Residential Architect articles from September 2002

Residential Architect archives from September 2002

Big house proud: America's castles can't be all bad, can they?(from the editor)(Editorial)
September 1, 2002... how dull would this country be if we had no Biltmore mansion, no Newport "cottages," no Lyndhurst Castle? If you love houses, you've got to appreciate a big house done well. It may disturb you to think seriously about what the Robber Barons did...

Choice words.(Letters: keep those cards, letters, and e-mails coming.)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2002... your editorial in the issue of April residential architect ("Clients' Choice," April 2002, page 13) is so true. I lose so many clients to builder-drafting services because the client does not want to pay for the years of experience and...

Design/build/sell.(Home front: tips and trends from the world of residential design)(Marmol Radziner & Associates now designing a furniture collection.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... for many architects, it's not a big leap from designing custom cabinetry for a house to designing furniture for sale. Consequently, many recently have tried their hand at select pieces: dining tables, chairs, and so forth. Santa Monica,...

Trespassers welcome.(Home front: tips and trends the world of residential design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... What kind of house would you design and build if you didn't need to worry about money, site conditions, and basic physics? That's the question Linda Taalman and Alan Koch of the New York City-based architecture firm OpenOffice and curator Cara...

Stock answer.(Home front: tips and trends the world of residential design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... When Jeff Davis, the owner of an architectural column company based in Wilmington, N.C., bought a lot on nearby Figure Eight Island, he decided to give himself a challenge. He would hire an architect to distill his love of classical proportions...

Calendar.(Home front: tips and trends the world of residential design)(Calendar)
September 1, 2002... residential architect design awards: call for entries entry form and fee deadline: november 25, 2002 completed entries deadline: january 7, 2003 Our annual residential architect Design Awards program honors outstanding residential...

On the boards / harbor lights.(Home front: tips and trends from the world of residential design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... With Thea's Landing, the city of Tacoma, Wash., is gaining a lively urban waterfront--one that bridges the iconic historic district and a working harbor. The concept, by Mithun Partners, Seattle, was selected in a competition. Currently under...

The big and the beautiful: don't let a king-size commission become a giant headache.(perspective)(Column)
September 1, 2002... When my career began in 1984, I thought a big house was anything over 3,000 square feet. Ten years passed before I received a commission approaching 5,000 square feet. In recent years, there's been a steady stream of 5,000-square-foot-plus home...

The soul of your head and heart to work.propriety: staying ethical requires taking both .(practice)
September 1, 2002... You are designing a 2,500-square-foot house for a couple who has $300,000 to spend. After doing preliminary drawings, you get an estimate from three different contractors, all of whose bids fall within the stated budget. Encouraged, over the...

At home with the past: Allan Greenberg makes the familiar fresh again.(Biography)
September 1, 2002... America's foremost Classicist doesn't exactly look the part. Allan Greenberg doesn't wear bow ties and vests with dangling watch fobs. There's not a monocle in sight. Au contraire, his attire is distinctly minimalist--a freeform black jacket,...

The big house clinic.(case study)
September 1, 2002... The average American house keeps on growing; it was about 2,300 square feet at last count. But chances are you don't design the average American house. If you design custom homes, your projects are likely much larger and growing bigger year by...

Grape expectations: can your clients trust you with their prized petrus?(doctor spec)
September 1, 2002... In the throws of designing a 15,000-square-foot Mediterranean mansion, your clients request a wine cellar for a burgeoning collection of prized bottles of '97 Petrus, '71 Dom Perignon, and '82 Mouton Rothschild. They want a circular rack...

Home store.(Architects' choice: product picks from the pros.)
September 1, 2002... Prefinished aluminum storefront framing "has not been fully utilized for its potential in residential work," says Walker, who used it in his own house (shown here). "It's tough and durable and handles all the elements well." Vistawall offers...

Panel members.(Architects' choice: product picks from the pros.)
September 1, 2002... James Hardie's Hardipanel fiber-cement vertical siding is a favorite spec of Walker's because it's versatile enough for use outside and inside. "On the exterior, it creates a great monolithic look that's simpler than stucco and cement," he...

Stone clone.(Architects' choice: product picks from the pros.)
September 1, 2002... Arriscraft is manufactured sandstone made from calcium silicate, hydrated lime, and mineral oxides. Pressed into units and aged to produce a fine grain, the stones are finished to resemble specific product types. Walker specs the stones because...

See food.(New material: piping-hot products for your next project.)
September 1, 2002... With a commercial-looking glass door, the 601RG refrigerator from Madison, Wis.-based Sub-Zero allows neatnick homeowners an opportunity to display their high-end eats. The 19.9-cubic-foot unit has electronic controls and an adaptive defrost...

Square steel.(New material: piping-hot products for your next project.)
September 1, 2002... Manufactured from 14-gauge stainless steel, Neo-Tile can be speced for floors, walls, decorative applications, or in most places where traditional tiles are set, the maker says. Durable and highly water resistant, the tiles are easy to clean...

Modern turns.(New material: piping-hot products for your next project.)
September 1, 2002... Diamond Spas, known for their stainless steel and copper bath fixtures, has stepped up to custom staircase design. Crafted of stainless steel or copper, the units' sleek lines fit many contemporary applications. Metal construction also permits...

Easy touch.(Hot links: whole-house electronics that make the connection)
September 1, 2002... OmniLT control panels--designed specifically for smaller homes, townhouses, and apartments--allow a home to be managed and programmed on site or from a remote locale. They interface with security systems, thermostats, phones, computers, and...

Radio rave.(Hot links: whole-house electronics that make the connection)
September 1, 2002... RadioLink uses wireless radio frequency technology to integrate audio/video, lighting, draperies, security, and climate control. A single RadioLink system can handle up to 15 controllers and each controller supports 60 frequencies for a total...

Control freak.(Hot links: whole-house electronics that make the connection)
September 1, 2002... Steer the way with VIA! Touch Panels' new SC-4 System Controller at the helm. The SC-4 is a little black box that integrates lighting, HVAC, security, and theater components throughout any home. What's more, the color display monitors security...

Scene stealer.(Hot links: whole-house electronics that make the connection)
September 1, 2002... The DHC Toscana Deluxe Programmer sets the scene--64 whole-house lighting scenes to be exact--with one touch. Programmable mood or task lighting options add extra security when homeowners are away. Setup wizards simplify the programming...

Come together.(Hot links: whole-house electronics that make the connection)
September 1, 2002... iLAN Gateway Server series brings home electronic systems together in one discreet box. A built-in 80 gigabyte hard drive provides ample storage for computer files and whole-house MP3 audio, digital photos, or video. The unit also features...

Shady behavior.(Hot links: whole-house electronics that make the connection)
September 1, 2002... Designer keypads and window treatments spice up the Sivoia Motorized Window Shading System. Color-matched, screwless wallplates with coordinated accessories come in more than 40 colors and glossy or matte finishes. These user-friendly keypads...

Clean living: clark beach house, aptos, calif., 1937 William Wurster, faia.(end quote)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... "i like to work on direct, honest solutions exotic materials, using indigenous things so that there is no affection and the best is obtained for the money." the idea of using humble materials to achieve an understated elegance is popular...