[photo via DESIGNhabitat]

When you first look at the home you might think “Hello Kitty”. To me it looks like they captured two intersecting triangles.

This home was designed by the students at Auburn University’s Architecture School for the Habitat for Humanity. There is so many things that make this little 1,100 square foot ranch home so unique. The “cat ears” section was built on site. Giving the home volume ceilings in the main living space and a unique screened porch entry. The other two sections were prefab and built by Palm Harbor Homes. This is where you’ll find the bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen. By combining the two construction techniques they were able to design and build a home that is both unique and affordable.

Be sure to explore the DESIGNhabitat website.

Post from: Blisstree

DESIGNhabitat Innovative Affordable

Whew! I thought Goil might have been out!

What a boring show. The designers were given that task of a party designer for Bacardi Rum. The “big twist” it is in a party tent!

Oooh…

The remaining six designers were divided into two teams. With the task of throwing a party for Bacardis lemon flavored rum that will tempt all the five senses. The product spotlight was boring too. Bacardis commercial of the rum bottle as a submarine (…we all live in a yellow submarine..) and lemon fishes was more interesting and probably sold more bottles of rum to the swanky “twenty something”.

Nothing spectacular happened and no “train wrecks” to speak of. However, my boy Goil was being alienated by his other team members Andrea and Erik. It was obvious because Erik and Andrea thought it was more welcoming to walk around a modern partition.

It was a mess and it shows.

The other team of Michael, Carisa, and Matt did do a better job. It was obvious how clean and swanky the whole party came off. The smallest and most glaring difference between the two parties was how you entered the tent. I applaud Michael for creating an entrance with a bouncer at the door. The judges agreed.

Erik was eliminated. I agree. That is why I have nothing to add.

Before I go, be sure and check out the beautiful Kelly’s blog entry on Bravotv.com, she wasn’t feeling well… I am not sure what she was wearing, but she looked good!

Post from: Blisstree

Top Design: Design A Party

Everyone agrees that a structure that stirs the emotions of anyone who experiences it is what good architecture is. Is that emotion the influence that makes a great architect. Well I don’t! It is the majority, but I think the architect still needs to be responsible. That is the conflict I have when anyone talks about how great an architect Frank Lloyd Wright was.

One of the biggest responsibilities I believe an architect has, is to the clients budget. When a client hires an architect to create a home or even a skyscraper their budget shouldn’t just be a consideration.

Two examples, and the most blatan, of how Frank Lloyd Wright used the clients budget as a consideration are Falling Waters and The Johnson Wax Headquarters. In both cases the clients budgets were blown away in order to create what FLW wanted. Falling Water was designed within two and half hours while the client was driving to the initial presentation meeting. FLW also chose to disregard the clients wish to save a boulder they frequently picnicked on to build on top of it. This created the need and expense to blast into the boulder to create a footing. Making the Kaufman’s vacation home cost twice as much as they expected.

The Johnson Wax Headquarters followed a similar path. FLW’s design revolved around a unique support structure that was costly and time consuming. The Johnson Wax Headquarters would not be the architectural icon without the lilly pads but were they really the responsible option for the client? NO! and FLW was known to have said so.

Am I way off? Where am I going wrong? I really would like to have this conversation, so please leave a comment and see where this goes. Also, keep sending me your experiences at a FLW site.

Post from: Blisstree

Wright Wednesday: Part 2

[photo via Apollo Arch & Assoc]

So how small? Would a lotlot that measures 344 square feet be large enough for you and your parents? It was for a woman in Tokyo. In fact she hired an architect, Satoshi Kurosaki, who seems to be recieving a lot of business from young adults opting to live on postage stamp sized lots in order to be centrally located. That home, 3 stories tall, cost $170,000. Let’s say with a total of 1,032 square feet, that would be $165 per square feet.

Not Bad!

Locally, California, the smallest I could think of, 100 square feet by Tumbleweed Tiny Homes. It just so happens they featured Tumbleweed and Modern Cabanna in a must see local TV news bit.

[via Business Week]
[via ABC KGO]

Post from: Blisstree

How Small Can You Go?

[photo via Treehugger & Ted Owens]

Straw bale homes have been receiving a lot of attention. With promises of high insulation values, low energy cost, and the comfort of using renewable materials. All of this positive promotion is good, it highlighting an alternative method of construction, but I also feel a need to point out the negatives.

