tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post2664458979927883663..comments2024-03-27T11:04:13.597-04:00Comments on Modern House Plans by Gregory La Vardera Architect: Contest entries to vote for - our recommendationslavarderahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07241073948874188058noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-89879841219608606252010-03-10T15:11:56.316-05:002010-03-10T15:11:56.316-05:00Dan,
Thanks for your comments.
Interestingly, I a...Dan,<br /><br />Thanks for your comments.<br />Interestingly, I am now working on a Habitat project here in Oregon.Matthew O. Dabyhttp://www.modabydesign.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-67351407922418173202010-03-10T01:56:27.158-05:002010-03-10T01:56:27.158-05:00Matt,
I most certainly did put major consideratio...Matt,<br /><br />I most certainly did put major consideration into flexibility with my design. Of course, the smallest stated lot size for my profile was 1-2 acres so I designed accordingly. I am assuming that if a smaller site was called for, the garage can be attached, reoriented to the entry, or placed closer to the home without much impact on the overall design so long as some protected walk and courtyard is created. <br /><br />The only aspect of my design that has to hold true is the central tower. If the house is located on a site that is oriented 180 degrees from how I show it, the roofs are able to flip their slope to provide proper shading without affecting the interior and exterior spaces. Deep overhangs on all sides will effectively shade the home properly no matter which side faces South. <br /><br />The garage has the greatest flexibility to move or reorient itself to make the house plan work on different scale lots and different orientations to the street.<br /><br />The biggest issue with the Empty Nesters, for me, was the potentail live-in help and how best to fit it into the building plan knowing that the best place was furthest away from the owner's bedroom suite. To achieve this one must simply enclose the den/reading area off the main living room and create a reoriented entrance to the full bathroom to make a mini-suite for the hired help.<br /><br />I love the form you've designed and how the simple move to taper the walls help shade all the windows no matter the orientation. The Starter Home profile enabled a 2 story option, and I feel that you have taken full advantage of this to create the most flexible plan I have seen in the competition. Sometimes the most simplest of gestures have the greatest impact. The way you have positioned the upper floor has created the two covered entry points and the 2nd floor deck so sublimely.<br /><br />I took part in a Habitat competition back in 2003 and proposed this design which has very similar characteristics to your proposal: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gottliebdesigns/sets/72157623590567892/<br /><br />DanDaniel Gottlieb AIA LEED APhttp://www.flickr.com/gottliebdesignsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-80903940803547626042010-03-09T18:37:00.924-05:002010-03-09T18:37:00.924-05:00Dan,
I think your comments and concerns are valid,...Dan,<br />I think your comments and concerns are valid, and greg did a good job of responding.<br />I am interested in your comments on your own submission with regards to flexiblity. Is this something you took into consideration with your design?<br />The flexibility is of utmost importance, and is the key point that makes a design sustainable. I felt my submission addressed this well with the orientation flexibility of the plan, and by looking at features, scale, and porportions of a variety of typical American houses. This is also why I choose the American Foursquare house as inspiration. It is a universally American (non-regional) house type is many parts of the country.<br />I don't think it is neccesary to copy past architectural styles to be appropriate or regional. The functions of the house should be able to adapt to the region's climate in as passive a way as possible. Hence, why I choose a new interpretation of the pitched roof and sun shading/wall protecting roof overhangs.<br />After all, any traditional architectural style has brand new at one point in time. I wanted a challenge to think about a truely 21st century form.Matthew O. Dabyhttp://www.modabydesign.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-70636537527068717062010-03-09T18:12:51.484-05:002010-03-09T18:12:51.484-05:00Oops. I pasted the wrong link. Here you go...
htt...Oops. I pasted the wrong link. Here you go...<br />http://www.modabydesign.net/Blog/Default.aspxMatthew O. Dabyhttp://www.modabydesign.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-67008868720478134152010-03-09T16:25:57.674-05:002010-03-09T16:25:57.674-05:00Dan - this is a great question, and you might find...Dan - this is a great question, and you might find it useful to look through my catalog with the same question in mind. For all of my house designs I have them placed in groups according to the kind of setting that they work best in. Homes with a lot of windows on all sides are intended for large sites with no neighbors in view. Houses with compact footprints are intended for in-fill or traditional neighborhood planning. <br /><br />Inevitably somebody is going to build one of those houses in a setting that does not match that grouping. Does the house still work? Generally its easier for a design to move from a dense situation to a less dense situation. But any stock plan will not slip easily into a difficult site that puts unusual demands on any structure that would go there.<br /><br />A stock plan will never put all of the site concerns together as well as a custom design. And frankly that is the way it should be. Thats why custom design costs more, thats why it delvers more value.<br /><br />As far as the entries, I think this is just a case of showing the house in a setting that puts it in the best light. Everybody is trying to do that here.lavarderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07241073948874188058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-42790348826040074572010-03-09T11:25:27.941-05:002010-03-09T11:25:27.941-05:00Greg,
Looking over your selections, and including...Greg,<br /><br />Looking over your selections, and including mine into the argument, I find it very interesting how each house truly feels like the architect's/designer's location they are accustomed to working in. I would assume this would be the case from good designers, such as these, who have spent a great deal of time in one location and focused on that vernacular.<br /><br />I guess it brings up a question for me about your characteristics of a good house plan and namely the need to be flexible and adaptable to a variety of site conditions. How adaptable are these designs to different climates/locations/ways of living?<br /><br />This was my first real house plan that was not custom and I'm trying to understand the thought process to make a house plan the most adaptable across the varied conditions presented in the US.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Daniel Gottlieb AIA LEED AP<br />Gottlieb DesignsDaniel Gottliebhttp://www.flickr.com/gottliebdesignsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-56010781995998431602010-03-09T00:45:36.618-05:002010-03-09T00:45:36.618-05:00Greg,
