Arts and Crafts Style Architecture

If you take a walk through the older neighborhoods of any American town, you are likely to see examples of homes whose designs were inspired by Arts and Crafts style architects. The Arts and Crafts architectural movement was a philosophy of design that influenced not only architects, but furniture makers, artisans and domestic handicrafts as well. Begun as a response to the mechanization and mass production of the Industrial revolution, followers of the Arts and Crafts movement promoted the value of natural materials, skilled craftsmanship, economy of form and honest expression without applied ornamentation.

A covered porch at the Gamble House, designed by Greene and Greene Architects.

The Arts and Crafts movement began in Britain in the mid to late 1800′s, and came to America just before the turn of the century. One of the first Americans to adopt the principles was Gustav Stickley, the well known furniture designer. Considered the founder of the Craftsman style (a descendant of the Arts & Crafts Style), Stickley was highly influential in spreading the philosophy of Arts and Crafts through his periodical “The American Craftsman”.  He emphasized simple, clean lines, exposed artful joinery, the virtues of handcrafting, and unadorned natural materials.

Chair designed by Gustav Stickley

Besides creating elegant furniture, Stickley partnered with the architect Harvey Ellis to create popular Bungalow style home designs that were published in catalogs and became widely known as craftsman style bungalows. Some of the hallmarks of the craftsman bungalow were:

• Low to medium slope roofs with deep overhangs, usually hipped or gabled
• Exposed rafters and rafter tails on the exterior
• Covered front porches with large square or tapered columns on stone or brick bases
• Prominent stone or brick chimneys
• Timber brackets supporting roof overhangs
• One or one and a half stories, with attic living space and dormers
• Open plan
• Wood beam ceilings and dark wood wainscot and mouldings
• Built-in cabinets, shelves, seating, and sometimes furniture

In the early part of the 20^th century, complete bungalow home kits could be bought from catalogs, including Sears and Roebuck. Many US cities and towns have older neighborhoods full of these “modern” homes.

In the Pasadena area of Southern California, two brothers, architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, took the bungalow and the Arts and Crafts philosophy to extremes in their stick style homes. Every detail of these homes was meticulously designed and crafted, featuring beautiful exposed timber connections, lots of native wood, and indigenous stone on the exterior.  Greene & Greene’s work has become iconic as the ultimate expression of Arts & Crafts ideals in home design, where the home is a complete work of art with every detail and furnishing designed by the architect.

The architects Greene and Greene were known for their detailed Arts and Crafts style homes.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School style homes are also based on principles of the Arts & Crafts movement. One of America’s most famous architects, Wright developed a unique style that drew from many of the ideas of the Arts & Crafts movement, including open plans, emphasis on natural materials and connection to the environment, forms inspired by nature, and lots of wood built-ins. Wright’s organic style was an inspiration to many American architects, and many of his homes are still considered fine examples of Arts and Crafts philosophy in practice.

Interior of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater

A contemporary of Wrights architect Bernard Maybeck, designed many homes in the Arts and Crafts tradition, most of them in the hills above Berkeley, California.  Maybeck had an eclectic style and whimsical nature, often mixing modern design with classical details. He was adamant about letting the building materials and quality craftsmanship be the ornamentation, and typically used carefully detailed redwood as both interior and exterior cladding. Some elements of the shingle style are evident in his designs.

A Bernard Maybeck Arts & Crafts Style Home

Because of its enduring appeal and continued popularity, many architects still design using principles and forms that emerged during the Arts and Crafts movement.   The Craftsman style and Prairie style were two of these Arts & Crafts siblings.  Others included later versions of the Shingle style, Adirondack and Swiss Chalet styles (which all also had various influences on the Mountain architectural style), and to a lesser extent the Eclectic styles of the Tudor and French Eclectic (and it’s cousins the Cotswald Cottage and the less rigid Storybook style).

The beauty of natural materials, quality craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and honest expression are still valued today, as is the connection many people feel with these iconic building styles. As new materials emerge and styles evolve, the look of buildings will inevitably change. However, the influence the Arts and Crafts movement had on American domestic architecture will continue to be evident in the design of our homes for many years to come.