In order for an “alternative method” to change the industry it needs to be practical and cost effective. Straw bale building doesn’t meet any of those, in my opinion. In order to prove my point, or for you to see my point of view, we need to go over the basics.

Straw bale construction is divided into two types. The first, and not as commonly used, “structural bales”. The bales are used for the exterior walls and carry the loads of the roof. A typical bale can hold up to 600 lbs/lineal foot. This is not enough to support an additional level. Limiting this type of construction to a single level. However there are advancements being made so structural bails can handle loads comparable to concrete.

[photo via Treehugger & Tedd Owens]

The most common, and second type, of straw bale construction is “infill”. Simply put the bales are used as insulation between a double framed wall. The outer most wall is constructed as a post and beam and is required to carry all the structural loads. We are talking about 4″x4″ wood post spaced 4′-0″ on center connected to doubled up headers using metal brackets. That covers the structure, now the aesthetics. To finish a straw bale wall you have to apply a thick plaster or stucco

like finish to BOTH sides of the bales. This plaster or stucco finish is made up of either cement, lime, or earth and sand. This encapsulates the bales adding strength, water resistance, and even fire resistant.

How did I come up with my decision to not accept straw bale construction as a affective alternative? It is going to be easier for me to list them out:

• Straw bales cannot contain moisture and easily mold.
• Bales are not compressed, so over time they will settle.
• Constantly repairing the plaster/stucco finish from the settling
• Unrepaired plaster/stucco result in water damage and increased chance of mold growth.
• Amount of lumber needed to build the structure. Double wall construction.
• Walls are 16 inches thick. Windows need to be set to the exterior face of the walls. This creates an extra deep sill.
• The wall thickness decreases finished square footage and requires a larger foot print.
• Plaster/stucco finish needs to be on both sides of the walls. Not easily repaired, nor for hanging a picture.
• Solid exterior walls makes it difficult to run required electrical fixtures.
• Unless you are a DIY’er the plaster/stucco finish is very labor intensive.

Straw bales are fairly easy to come by making them a very renewable resource. However, using them still requires the same amount of lumber to build the structure. Since the skin (plaster/stucco) is applied directly to the bales and post and beams there is no need to add brick or siding. As I stated above, the plaster/stucco finish will require a fair to high amount of maintenance.

I believe my analysis and criticisms are accurate. I also believe it is what will keep straw bale construction from becoming more widely accepted. What am I missing or where did I go wrong? That is the benefit of us having this discussion, it will allow for all of us to learn more.

[please visit Ted Owens website and the other links for more information about straw bale construction]

Post from: Blisstree

Tech Tues: (Un) Straw bale

When I first heard of the Glassic Flat it was the Breckenridge PC, both of which were designed by Christopher Deam. This architects vision increased Breckenridges’ sales and lowered their customers median age. At 400 square feet, it is a lifestyle change in modern design.

As you can see one side of the home is glass, floor to ceiling. That wall is divided into four sections. Each glass section represents an area of the home. The first being, and an exterior wall, is the kitchen. The next, combined with the kitchen, is the living space. There is one small enclosure which is the bathroom. The last section of glass represents the bedroom.

Park this home in the middle of a prairie pasture, with a windmill and solar panels, and you’d have a perfect retreat to re-center.

Post from: Blisstree

Monday Modular: Glassic Flat

(JULIE FLETCHER, ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Just because you own land, or purchased a piece of property, should you be allowed to build whatever want on it? More specifically as large as you want? I’m glad to hear of another town putting the ca-bosh on the”Mega Mansions”. The picture above is from the Sun Sentinel and shows a home nicked name “Taj Mahal” by it’s neighbors because of it’s 14,000 s.f..

In case you couldn’t tell the “Taj Mahal” is on the left. It will have a total of 14,057 s.f., of that 9,850 s.f. of living space ( the other 5,000 s.f. must be garage, covered porches and unfinished basement) with 6 bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms, and 3 stories. On the right, a more typical home, with a modest 3,168 total s.f., 2,104 s.f. of that being living space (3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 2 stories).

The new rules approved would have kept the “Taj Mahal” to a still enormous 7,695 total s.f. and 2.5 stories.

So why the limitations?

