework as opposed to a painter who wants a very private atelier. Include the typical time of day for the activities and how often you engage in them (daily, monthly, quarterly, or annually).

There are five essential characteristics in creating a good house. 1) The relationship of the house to the site and neighbors; 2) The appropriate size, mass, proportion, and scale of the spaces for the intended activities; 3) The flow of the spaces in conjunction with the time of day and the transitions or links between the spaces; 4) Exterior and interior openings; and 5) the detailing of the house.

In existing houses, the relationship of the house to the site and neighbors can be improved in many ways. Upgrade the entry sequence with new paving, plantings, and replace the front door. Create outdoor rooms with terraces, decks or courtyards, add plantings or fencing to provide privacy from neighbors and open the interior to the outside.

The size and location of the spaces in an existing house need to reflect how you live; not how the house forces you to live. It might be as simple as adding bookcases and changing the formal living room into an office. Or you might remove interior walls to create a great room. Often small additions can dramatically change how a room functions, giving elbow room to a bathroom or creating an eat-in kitchen with a bay window.

Changing the flow of the spaces in an existing house usually occurs in more extensive renovations. But minor changes can also make a big impact. In one project, we moved the door into the dining room six feet. Previously, the circulation path from the breakfast area into the dining room cut though the kitchen work triangle. By changing the circulation, the cook was much happier. Flow is also controlled by ceiling height, lighting and the placement of interior windows that entice you to round the corner.

Many people move to coastal South Carolina because of the natural environment, yet many houses don’t take advantage of the views. Adding or enlarging windows creates the most dramatic change. Consideration should also be given to getting natural light into all interior rooms. In one project we added two light tubes and the dark interior was flooded with natural light.

Because the detailing of the house is the most critical and extensive; I am going to devote the entire next article on details.

What Makes a Good Home #3

Liesl Geiger in her book Essence of Home details 6 aspects that are necessary for a good home. Most of the items have already been discussed by Hildebrand and Eck. Her six items are 1. Site and Scale; 2. Language and Style, she refers to the language of spatial forces and the language of physical detailing; they must work together. Language and Style complements Hildebrand's Prospect, Refuge and Complex Order; 3. Openings and Light Geiger describes as the relationship between the interior and exterior. She also describes houses as introverted (minimal relationship with the exterior) or extroverted (large openings connecting with the exterior); 4. Spheres of Living - Geiger reiterates Eck's request to not name the rooms by traditional names but rather what activity occurs in the space. This also corresponds with Eck's essential feature of how the floor plan minimizes efficiency and comfort for today's living; 5. Flow of Space - which generally is the same as Hildebrand's enticement but Geiger brings in a new concept of the speed of spaces. Slow spaces have furniture and fast spaces have little furniture. The links between spaces are critically important and can be accomplished by changes in doors, material, lighting and dimensions, both horizontally and vertically; and 6. Sustainability which Geiger defines as "Sustainability refers to a manner of building that takes into consideration the region and the environment - its climate, natural resources, and construction traditions."

What Makes a good home #2

I just finished Jeremiah Eck's book The Distinctive Home, A Vision of Timeless Design. This is a good book for clients to read, he covers the importance of site design very well. He also has a strong argument on the importance of detailing and the necessity of prioritizing desired square footage and finishes.

Eck says that there are four essential features for a good home. 1. How it occupies the site. 2. How the floor plan works for you and contemporary lifestyles. He recommends that you rethink what rooms are called. They should be named for their activities and whether they are formal/informal and public/private. 3. How the exterior is designed. It should be balanced and blend with the site and or neighborhood. 4. How selected exterior and interior details transmit an enduring sense of quality, care, and thought.

I agree with Eck on his four essential features but we need to include the prospect/refuge and enticement from Hildebrand's list. Hildebrand's "complex order" is the same as Eck's #4 detailing.

What makes a good home?