Tom Russell, LEED AP, and John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture designs Arts and Crafts inspired mountain homes and cabins throughout the United States. Visit our portfolio for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.  If you are interested in an Arts & Crafts style home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

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Storybook Style: Hansel and Gretel Cottage

The Spadena House in Beverly Hills,  California is one of the most recognizable homes of Storybook style architecture.  Nicknamed “The Witch’s House”, this Hansel and Gretel cottage is the last thing you would expect to see in posh Beverly Hills.  As an architect, my main critique would be that it needs more natural light.  But then again, who’s going to argue with a witch and her privacy demands.

In 1926 the home appeared in Dixon’s magazine, and was described as “A New Home With an Aged ‘Old World’ Appearance”.  The article noted, “All lines in the designs are irregular, crooked and distorted, even the metal bars in the windows are not made straight.  All of which, together with color used in painting the house, gives an old weather-beaten appearance.”

The Storybook Style Spadena House is pure Hansel and Gretel.

The house was designed in 1921 by an art director, and was built in Culver City to provide offices and dressing rooms for the Willat movie studio.  The building doubled as a movie set and appeared in several silent films in the 1920s. The building soon became widely influential among maverick architects in search of new ideas.

Architect Charles Moore once described the home as the “quintessential Hansel and Gretel House”, and the home is believed to have greatly influenced the architecture of Disneyland, as well as Disney’s imagineering department.

The Spadena House is often referred to as "The Witch's House"

The building moved to Beverly Hills in 1934 and has since served as a private residence, beginning with the Spadena Family.  The Spadena House is the perfect example of an original Storybook house where it cartoonishly has no lines that are straight or plumb, and it was meant to appear rusticated.  The roof has a seawave pattern that appears to leak horrendously and will fall in at any time.  The front of the home is surrounded by a moat-like pond and gnarled, twisted trees.  I would bet at Halloween that many children (and adults) wouldn’t dare steal a peak into one of the dark windows framed by the saggy wooden window shutters.  But then again, how could you not?

John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture specializes in residential design, most specifically in the design of mountain style homes and cabins.  See Storybook Cabin Plan for an example of one of our Storybook Homes, and for more information on the Storybook style.  We’re located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Southern California Storybook Style Architecture: Hollywoodland

Recently my family and I took a whirlwind car trip to Arizona and Southern California to see family, friends and coincidentally, more Storybook style architecture.  Along the way we stopped in Hollywoodland, a unique development of storybook cottage homes in Hollywood. I had briefly mentioned the neighborhood and some of the Storybook style origins on a recent blog post titled Storybook Cabin Plan, and since we were in the area, I added Hollywoodland to our itinerary.

Entrance to Hollywoodland

As I had mentioned, the Storybook Style surged in popularity after Hollywoodland, a subdivision of cottage homes, was built in 1923.  The theatrically designed homes served as residences in Los Angeles for a number of movie stars and received nationwide media attention as America’s first themed residential community.  The Hollywood sign actually used to say Hollywoodland and was built to promote the neighborhood, which housed such notables as Bela Lugosi and Humphrey Bogart.  The developers bowed out in the 1940’s and now the stars build to suit their own tastes.  The neighborhood is now referenced as upper Beachwood Canyon.

Storybook House in Hollywoodland

Hollywoodland’s covenants required homes to be designed in one of several European revival styles.  Architects and builders made full use of this license, arriving at eclectic combinations that its developers might never have expected.  Below is a Hansel and Gretel cottage combining half timbering, stone accent walls, and a seawave patterned roof with rolled eaves and jerkinhead gables.

Hollywoodland Storybook Cottage

A closeup of this home below shows more accents of the European style.  In older times, homes were built of stone.  Sometime along the way, the stucco style grew popular, and homeowners covered up the beautiful stone with stucco.  This creative affect was applied to either side of the windows below.  Additionally,  shingle roofs were created in seawave patterns and shaped to represent the European straw bale roofs.  Eventually wood shingle roofs were prohibited because of fire danger, so composition style roofs became the norm, though they pale in comparison.

Storybook Cottage Detail

Wolf’s Lair, a rambling mansion built by real estate developer Milton “Bud” Wolf, is a Norman Revival style castle in Hollywoodland dating from the mid 1920s.  Shown below is the gatekeeper’s residence, designed by architect John Lautner in the 1950s.

Wolf's Lair

Today, Hollywoodland has its own homeowner’s association, but is often referred to as upper Beachwood Canyon.  Shown below are some of the homes that have replaced many of the Hollywoodland cottages.

The Homes Today in the Upper Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood.