In this case, the home is being built in a city of 2,400 residents. Since this town is labeled as a “Fishing Town” (by the paper) a majority of those residents could have been in the area for a long time. When those natives built their home and up until recently have been living with reasonable if not affordable property taxes. If a trend starting with the “Taj Mahal” keeps going those residents would have no choice but to leave because of the
swing in property values.

The owner of the “Taj Mahal”, Lazarus is also a custom home builder. I am speculating, but confident I am on the right track, he is (or was) betting on a trend of “Mega Mansions”. People moving in a building more Mega Mansions will elevate his property value even further.

“If I pay $1 million for the land, doesn’t it reason that I’d want to put at least a $3 [million] or $4 million home on the property? Otherwise you’re spending too much on the land.”

With the decision going against a “Mega Mansion” trend Lazarus’ home is over priced and over built for the ever. This actually causes a negative for him, when he goes to sell. His “Mega Mansion” also hurts the value of each home on either side of it, because of blocked views and natural sunlight. If I could, I would advise his neighbors to sue for the losses. After the home is finished though, you do it to soon, he will declare
bankruptcy and abandon the home as it is. Creating an even worse eye sore.

Definitely read this article, read about restrictions in other jurisdictions. Then tell me what you think.

Should you be allowed to build what and however big you want?

Technorati Tags: Building Codes, McMansion, Mega Mansion, Size Restrictions

Post from: Blisstree

Size Doesn’t Matter, It’s All About How You Use It!

Designing for the baby boomer’s has been the mantra for the building industry for at least ten years. So when I came across ANOTHER article telling me what the Boomer’s want I almost turned the page. In fact if it wasn’t for the pretty pictures I would have. Really what caught my eye was a sketch, by BSB Design Architects, of a progressive 1 1/2 story home. This rendering was suggesting the use of materials I never would have associated with the wants of Baby Boomer’s.

In fact the findings from the article, and architects chosen, suggested that Boomer’s are looking to use more green and energy efficient products. They are even straying from the traditional styles and opting for something more modern. These are all promising findings. If true will help change the direction of the industry. If Boomer’s, the largest consumers, start demanding greener products then prices will fall. Not only making green products more affordable but I would also believe it will expand design and
research of more products.

[via residential architect]

Technorati Tags: Baby Boomer’s, BSB Design, Design, Energy Efficient, Trends

Post from: Blisstree

Another Look at What the Baby Boomers Really Want

An interview with John Rattenbury, apprentice to FLW. Pro-PreFab-er’s a must listen [via PrairieMod] [via PrairieMod Podcast #10]

Looks nothing like music. [via Design Sponge]

Most functional hooks around! [via design milk]

Want to live in a Green home? Don’t want to build it, but find an existing one? Need help finding a reliable Green contractor? GreenWorks Realty. [via Inhabitat]

One of the first residential LEED homes on the west coast. [via Jetson Green]

Post from: Blisstree

re:Friday Link Love

I know I am a little late to enter this
conversation, but I think Top Design is a great show! If you are behind
or have absolutely no idea what I am talking about Top Design is a show
on Bravo TV, you can catch up or check it out at MeeVee.

The task last night before the designers was to create a cabana on three of the most popular beaches. Last
night a designer, on the Miami cabana, was kicked off because of an acid green accent.

Really?…

They should have eliminated the two bickering designers. Throughout the show, both designers (Carisa and Ryan) said things about each others design abilities that eventully made them look petty and showed their own flaws. Carisa
critical of Ryans abilities pick out furniture and bring a room
together. Where as Ryan was critical about Carisa’s conservative
approach to room design. Well the judges were critical about the both of them. As you
can see, from the picture above, my man Goil saved there asses. Goil’s
redefining of the cabana was modern, light, and airy. Where as it is
obvious that the furniture and textiles were all too heavy and looked
like it belonged in a Sun Room of a home located in Nebraska. In fact the
judges made reference to it, and I am just agreeing.

We saw the
future last night and now know who will be kicked off for the next two
weeks, my prediction.

Those that watch, don’t you agree?

Would you also agree that
Crista and Ryan should have actually been the ones eliminated? And if
you aren’t watching yet, catch up! Add your thoughts!

Technorati Tags: Top Design, TV, Bravo

Post from: Blisstree

Top Cabana Design