By the way,
I also linked this article on m...Greg,<br />By the way,<br /><br />I also linked this article on my website here..<br /><br />http:/blog.lamidesign.com/2010/03/contest-entries-to-vote-for-our.html <br />Cheers!Matthew O. Dabyhttp://www.modabydesign.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-76500863280425162362010-03-08T09:06:50.429-05:002010-03-08T09:06:50.429-05:00As much as we would love to have more votes right ...As much as we would love to have more votes right now, we realize part of this competition is purely a popularity contest, fueled by how many folks you can drum up on twitter and facebook, obviously. And believe me, we've done our share of promotion as well.<br /><br />Your recognition of our design and comments on it alone, are well worth the entry into the competition. As someone we view as a real leader of modern residential design, and an obvious champion of our firm's philosophy, "Everyone deserves good design," we are happy you see the merits in the design and also feel that the Lagom House would be a good neighbor.<br /><br />We weren't interested in designing some sort of modern masterpiece for this competition, one that looked to the most current materials and pushed the boundary on structural limits, but took the "starter home" program and term to heart.<br /><br />We hope we have created a home that introduces the competition "couple" to sustainability and to modern. Not to re-write the book on what the vernacular home is, but to inform it and gear it towards modern and green living, doing so at an affordable price.<br /><br />I agree that the designs you have posted do have a common theme of good design and real world practicality.<br /><br />Thanks again, and it will be interesting to see how the judging turns out, good luck...Content Design Grouphttp://www.contentdg.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-6806873700782538312010-03-08T09:01:22.715-05:002010-03-08T09:01:22.715-05:00Yes- I was scanning the plans while they were bein...Yes- I was scanning the plans while they were being posted, and I saw about the first 100, but then they just started coming too fast!<br /><br />Your entry Dan certainly seems feasible - and just as mine leans towards my region in the North East, yours really feels like it would be ideal in the south west. <br /><br />You should have posted the url for entry - I'll add it here:<br />http://www.freegreen.com/WhosNext/view/plan-general.aspx?id=381lavarderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07241073948874188058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-18700809618572263482010-03-08T00:28:20.121-05:002010-03-08T00:28:20.121-05:00Greg,
Obviously, you were unable to view all 400 ...Greg,<br /><br />Obviously, you were unable to view all 400 design submissions when you came up with your list. I was hoping for some recognition (and a nice mention on your blog) because I find strong semblances from my work to your own. <br /><br />My entry for the Empty Nesters was rooted with the goal of making the floor plan the most flexible as possible within the most buildable layout. I also feel that my entry answers all of your points of what makes for a successful house plan. The trick with the Empty Nesters was that the program called for the largest lots possible and therefore I didn't present how well my plan might adopt to other locations, orientations, community building, etc. With only 9 files to upload it become most important to get the main goals across to the general public.<br /><br />I also share your sentiments regarding the difference of submissions that are pretty pictures and those that are truly buildable - of which mine is. Being that this competition is for a home builder, my hope is the plans that show the most promise in both buildability and new ideas are given the greatest recognition.<br /><br />Daniel Gottlieb AIA LEED AP<br />Gottlieb DesignsDaniel Gottliebhttp://www.flickr.com/gottliebdesignsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-18920128025081215592010-03-07T15:24:59.501-05:002010-03-07T15:24:59.501-05:00Hi Matt, yes, I'm with you on that. I should h...Hi Matt, yes, I'm with you on that. I should have clarified my post - when I said "modular layout" I did not mean to suggest modular construction, but rather the adaptability of the plan that you describe.lavarderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07241073948874188058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-87631911081276787982010-03-07T15:20:07.931-05:002010-03-07T15:20:07.931-05:00Thank you for the recognition. Firstly, I would l...Thank you for the recognition. Firstly, I would like to take an opportunity to mention that the O-house concept is not modular, instead the plan is designed to be rotated and mirrored for orientation. The design maintains it relationship to yard spaces and the street through the careful design of all the facades. A similar north and west facade drive the concept.<br />Your comments regarding the competition are pointed, and I appreciate that your design also does a good job at addressing the program. As you mentioned, the voters and judges should be challenged to pay close attention to how each of the designs address the key issues of the program: <br />Sustainability; <br />Flexibility on Orientation and Lot Size; Affordability-the ability to realistically be built for a modest price; <br />Context-will the design contribute to a community;<br />of course Livability of the plan. <br />I agree, too often with design competitions I see the judges and voters get dazzled by flashy drawings or out of budget design details and don't pay as close attention to the practicality. I hope and expect more from "Who's Next". <br />I feel my design solves these issues-all wrapped in a nice package.<br />May the best design win! <br />-Matthew O. Daby<br />m.o.daby designMatthew O. Dabyhttp://www.modabydesign.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-43260514546354220282010-03-07T13:41:49.600-05:002010-03-07T13:41:49.600-05:00My pleasure - my only wish was that these designs ...My pleasure - my only wish was that these designs more grounded in reality were getting more votes! However I trust the judges to have insight when they make their own choices.lavarderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07241073948874188058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38363189.post-26060460799104531852010-03-07T13:33:25.511-05:002010-03-07T13:33:25.511-05:00From Equilibrium: Gregory, thank you for you recog...From Equilibrium: Gregory, thank you for you recognition and warm comments. Our aim is to create a truly sustainable community, where families can maintain their identity. In our view this concept marries those objectives.Equilibriumnoreply@blogger.com