A word to the wise.  If you ever plan to drive through Hollywoodland, make sure you bring a small car, and aren’t squeamish about driving on narrow, winding roads.

For more information on the Storybook style, see Storybook Style Hansel and Gretel Cottage in Beverly Hills, Fun Architecture: The Storybook Style in Disneyland, and Storybook Cabin Plan.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture specializes in residential design, most specifically in the design of mountain style homes and cabins.  We’re located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Cabin Plan

While we specialize in high end custom mountain homes and cabins, we have always received calls inquiring about stock home or cabin plans.  After some thought, I decided to put together a few plans to satisfy this group.

Cabin Front Entry Elevation

This moderate sized cabin could be used as a rustic cabin retreat, a full time residence, a temporary home, a retirement home, or even as a guest house for in-laws, children or friends.  All of the typical residential features are included for everyday living.

Unlike traditional stock plans or book plans, this architect designed open floor plan comes with well thought out wood interiors, including exposed rustic posts, beams, purlins, rafters, detailed wood paneling, and built-in cabinetry.  Materials are designed for a comfortable rustic cabin, but are flexible per owner preferences.  The energy efficient home also includes large windows to capture the views as well as bring in abundant natural light.

The 1,222 square foot cabin has a smaller footprint, but includes spaces often found in large residences.  The plan consists of a Master Bedroom, a cozy Guest Room with built-ins, an open Entry/Great Room/Kitchen/Dining area, a Laundry Room, a detailed trussed entry porch and adjacent covered porches.

Cabin Floor Plan

Among other energy efficient products and materials in the home, the Great Room includes an efficient wood burning fireplace that exceeds the 75% efficiency standard and qualifies for the Federal Tax Credit program.

Accurate and detailed drawings and specifications speed up construction time and efficiency.  Our detailed plan sets are far superior to standard stock plans or book plans, and include:

• Specifications
• Dimensioned Floor Plans
• Structural Plans
• Exterior Elevations
• Building Sections
• Wall Sections and Details
• Interior Elevations
• Window and Door Schedules
• Electrical Plans
• Finish Plans

Plans are drawn with cad software and can be reversed.  Our plans include the option to customize them, rather than starting from scratch.  We will give you an approximate value before beginning work.

Plans are designed per the latest International Residential Codes.  As many areas have different requirements, the plans may need to be reviewed by a licensed professional in that jurisdiction.

While we have started to delve into the stock plan arena, I would still recommend having a custom home designed for maximum living and cost efficiency.  For more information see Good Quality Architecture Adds Value to Your Home.

Please visit Storybook Cabin Plan for our most recent stock plan, or our Projects for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.  We do not sell plans of our client’s custom homes.

For more information on our plans please contact us by phone at 208.265.4001, by email, or by filling out your information on our contact page.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.  Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture Blog.

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The Importance of an Interior Designer

One cannot stress the importance of an interior designer enough.  While architects will design a structure as a whole, various consultants may be brought into the process.  Architects need to have a broad knowledge of all aspects of the design and construction process to be effective as professionals, but it is virtually impossible for us to be experts in all that is involved in the complicated building enterprise.  We rely on consultants who are specialists in various disciplines to help us design buildings and to contribute in making them a reality.  One of these consultants is the interior designer.

Interior designers work with architects to create a cohesive whole.

We recommend involving interior designers in most of our projects.  While we often will draw up interior elevations, lighting plans, furniture plans, material specifications and schedules, we like to defer to interior designers for their expertise in refining interior spaces to the highest level of comfort and aesthetic quality. Typically we like to involve them in our initial meetings with the Owner.  In that way we are looking at the project as a team with a cohesive goal in mind, rather than designing the architecture and then trying to make the interior colors and spaces work.

An Interior Designer will help coordinate the Interiors with the Architect and Owner.

Interior designers specialize in choosing color schemes, as well as selecting furnishings, fixtures and finishes. Anyone who has ever attempted to do something as seemingly uncomplicated as selecting coordinated fixtures for a home, or choosing interior finishes that work well together knows that the sheer number of choices is overwhelming.

Researching and shopping for fixtures can be incredibly time consuming, and having someone come to you that knows how to select and source these products is a huge time saver.   I have seen homeowners attempt the task of decorating a large house, only to be overwhelmed and eventually taking over a year to furnish it incompletely.  Interior designers are not free, but they can complete the task in a much smaller amount of time, and can actually save owners on costs.  These cost savings may be in the form of cost discounts, more cost effective fixtures, and “time is money” savings.

