Comments on: Architecture as Surgery http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/ A discussion of modern design from the Northwest Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:35:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Kent http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-2286 Kent Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:21:38 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-2286 Thoughtful post, thanks. Having remodeled my own 1955 builder spec house, I know it is often tougher to fix/restore things than it is to just start from scratch. It's encouraging that you guys (and others commenting here) are sensitive to the challenges of remodeling MCM houses. A lot of others are not--just tour my neighborhood if you want proof. Future post suggestion--photo essay on what NOT to do when you remodel a MCM home! Thoughtful post, thanks. Having remodeled my own 1955 builder spec house, I know it is often tougher to fix/restore things than it is to just start from scratch. It’s encouraging that you guys (and others commenting here) are sensitive to the challenges of remodeling MCM houses. A lot of others are not–just tour my neighborhood if you want proof. Future post suggestion–photo essay on what NOT to do when you remodel a MCM home!

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-2009 uberVU - social comments Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:48:20 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-2009 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by buildllc: From the BUILDblog: new strategies to stay on budget for a home remodel: http://tinyurl.com/y8t52mn... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by buildllc: From the BUILDblog: new strategies to stay on budget for a home remodel: http://tinyurl.com/y8t52mn...

]]> By: Build LLC http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1993 Build LLC Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:16:10 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-1993 @ Adam & Mike - We're diggin Hollin Hills - really nice. Indeed Hilltop set the standard for MCM homes in the northwest, we'll check out Six Moon Hill -definitely a future blog post... @ Adam & Mike – We’re diggin Hollin Hills – really nice. Indeed Hilltop set the standard for MCM homes in the northwest, we’ll check out Six Moon Hill -definitely a future blog post…

]]> By: Build LLC http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1992 Build LLC Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:13:29 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-1992 @ Mike - that's a good point, there are conditions where the house just hasn't been cared for over the years and it's more effective to tear it down. Or other times the owners have something in mind that's simply too ambitious for the existing structure to accommodate. In either case it’s unfortunate as there are often design elements that could be done back in the 50's that code no longer allows - and sometimes it's useful to retain the existing house for those reasons: different setbacks, corner glazing, walls of glass, etc. @ Mike – that’s a good point, there are conditions where the house just hasn’t been cared for over the years and it’s more effective to tear it down. Or other times the owners have something in mind that’s simply too ambitious for the existing structure to accommodate. In either case it’s unfortunate as there are often design elements that could be done back in the 50′s that code no longer allows – and sometimes it’s useful to retain the existing house for those reasons: different setbacks, corner glazing, walls of glass, etc.

]]> By: mike http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1990 mike Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:58:07 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-1990 MCM communities are great... We lived not too far from Hollin Hills growing up. Here in Wash., we have the Hilltop Community in Bellevue, with houses by an impressive <i>who's who</i> of MCM Seattle architects. Lexington, Mass., has Six Moon Hill, which was designed by several TAC (The Architects' Collaborative) alum. A recent Norman Fletcher remodel looks fairly decent. Future post fodder? at the very least, it's more interesting than Ordos 100. MCM communities are great…

We lived not too far from Hollin Hills growing up.

Here in Wash., we have the Hilltop Community in Bellevue, with houses by an impressive who’s who of MCM Seattle architects.

Lexington, Mass., has Six Moon Hill, which was designed by several TAC (The Architects’ Collaborative) alum. A recent Norman Fletcher remodel looks fairly decent.

Future post fodder? at the very least, it’s more interesting than Ordos 100.

]]> By: Adam Crain http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1989 Adam Crain Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:12:31 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-1989 Love the colored pricing graphic. Intelligent. Nearby me in Alexandria, VA there's an entire development of MCM Homes, called Hollin Hills. I did a post on it a while back: http://archipreneur.blogspot.com/2008/07/hollin-hills-alexandria-virginia.html Love the colored pricing graphic. Intelligent.

