Category: Uncategorized

Previously Published 25 September 08

Three things on the current financial meltdown. 1. Falling home prices are at the root. 2. Architects are used in only about 5% of the housing starts nationwide. 3. Most of the houses in question are suburban sprawl McMansion wonders. So thinking in terms of design, as we are always wont to do, we wonder if all of this is not some sort of acerbic comment on the value of residential design in America? A quick Google search reveals that states like FL, CO and NE have both the highest sprawl and the greatest foreclosure rate. Architects have historically always wanted to solve societies ills with their work, think Le Corbusier. So if architects had been involved in a higher percentage of starts, the quality of the design would be higher, the houses would be worth more, and financial disaster would be prevented. Ok a fantasy, I admit. But then architects are good at fantasy.

Previously Published 4 January 2012 –

Architects have always been inspired by buildings without architects (BWA); think barns, yurts, traditional Japanese houses, etc. This is because the purity of a structure driven solely by function, materials, comfort and economy is perennially refreshing. A BWA trend we are noticing in Otsego County involves freestanding structures assembled out of wood studs and translucent material. The photographed example always turns our heads, given the translucent roof and walls, clear structural support, and irregular geometry. This even sports a PV solar collector on the roof. Inspirational? You bet!

Previously Published 28 February 08

In a recent issue of The New Yorker, a British company, Tesco, has set out to reduce the carbon footprint of their global supermarket operations. The article discusses the incredible complexity of trying to determine, for example, the environmental burden of where you should buy your apples. In this instance, they determined that it was better for the planet if Tesco imported New Zealand apples rather than purchasing them 50 miles away. After a huge investment of time and money, they concluded that the three most important steps toward a green lifestyle is 1) insulate your house, 2)make sure you have insulated glazing in your windows and 3)increase the efficiency of your house boiler. This makes sense, given that buildings are the greatest energy hogs. And it is nice to see someone say that being green involves something other than lifestyle shopping choices.

Previously Published 10 December 07

In the recent issue of Architect Magazine, the editor questions the profession’s current focus, both in the media nad in the schools, on modernism. Yet, the vast majority of structures built in the US are traditional. So should the profession refocus itself more on traditional design, given that this is what the market demands? We find this article interesting given that our practice involves both traditional and modernist buildings. The building is either good, or it is not, and we hope that this is the first clarion call toward simply good design, whatever the style.