Interior Designers can help make a home comfortably suit the homeowner's tastes.

While some homeowners can do a passable job of selecting furnishings and finishes, interior designers have the experience and knowledge to specify coordinating and tasteful products that will enhance any interior space. Finding what you want at a price that fits your budget isn’t always easy, but interior designers are experts at this.  They have a vast knowledge base of what products are available, where to get them, the level of quality, and what other products can be selected to compliment them.

The famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright was so worried that his clients would select inappropriate interior finishes and furnishings that he would often design the furniture, fabrics, light fixtures, and occasionally even the tableware for his client’s homes.  Mr. Wright was an extremist in this sense, but his intention was to see his designs achieve their greatest potential by being adorned with quality, tasteful fixtures and furnishings.  Most interior designers can help achieve this objective with less zealous design autonomy and more input from the client.

An Interior Designer may design the ceilings, cabinets, countertops, plumbing & lighting fixtures, floors, tile walls, towel bars and furnishings, as shown in this Master Bath.

For the projects we design, we recommend that clients consider Jane Scott of Jane Scott Design to help with the design of their interiors. Jane does a great job of designing many of the interiors of the mountain style homes we specialize in, and she has a way with people that makes them feel comfortable and confident in her abilities. We enjoy working with her and our clients appear to as well.

For more on Jane, see the January 2009 issue of Cowboys & Indians Magazine or the March 2008 issue of Spokane/ Couer d’ Alene Living Magazine.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Timber Frame vs. Timber Post and Beam Construction

Being an architect who designs heavy timber homes, I’ve found that there is a lot of confusion between timber frame vs. timber post and beam construction, even within the industry and among professionals. While there is some gray area in the distinction between them, there are real differences between these styles.

Before we delve into the differences, it should be noted that one characteristic of both timber frame and post and beam construction is the articulation of the skeleton of a building.  This is achieved by exposing timber or log components as an honest expression of the building frame, giving it a rugged, rustic appearance. When it is thoughtfully designed and carefully constructed, the beauty of timber construction becomes the primary visual element of a building, and additional ornamentation or decoration is unnecessary. Implicit in carefully crafted exposed timberwork is a respect for the material.  This has become a mainstay in true Mountain Style Architecture.

A Timber Frame Kitchen by Collin Beggs

Timber Framing

Timber Framing is a traditional form of wood construction that has origins in early furniture making, and can be traced back to early oriental architecture. Some timber frame buildings erected during medieval times in old Europe are still standing, a testament to the integrity and longevity of this building system.

Timber Frame Bracket

True timber frames rely on tight fitting joinery, the integrity of the materials, and critical geometry to create a self supporting structure.  Because mechanical fasteners were not readily available and had to be hand made until relatively modern times, timber frames were (and still are) held together using wood pegs or wedges. By driving pegs into slightly misaligned holes in mating frame elements, timber framers are able to draw parts together to create surprisingly stiff connections. The real beauty of timber frame joints is often what you don’t see – they tend to be intricate hidden surfaces designed to lock together inside the members.  The New England Barn Company has a great pictorial glossary on timber frame joints.  Timber pegs are usually critical structural links, and hence are made of robust wood species like oak, ash, or maple. Pegs are usually exposed and made prominent to emphasize their importance in the system.

Timber Frame homes can be fun!

Timber framing is a specialty craft that requires careful joinery, specialty tools, and skilled, patient carpenters. Some purist practitioners of timber framing use only hand tools out of respect for the craft tradition. Timber framing tends to be more expensive than timber post and beam construction, though some of the added cost is offset by the fact that a well designed timber frame doesn’t need to rely on shear walls or infill framing to achieve lateral stability.

A Timber Frame Den by Collin Beggs

If you interested in learning more about timber framing, Ted Benson has some excellent books on the subject.

In the Northwest, Timber Frames by Colin Beggs is a premier builder of timber frame homes.  Residing in Sandpoint, Idaho,  Collin is a humble young craftsman with extensive timber framing experience, and will be speaking at the Timber Framers Guild Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York this November.  His topic is “Rampant Evangelism to Expedite the Evolution of Timber Framers into Master Builders”.  Collin notes, “The biggest difference that I find between Timber Framing and conventional construction is the pure joy that the craftsman and client receive when taking part in the process.  Timber Frame raisings are an epic event that define the relationship between community and it’s built environment.”