Nearby me in Alexandria, VA there’s an entire development of MCM Homes, called Hollin Hills. I did a post on it a while back:
http://archipreneur.blogspot.com/2008/07/hollin-hills-alexandria-virginia.html

]]> By: mike http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1987 mike Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:57:26 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-1987 how many of these projects <i>don't</i> need cosmetic upgrades? t1-11 or 50 y.o. wood siding on kraft paper doesn't really hold up too well... the parallels to a large institutional remodel i'm working on are uncanny (what spaces get the works, what spaces only get new paint) and it can be really challenging. even working with estimators makes it difficult to pin a solid number. luckily the current market is favorable for bidding... how many of these projects don’t need cosmetic upgrades? t1-11 or 50 y.o. wood siding on kraft paper doesn’t really hold up too well…

the parallels to a large institutional remodel i’m working on are uncanny (what spaces get the works, what spaces only get new paint) and it can be really challenging. even working with estimators makes it difficult to pin a solid number.

luckily the current market is favorable for bidding…

]]> By: Build LLC http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1974 Build LLC Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:19:10 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-1974 Great strategies Matt, we're entirely on board with you. Great strategies Matt, we’re entirely on board with you.

]]> By: Matthew Daby http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/01/architecture-as-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1973 Matthew Daby Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:10:05 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5616#comment-1973 Great post guys! I also have been doing many remodels to mid-century houses, many of them vanilla 1950's and 1960's builder specs. I agree that kitchens, bathrooms and HVAC systems are usually the most in need of help. My most effective strategy has been to bring the builder (builders) to the table at the preliminary stage to perform a "straw budget". The idea is to give the builders enough information to respond with a confident dollar amount early to keep the design in check, while not pushing the drawings too far that you are wasting time and fees. Being that we are just a design outfit and not a design/build, this involves a bit more leg work early to explain the project to a few different builders, but certainly less work than redoing construction drawings. In this economy I have been successful finding builders that are willing to put a bit more time in at the prelim. stage to try and win the job. Redesigning these mid-century houses can be tricky with an eye on the budget and an unknown builder. Every builder has there own comfort level with different systems, subcontractors, and era of house. These comfort levels can affect the build costs. Forging a relationship with a builder over the course of a few projects can help the designer understand the builder's comfort levels (and develop new comforts). This will help at the design stage to implement the appropriate details for the budget. Also, it helps if the designer understands or researches the typical building systems of this era of houses—this will allow them to decide early (and without opening walls) what will likely need upgrading and what is the easiest path of change. For example, understanding the typical structural systems and load bearing conditions will allow you to determine the easiest walls to move. Finally, although I try to stay within the existing building whenever possible, it is sometimes more cost effective to add a new addition to accommodate the clients desired spaces, rather than moving around a lot of walls under the existing roof. Cheers! matt Great post guys! I also have been doing many remodels to mid-century houses, many of them vanilla 1950′s and 1960′s builder specs. I agree that kitchens, bathrooms and HVAC systems are usually the most in need of help.
My most effective strategy has been to bring the builder (builders) to the table at the preliminary stage to perform a “straw budget”. The idea is to give the builders enough information to respond with a confident dollar amount early to keep the design in check, while not pushing the drawings too far that you are wasting time and fees. Being that we are just a design outfit and not a design/build, this involves a bit more leg work early to explain the project to a few different builders, but certainly less work than redoing construction drawings. In this economy I have been successful finding builders that are willing to put a bit more time in at the prelim. stage to try and win the job.
Redesigning these mid-century houses can be tricky with an eye on the budget and an unknown builder. Every builder has there own comfort level with different systems, subcontractors, and era of house. These comfort levels can affect the build costs. Forging a relationship with a builder over the course of a few projects can help the designer understand the builder’s comfort levels (and develop new comforts). This will help at the design stage to implement the appropriate details for the budget.
Also, it helps if the designer understands or researches the typical building systems of this era of houses—this will allow them to decide early (and without opening walls) what will likely need upgrading and what is the easiest path of change. For example, understanding the typical structural systems and load bearing conditions will allow you to determine the easiest walls to move.
Finally, although I try to stay within the existing building whenever possible, it is sometimes more cost effective to add a new addition to accommodate the clients desired spaces, rather than moving around a lot of walls under the existing roof.

Cheers!

matt

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