I have been reading several books on residential design and in many of them the question is asked and answered on what makes a good home. I am going to devote the next several posts to exploring what other architects say makes a good home. In the book House Thinking by Winifred Gallagher she outlines the architect Grant Hildebrand's 5 characteristics of a good home. The are 1. Prospect - the big space 2. Refuge, 3. Enticement, 4. Peril, and 5. Complex Order. The ratio of prospect to refuge is very personal and both are necessary. The alcove off the great room or the window seat in the family room. Enticement is the element that is often so wonderfully explored in custom homes and left out of tract housing. The window placed just right or the gate opening into a lush hidden garden. Peril - I question, Hildebrand uses the term to describe a house on a cliff, or large witnessing a storm through large windows and the contrasting safety one feels inside the house. I think you need to be connected to nature but not threatened by nature. Finally, complex order delights our mind and allows us to appreciate the details of the house.

How to analyze a potential building site

The first step is to discover the uniqueness of the site. This is accomplished through a detailed site analysis, which will explore both the human use of the site and the ecosystem of the site. The site should be studied both analytically and emotionally. We begin by wandering the site, feeling the breezes, enjoying the views and smelling the fauna on numerous visits in different seasons and weather conditions.
The analytical analysis includes the following:
1. A base plan showing the existing conditions such as legal boundaries and easements; contours; trees over six inches; buildings; utility locations; ponds; marshes, wet lands, critical areas or other bodies of water. A licensed local surveyor can provide this information. It is essential for you to outline the scope of information that you want included on your survey. If your property is in a low lying area or a flood plain be sure to request a benchmark elevation. The survey will also include a North Arrow.

2. Next we annotate the survey showing the views, both good and bad; focal points; specimen trees; the direction of the breezes; surface drainage patterns; local microclimates; native plants; noise sources; and any other significant characteristic of the site.

3. A building cannot be knowledgably placed on the site without understanding the importance of the sun’s angles. How much difference is there between where the sun rises and sets from the winter to summer solstice? How much difference is there in its altitude at noon? This provides the criteria for sizing overhangs and porches to allow sun in the winter and shade in the summer. Sun angles are unique to each location and can be found in the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, 2001 or from the website www.susdesign.com/sunangle. To determine the sun angles, you must know the longitude and latitude of your site, which can be found at www.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer Altitude is the angle up from the horizon. Zero degrees altitude means exactly on your local horizon, and 90 degrees is "straight up". Azimuth is the angle along the horizon. Using these two angles, one can describe the apparent position of the sun at a given time.
Native vegetation- what would grow naturally in a given location? Is there room on a building site for native habitat and what vegetation encourages wildlife. Is it possible to coordinate natural corridor for wild life to move about with a development human inhibited place.

Once the analysis of existing conditions is completed, the protection and best use of the site is studied. You will want to consider the following.

1. Methods for preserving existing site and it’s flora and fauna. Building placement, or multiple small buildings, pile foundations, protection fencing, and research on value of native plant material. Study the site and resist the urge to clear it first.

2. Outdoor living spaces designed like interior living spaces. Combine them to make even larger inside/outside room. Fireplaces, lamps comfortable furniture, torches, chandeliers, art.

3. Sunset-sunrise viewing space- magical almost every day.

4. Bird feeders to better witness the cycles of migratory birds and the changes in permanent residents

5. Less lawn to allow for more bio diversity

2. Have an Overall Concept

Develop a concept early. A strong concept will make most construction decisions easier. In our house, which is a 1947 Quonset Hut, we decided to explore the use of corrugated materials throughout the house. This photo shows the incorporation of corrugated glass in our front door. Your concept can be generated from almost anything. Some successful concepts that we have worked with include the site, i.e. every room should have a view of the great tree or the river; a collection, we once designed a house to fit a client's collection of arts and crafts furniture; an energy efficiency goal; or a mood that you want to create.

3. Southern Vernacular Architecture

Southern vernacular architecture is based on sustainable design ideas and the principles sitll apply. Large porches on the south facade keep out the hot summer sun; large overhangs protect the walls and windows from rain and can block the harsh summer sun; single width rooms provide cross ventilation and natural light; high ceilings keep the rooms cooler in the summer; exterior window shutters provide protection from high winds; a raised first floor protects you from flood waters; and a dog trot form provides natural ventilation in the center passage. You can follow these time tested principles and have an open modern floor plan that accomodates contemporary living.