Timber Frames By Collin Beggs

Post and Beam Construction

Many mountain style homes employ some elements of wood timber construction, either as the main structural system or as accents in the form of trusses, roof supports, brackets, braces, or corbels. Post and beam construction often resembles timber framing, with the important distinction that post and beam construction utilizes mechanical fasteners and often steel plate connectors to join adjacent members together. These connectors may be hidden or exposed in various ways. Wood post and beam frames are rarely used as the only structural system for a building, usually they require additional structural elements like shear panels and infill framing to create a stable structure.

Post and Beam Entrance by Hendricks Architecture

Like timber framing, post and beam construction also requires skilled carpenters to create tight, well crafted joints, but fabrication and assembly tends to be less time consuming and intricate. It often takes a trained eye to distinguish between a true timber frame and well done post and beam construction.  Cost and the desire for authenticity are important factors in deciding which system to use. Timber post and beam construction shares with timber framing an appreciation for the beauty of wood and careful connections, but nods in deference when it comes to purity of tradition and level of craft.

A modern timber post and beam home interior

For more photographs of mountain style homes featuring post and beam construction, see our architectural projects.

There are many builders in the Sandpoint area who build quality heavy timber construction. If you are interested in creating a mountain style timber home, we would enjoy the opportunity to work with you on the design, and can recommend some excellent Contractors.  Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of timber mountain style homes and cabins.  While it is not the only type of architecture we design, most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West.  Most of our clients are looking for mountain style homes, often with a rugged, rustic appearance. If you are interested in a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, Architect AIA, NCARB

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Please feel free to leave a comment or question!

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A Great Time To Remodel

It’s a great time to remodel, as described by Tom Russell, project architect at Hendricks Architecture.

Remodeling and improving existing homes has taken on a new importance as the practice of cosmetic makeovers and flipping homes has all but disappeared for the time being. I believe that the rapid turnover of houses that was common a few years ago will be replaced by a more long term vision of home, and with that comes the desire to have a home that will meet your functional needs for many years, one that will be affordable to own, and that you can take pride in.

We have received many more inquiries on remodels and additions lately. People are choosing to remodel for a number of reasons:

• Construction costs are low relative to what they have been in the recent past.  
• Government tax incentives are making energy efficient upgrades more affordable.
• Homeowners interested in selling in the next few years are seeing the need to make their homes stand out in a market that is saturated with homes for sale.
• Many people’s net worth has been affected by the current economic conditions, and their plans to build a new home have been put on hold.
• Homeowners who were hoping to build can’t sell the home they live in now, or their equity position in their home won’t provide them enough revenue to build the home they want.
• Quality contractors who used to do only new construction and were booked well in advance are available and willing to do remodel work.
• Bargains in the housing market have allowed buyers to purchase discounted homes in desirable neighborhoods and modify them to meet their needs.
• People like where they live, but find that there are things about their home they don’t like.

A recent home addition under construction, designed by Hendricks Architecture.

In my mind, there are several reasons to consider remodeling an existing home:

• If you like where you live but you don’t like the style of your home, it isn’t performing well, or your space needs are changing.
• Remodeling will improve your enjoyment and appreciation of the home you already live in.
• Some remodel strategies can improve your home’s value in excess of what they cost. Taxable values often don’t reflect the value of these increases.
• Improving the “curb appeal” of your home will likely lead to faster sales and a higher selling price.
• For those interested in a sustainable or green approach to housing, remodeling makes a lot of sense. Reusing and improving an existing structure is often less impactful than building new. The LEED green building rating system for buildings offers several credits for utilizing existing buildings and for material reuse.

Depending on your circumstances, remodeling rather than buying a new home may be a wise choice. Before you decide to remodel your existing home or think about buying a home that will need future upgrades, keep in mind the following:

• A big mistake I see all the time is the Homeowner/ Home Depot remodel. Most people lack the knowledge, equipment and time to do a quality remodel job that looks good and meets safety codes. Discriminating buyers who appreciate thoughtful details, quality craftsmanship, and integrated design can usually tell right away if a project was done by professionals. My advice is to hire an Architect, Interior Designer, and a Contractor who has a lot of remodel experience.
• Depending on the extent of your project, moving out of the house for a period of time may be the only option. If you do decide to stay, be aware that a construction project in an occupied home is always disruptive, usually slower, and will definitely require some sacrifice on your part.
• The payback (in resale value) of some remodels is often less than the investment. Improvements that are less visible (insulation, new windows, re-wiring or re-plumbing) tend to have a lower payback than things like a new kitchen, a bedroom addition, or a new deck. If you are thinking of remodeling to increase your home value, do your homework and a cost/ benefit analysis before deciding how to proceed. This is one area where an Architect can be helpful.
• If you plan on staying put for a while, some improvements may be worth doing simply to increase the enjoyment of your home and how well it functions for you.
• It can be difficult to get a fixed price contract for a remodel project because there are usually many unknowns until the work begins. Depending on the complexity of the project and what is found under the finishes, remodeling can be more expensive than building new. This is another area where an Architect can be a valuable resource. They can help you execute a good contract that is fair to everyone, and watch costs and billings closely to make sure you are getting what you pay for.
• It may be worth offering a contractor financial incentives to finish quickly, or adding a liquidated damages clause (financial penalty for exceeding a set completion date) to your contract.
• Be wary of spending a lot of money to create the nicest home in the neighborhood. The context your home is in will have a lot to do with its resale value.

I have done several remodels for myself, and I have taken part in many remodels as a project manager and as a carpenter. The most important thing I learned from these experiences is that a major remodel is a serious undertaking that requires a lot of planning, a knowledgeable contractor, a flexible budget, and a sense of humor. Hiring skilled professionals will eliminate many of the headaches of remodeling, and will insure better results. It is essential to have good guidance in making decisions and knowing how to get the most for your remodeling dollar. Feel free to contact us if you have questions, or if a remodel project is in your future.

Tom Russell, LEED AP, Project Architect

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Surviving Architecture School

Surviving architecture school can be a tough road, depending on how you look at it.  When I went to Texas Tech University in the late 80′s there were over 400 students in my freshman class.  Less than fifty of us graduated on schedule.  Most of the others dropped out, switched majors, or graduated later.  These numbers might be enough to scare anybody off, but the fact of the matter is if you stick with it, remain positive (and realistic), and have fun while working hard, you’re going to pass.

Before I go on, I’d like to note that, yes, I understand that the 80′s may be ancient history to some of you.  Computer classes were electives back then.  Men wore pink shirts and parachute pants, even in Texas.  Some even listened to and had hair like The Flock of Seagulls.  The fact of the matter is, the concepts in architecture school are still basically the same whether you’re using the drawing board or the computer.

Anyways, most of the drop off happens the first year.  The professors do this quickly so you’re not wasting your time. Some professors will give you those same scary statistics in the first few weeks of school.  Soon after, 10% of the students have disappeared.  The professors will work you hard enough that you may miss some parties and some sleep.  This will get rid of several more.

Everybody hears about the sleepless nights of an architecture student.  In many cases this is true.  There is a way to avoid it though – Don’t Procrastinate!  In my first year we had many small design projects, most averaging around three to four weeks in length.  I watched many students do absolutely nothing the first week or two, then work late nights the last week.  I learned pretty quickly that if I started much earlier my mind was much fresher, the designs were better thought out, and I slept peacefully that last week while many of the other students were working late or pulling all nighters.  Plus I always knew that I am one of those people that just needs sleep more than most.

I did stay up all night once, and this was unavoidable.  In my second year my professor gave us a short two week project.  It was a large viking museum.  We had two weeks for design, revisions, renderings and a model.  I worked on it every day for those two weeks.  I remember it was due on a Friday afternoon.  The Sunday night before I had my last eight hour night of sleep.  The next few nights I had six, four and two hours of sleep.  Thursday night I didn’t sleep at all, spending all night working in the architecture building with all of the other students.  The next morning many of us had a quiz in another class.  We all failed, and I fell asleep during the test.  Later that afternoon as I was finishing up my project, I was drawing a line on one of my renderings and fell asleep again.  I ended up drawing a big fat line across the whole rendering.

Architecture school really isn’t all that bad if you enjoy creating things.  The projects are typically more fun than many projects architects work on in the real world, and I’ve always enjoyed art classes.  One of my art professors told us that once you really understand shade and shadow, the whole world opens up, and you see things differently.  That always stuck with me, and I soon saw and understood how he was right.

