MoTrad House - sheetrock happens

The house is "rocked" as they say. The gypsum wall board hangers came, and my client reports they hung the drywall in one day. Like a gypsum tornado, an experience crew can make short work of drywalling a house, even a house such as this one with some odd angles, and some very high spaces as you will see in the photographs.

While the gypsum magic was happening inside, the plasterers were busy outside trying to get the stucco coats on the house. Unfortunately the weather has not cooperated and we've had a late March revisit of February weather. Its been too cold and they have to come back when it warms up some.
More photos in the photo browser after the link - you know what to do. Enjoy! Continue reading "MoTrad House - sheetrock happens"

Brio54

On the way to a visit to Bensonwood in New Hampshire we made a stop in Connecticut and paid a visit to this unique modern house right on the coast of the sound.

The house had just been published in the New York Times last week and when we realized that it was nearby we took a drive over to see it. We met the architect, Gernot Bruckner, who was kind enough to give us a tour of the house. He is marketing the house and several other very cool designs in a "build on your site" business model which is an interesting approach. The house is beautifully done, a minimalist box on steel pilotis, reminds me of LeCorbusier's exhibition house at Stuttgart, and the striped work of Swiss architect Mario Botta.

Gernot rolled up his sleeves and completed many of the custom details that really distinguish the house from everyday construction. We wish him luck! Check out his offerings at Brio54.

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MoTrad House - black tie and tails

Well the Motrad house is not exactly putting on a tux and stepping out on the town, but it has gotten a second wrap of black asphalt coated building paper and reinforcing mesh in advance of the start of stucco application.

What we have as a result is the first indication of the different materials the house will have on the facade. The areas now wrapped in black paper will start receiving stucco - like as I am writing this. The areas wrapped in the white house-wrap material will receive wood siding panels - I think, at least the last time I spoke to the owner specifically about this..! In either case there will be a second and contrasting cladding material on these areas which will emphasize the form of the house.

A few more shots in a slide show after the link below.

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MoTrad House - insulation

The rough in of electrical and plumbing is complete and the insulation of the walls, roof, and ceiling have begun.

The owner is using EcoBatts by Knaupf insulation, a european company that has brought this recycled glass batt insulation to the US. R-values are consistent with other fiberglass batt products. Notably the glass fibers are brown from the color of the various recycled glass that goes into the mix.

A few more photos after the continue reading link below.

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0751 RS House - some late winter photos

The owner passed along a few photos shot through the trees on the side of the lot.

Still winter, hinting at spring. I'll visit and take some photos once there is green in the trees.

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MoTrad House - plumbing begun

Work has begun inside, and not much looks different outside, yet we have some new photos of the house from the owner.

There is some house wrap missing on this side, so still some catching up to do before the cladding goes on. The finish will be stucco. Click through for a photo browser of the new pictures.

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