Transforming

I’ve had multiple clients looking to create separate living or working spaces for family members within the last few months. This “new world” we find ourselves in is changing living space requirements and allowing us to redefine room programs.  Family structures are changing.  Children are moving home from college or the city due to online courses and remote working.  Older family members are deciding to age in place with their children.  These changes require a need to reimagine existing space or add on efficiently and seamlessly.  Important aspects of these projects are to create privacy when desired, yet connection for coming together.  Understanding and planning for future changes and space flexibility are also critical.  Can space be rented out in the future?  Can older disabled parents use it?

Working from home also forces the need to reshape or add on spaces.  The home office needs to be remote enough to provide quiet during online meetings and be large enough to work comfortably daily.  Exercise Rooms are becoming essential with concerns over the safety of larger Gyms.  Allowing for noise control is a crucial element.  Creative design solutions can make spaces multi-functional.  Utilizing efficiency methods from the Tiny House movement, we can transform spaces as needed.   Storage closets can become desks.    Bookcases with a Murphy Bed can change a bedroom into an office.  

These are just the type of design and program requirements that defines the need for having an architect.  We are trained to rethink a solution constantly.  To find a better answer to what is otherwise accepted.  I find myself thankful to have the opportunity to live through this transitional time.  I relish thinking outside the box.  I enjoy the challenge of making new design solutions for functional living spaces.  It’s an enjoyable, sometimes stressful, time.  Hopefully, we arrive at the other end of this with better living solutions and a higher quality of life for decades to come.

Listening

Within the process of a building project, there are many critical moments. Formwork for the foundation must be accurate to ensure the rest of the design can be executed as designed. Framing can be complicated but must accommodate all the intricate connection details and finishes. The most critical moments, I believe, are in the first few meetings and subsequent design meetings, however. When clients discuss their needs and wishes, and even beyond, during casual exchanges, you can pick up worlds of information on who they are and what will make them most happy. Listening intently during meetings makes a successful design and, ultimately, a successful project. Listening to understand is critical.

Lately, current events have led me to some serious, contemplative sessions. I’ve been trying to consider what changes I could make to be a better citizen for all. At first, I looked for outward expressions and opportunities, such as donating time and money, protesting, and writing to local politicians. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that listening would do more than anything else. Genuinely listening to learn and understand better seems universally vital to creating a better world. That understanding can make the harmony we are all seeking. Therefore, borrowing from my skills during client meetings, I will continue to listen and look forward to learning how to be an ally and know when a partner is needed.

The Power of Teamwork

In most business success stories, there is a leader backed by a strong team. A unifying passion brings the team together. Each individual lifts up the others with their unique expertise. This holds true within the local small business community. Together we can offer each other opportunities that will allow both of us to grow. Whether it is referring subcontractors for renovation jobs, realtors for clients looking to relocate, or encouraging clients new to the area to visit some local small shops.

For construction projects, clients need to build a team of the most knowledgeable professionals. Having experience with local agencies, understanding the local environmental factors, and having relationships with the best contractors are vital components. In turn, those professionals will create a strong team who will become indispensable during the construction process. I make it known that I respect all the contractors as experts in their individual fields on all my construction projects. I encourage them to speak up and offer their guidance when they know of a better product, installation method, or solution to a problem. Contractors working as craftsmen will take pride in their work and deliver a superior product. We will all benefit by providing a stunning project for our clients that will last for years. Just think of the historic homes with those memorable details that are difficult to have replicated today. Those were created by a craftsman whose pride in their work came before the bottom line. Fostering that type of community is what great architects can provide their clients.

To start building your team, utilize our resources on our website under “Process.” We will walk you through the steps you need to take with ease, taking the stress out of the planning stage. Please reach out to me if you need a subcontractor. I have a list of the best sub-contractors in the area, which will become your new lifeline for any home improvement projects.

Also, here is a quick list of some of my favorite local small businesses:

Jordan Dolger, Realtor at Higgins Group, 203.658.8282, jdolger@higginsgroup.com (Stamford & Greenwich)

Cyd Hamer, Realtor at Wiliam Pitt/Sothebys, 203.227.1246, chamer@williampitt.com (Westport)

Jamie Lewis, Account Director at CT Cottage & Gardens Magazine, 203.957.3137, jlewis@candg.com

Westport Farmers Market, Thursdays starting May 14, 50 Imperial Avenue, Westport, www.westportfarmersmarket.com

The Perfect Provenance, A luxury lifestyle store and cafe, 47 Arch Street, Greenwich, www.theperfectprovenance.com

Harbor Harvest, a market with food sourced from local farms and artisans, 7 Cove Avenue, East Norwalk, CT, www.harborharvest.com

FINDING COMFORT IN OUR HOMES

Good architecture depends on symmetry and proportion. Humans have an innate preference for beauty and order. A body with short legs and long arms might look out of balance. A face without an eye will look asymmetrical. Humans spend an enormous amount of money every day to achieve what they consider a beautiful body image. Like the human body, structures have parts. The design of beautiful structures equally depends on symmetry and proportion. Says who? Vitruvius. 

The Roman architect Vitruvius laid out three principles of good architecture in his ancient treatise, De Architetura. Firmatis, Utilitas, and Venustatis. These translate to durability, utility, and beauty. These theories and construction basics were for his patron, the Roman Emperor. It continued to inspire through the Renaissance and even into the 21st century.  

We find ourselves in unique times while being quarantined. We all are feeling stir-crazy, but you also might be noticing a preference for specific areas of your home. The endless hours inside our homes highlight the tenets of architecture. The scale of buildings and space make users have distinct experiences. Our interior spaces need to be proportioned to our bodies to make us feel comfortable and safe.  

Two of an architect's most essential compositional skills are a command of proportion and a sense of scale. To be proportional, rooms should be well defined and have a ceiling height in scale to the floor plan. For the last ten years, the trend has been for open floor plans with furnishings depicting the functionality of a space. These create beautiful photographs for magazines. In reality, noise, privacy, and comfort are issues with that type of design. This is an instinctual reaction if you find yourself moving to corners of large common rooms or into smaller, lesser-used rooms. As animals, we seek our caves to feel safe. As children, we seek our mother's arms.  

If you feel like you need to create a space like this for you and your family, reach out to us for interior design strategies or renovation and additions. We create responsive interiors that are appropriately scaled for function and proportional to the human form. Read through our Process to see how we can work for you. We have met with new clients remotely through web services to discuss their projects. Let us do the same for you. It's always free to review your project together or discuss ideas. 

It's the little things

Clients have asked me many times if I could design my own home, what would it be.  I go back and forth on style and location, but one consistent thing is that it would be a smaller house.  A house ideally situated on the site with beautiful details and materials.  I have always loved the details; it’s part of being an architect.  While in Japan many years ago, I was surrounded by inspiration.  Every element was a thoughtful contribution to the whole.  The most functional pieces were also pieces of art.  The appreciation of craftsmanship and the use of quality materials is beauty exemplified.  I try to instill this in all my projects for my clients so they can find the same appreciation.