The professors bring up all types of fun projects.  In one design class we each had to design a chair using only paper and string.  We all had to sit in our chairs during the critique.  Unfortunately for me, I was one of the last ones to present.  I sat there watching the others as my chair slowly sagged towards the floor.

During our last year we could choose any project we wanted for our thesis.  We spent the fall researching and writing a program.  In the spring we worked on the design.  I chose to design a clubhouse and resort facility for the Fresno Yacht Club at Millerton Lake.  I grew up as a member of the club (and hope to sail in next weekend’s High Sierra Regatta at Huntington Lake) and always sailed by a point on the lake where I imagined would be a great location for a clubhouse and restaurant.

Every professor had his or her quirks.  One seemed like he wore the same clothes every day.  Another must have had a full closet of ties and wore a new one every day.  One you weren’t sure if he was looking at you or not, always looking from the corner of his eye.  Another had a questionable gender.  The fact of the matter though, is they all had something to offer, they all had talent, and they all wanted to teach.  Learn from them.  Resist taking classes from the same professor twice.  I’ve come to realize that there’s no such thing as a person without quirks.  We’re all better off because Albert Einstein had quirks.

A Thesis Rendering of The Fresno Yacht Club

Be a sponge and absorb everything.  One of my professors was either a student or employee of Louis Kahn and would share stories about him.  Peter Eisenman, a very prominent  architect and a member of the famed New York Five (famed in the architecture world), came to give a lecture.  Our professors also taught us the works of all the great architects.  I fell in love with the imaginative architectural designs of Frank Gehry and Charles Moore.  That was before Gehry was into the curves and was, along with Eisenman, unfairly labeled as a deconstructivist.  Now, Frank Gehry’s sculptured geometries may have elevated him to being probably the most imaginative architect, if not the best architect of the last fifty years.

The Frank Gehry designed Bilbao Museum

One last thing I would recommend is to work for a contractor or framer before attending school or during the summers if you’re able.  I worked for a small contractor named Tom Leonard the summer before going to architecture school.  In 3 months we remodeled a business office, framed a house in Monterey, and a cabin in Big Creek, near Shaver Lake.  The house and cabin we did everything from digging the foundations with shovels to laying plywood sheathing on the roof.  In those three months I learned more that’s stayed with me than any of my years in school.  Not just in how buildings go together, but in the value of hard work and the understanding of life from a contractor’s perspective.  I learned the value of a well designed, complete set of plans, as well as the value of a good contractor.  Tom used to tell me things that still stick ,like, “When you go to architecture school, make sure you dimension the fireplace!”

Architecture is a rewarding field.  Very few things are more gratifying than making people’s dreams come true and seeing your work around town.  In most cases work you design will remain long after your gone.  In architecture school the camaraderie you have with your fellow students is much more pronounced than most, if not all majors.  And besides, how hard of work is it when all you’re doing is building models and drawing pictures?

Friends in charcoal

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture specializes in residential design, most specifically in the design of mountain style homes and cabins.  We’re located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Good Contractors Add Value

Building a new home or remodeling an existing one should be a fun and rewarding process. If you are considering building a home or remodeling, the quality of your experience will be largely dependent on your approach to the project and the decisions you make.  Besides hiring an Architect, one of the most important decisions a homeowner needs to make on a project is hiring a good General Contractor.

While an Architect can easily design a home from abroad, it is almost always a good idea to hire a local Contractor if possible.  Good Contractors generally have their own tried and true framing crews, as well as access to the best available local subcontractors and materials.  If cost is an issue, and it almost always is, buying local can be a big cost savings (assuming they meet your quality criteria).  On the other hand, a good Contractor may know of a great cabinet maker who is two hours away but is well worth the price.

A Contractor can also help you get the best value for your construction dollar.  Not only is the quality better, good contractors also stay current on the latest construction materials and technologies.  Along with the architect, they can select materials and systems that enhance your home without breaking the budget.

A bad Contractor may provide cost savings in many cases, but in the long run they may cost even more money, not to mention your piece of mind.  Some horror stories I’ve heard and have sometimes witnessed from under qualified or disreputable Contractors:

• Building into the setbacks
• Building onto somebody else’s property
• Building a home at the lowest elevation in the center of a property, creating an unintended moat around the home
• Houses that leak
• Missing insulation
• Insulation that is not the specified R-value
• Walls that aren’t straight when they’re supposed to be
• Framing studs farther apart in an effort to reduce material costs, and then using those materials on other projects
• Gaps between adjoining materials when they are specified to be connected
• Contractor not insured
• Building differently than the plans specify without consulting with the homeowner and architect
• Building without a permit

A good Architect who is involved in the project’s Construction Administration should catch most of these issues before they become problems.

Good contractors will also add value by increasing the resale value of homes.  A custom home that is built by a contractor known as the best in town will certainly sell for a higher price than one built by a Contractor known for building low end spec homes.  A smart buyer who uses a home inspector before purchasing will hear the same thing pertaining to the quality of construction and the lack of problems.  Good contractors want to uphold their reputation.

I believe it is a good idea to get a Contractor on board as soon as possible after hiring the Architect.  This gives you more time to look at the different candidates, and if there is a contractor that stands out and you’re pretty sure you want to hire them, they can provide input during the design process.  A good Contractor can provide valuable insight on the costs and availabilities of various materials and methods of construction, and may also provide creative ideas in brainstorming sessions with the Owner and Architect.  Frank Lloyd Wright was an egotist, but most architects these days understand the value of collaboration.

Contractors can also add value by giving you some budget numbers during the initial design of the project, and update these as the design progresses.  During the pricing of the project, he (or she) will thoroughly review the plans and notify the architect of any discrepancies or missing items.   An honorable contractor who has done a careful review will then price out the project with a firm number, and will adhere to that number, barring changes made by the Owner or Contractor.  Some Contractors will give a low price to get a job, and then may try to add 25% onto the costs of a house through overlooked items to generate a nice profit.  These are often in the form of Change Orders.  A good Architect should be able to minimize Change Orders by providing quality, thorough drawings and specifications.  I will add an article on how to hire a Contractor in the near future.  See also Good Quality Architecture Adds Value To Your Home.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture specializes in residential design and is located in Sandpoint, Idaho.  We specialize in residential design, most specifically in the design of mountain style homes and cabins, though we have successfully designed in several different styles.  We take a fresh approach to every project, making every home unique, and enjoy designing above and beyond the Owner’s expectations (in a good way).

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A Great Time To Build

Construction prices are at historic lows, as described by Tom Russell of Hendricks Architecture.

Something unusual happened to me the other day. I walked out of the local lumber store and was shocked when I looked at the invoice for my purchase. Being shocked by the lumber invoice was not at all unusual, what was unusual is that I was shocked at how much it didn’t cost. My home is a perpetual remodel project, and because I have been buying a lot of material, I watch building material prices closely. I can’t remember when lumber prices have been this low, though it makes sense when you think about it – lumber suppliers have a large surplus due to the lack of demand this past year. Apparently the law of supply and demand is still being enforced.

Local builders that John Hendricks and I have been talking to are finding the same thing. Many of them report that they have been bidding projects 20%-30% lower than they were just a year ago. While lumber prices are a big part of the savings, many builders and their subcontractors are anxious to stay busy and are willing to forgo some profits to do so. Keeping good, valued employees working and maintaining momentum are oft cited rationale for reduced contractor fees. Increased completion is a factor as well. Most of the contractors I know in this area are staying busy preparing bids for clients, many of whom are shopping for the best value for their construction dollar.

Sandpoint, Idaho home by Hendricks Architecture under construction.

RMR Group is a builder in Big Sky, Montana that we maintain contact with. They recently had a client come back to re-bid a home that was not built in 2007 because the price was too high. Due to subcontractor, material, and fuel price reductions, RMR Group’s 2009 price for the exact same house was an amazing 33% lower than it was in 2007.

Quality is as good as it ever was, even with the lower prices.  Because of the economy, lower tiered employees and subcontractors have been weeded out.  The best employees are being kept, meaning you get the best people on the job.

I’m not an economist, but my sense is that the pendulum of home prices and construction costs has shifted from a historical high point to a new relative low point. I would expect that prices will end up somewhere between the construction boom we were seeing 2 years ago and the bargains we are seeing today. For anyone sitting on the fence waiting to start a big construction project, it would seem that this is as good a time as any we will see in the foreseeable future. I intend to seize the opportunity and build that barn that I have been waiting so long for!

Tom Russell, LEED AP, Project Manager

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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John Hendricks, AIA Architect • Architecture, Planning, Construction Management
418 Pine St, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 • T 208.265.4001 F 208-265-4009 • john@hendricksarch.com