SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
We get a lot of calls here at BUILD from clients who are thinking about buying a piece of real estate and taking on a project. They’re usually pretty serious about a particular house or lot, however, it’s typical that there are a handful of unknowns about the project. The issues may include: placing their program (needs, wants) within that property, the allowable buildable area of a challenging site, easement access to the property, or the practicality of building the desired home within pre-existing neighborhood covenants, to name only a few of the possible issues. They’re all very good concerns and a savvy home buyer knows that an unfavorable code, provision or covenant can be a show stopper.
At the same time, good property is becoming increasingly difficult to find here in the Pacific Northwest, and while a potential homeowner is sorting out the value vs. risk equation, someone else (with more insight or less aversion to risk) may scoop up the property.
So it’s a real conundrum for potential homeowners who don’t have a good system for assessing the value vs. risk equation. We’ve worked with enough clients now on this very scenario that we think it’s a good time to document the BUILD strategy for securing property while limiting risk. This system applies to mid-century remodels, new homes on existing foundations, new homes on fully-demolished structures and new homes on blank lots.
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JULY 22ND, 2011
By BUILD LLC
We recently hired on a junior architect here at BUILD, which takes our bustling little design-build firm from 4 people to a whopping 5. Despite the dozens of resumes we receive each week, we hire on very rarely. Subsequently, it got us thinking about what really makes the difference between all the resumes that get filed away and the candidate that lands the job. If you follow the BUILDblog, you know that we’re big on transparency and communication; so we’ve done our best to elaborate on 5 key observations and recommendations for the work-hungry recent architecture graduates out there. Take it with a grain of salt; this isn’t the politically correct version -this is the down in the trenches, get ‘er done version. This is the hack-the-system and actually get a job version. This is the version for individuals who are tired of waiting around for professional experience and are ready to go to work. Here goes:
1. THE BASICS ARE ONLY THE BASICS. As a candidate for employment, you absolutely have to have a clean, concise resume and an online portfolio of your work. These items don’t separate you from anyone else -they are the givens, the fundamentals. And while the quality of your resume and portfolio matter, they are not enough on their own (refer to items 2-5). Stop thinking that once you’ve got a cover letter, a resume and a portfolio that your phone should be ringing off the hook.
TIP: Clever candidates carry around a business card with their contact information and a link to their online resume & online portfolio. When they see a potential employer at an event or a coffee shop they can promote themselves easily and quickly. Smart.
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JULY 8TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
A couple of years ago we launched the BUILD LLC website; it was updated with all of our latest projects, a new format, and a different philosophy of website design. Since then, we’ve had a decent amount of time to watch the site, track the metrics, and determine its effectiveness on our business. This scrutiny has led to some important discoveries on the nature of website design in relation to an architecture practice; here are our top 5 ingredients of a great website for architects:
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JUNE 28TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
[All images by BUILD LLC]
Recently we started design work for an existing home in the renowned Hilltop neighborhood -a mid-century modern planned community developed about 15 miles outside of Seattle. The original home was designed in 1954 by Van Horne & Van Horne with Pat Prechek and it’s exactly what we love working on –taking an exceptional piece of older architecture and updating it for the 21st century. Adding a new layer on top and breathing new life into something special.
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JUNE 17TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
We’ve been swamped with great work and interesting activities lately- more so than at any point in our previous 12 years; so we figured it was a good time for the team to take a moment and share the scoop.
On the travel front, we just returned from New York City where we attended the Chase Jarvis Dasein show at the Ace Hotel –an energetic photography exhibit that focused on the raw human existence of “being there”. Over 15,000 snapshots (submitted by all types of folks from all kinds of places) created a thread of understanding and interpretation of the world. A super cool show with a heck of a wrap-up party. Big thanks to Chase and his crew.
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MAY 20TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
Here at the BUILD world headquarters we receive an average of 3.5 emails per day from suppliers, manufacturers, vendors, designers, and individuals who all have something in common; they’d all like to have their products mentioned on the BUILDblog. We’re honored that so many groups and individuals think highly enough of the BUILDblog to want to be a part of it -thank you for that. While 3.5 emails a day isn’t an avalanche, it’s enough to notice patterns. Most of our responses to these emails are very similar, so for today’s post we’re laying out some straight-forward guidelines on how to best get your goods introduced on the BUILDblog.
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MAY 6TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
We get asked frequently about the beginnings of our design-build operation; how team BUILD came together while studying abroad in Denmark and the influence that the Scandinavians had on our work. The topic comes up so often, in fact, that we figured it might make for an interesting blog post. Or if nothing else, we’ll arm you with some good material from our alcohol saturated student days to blackmail us with later. But, we found the Danes to be an extraordinarily thoughtful and sophisticated bunch, and we fooled them into giving us passing grades somehow- so we’ve got that going for us.
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APRIL 15TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
We just wrapped up a pro-bono schematic design/ feasibility package for a favorite social (non-)profit organization in town and it’s a good time to share our process. We’ve used this system of research and design a couple of times now. As a Case Study, it’s an effective method to evaluate the viability of a project and provide solid information for these admirable organizations, and of course, it’s always satisfying to put our skills to use for a good cause. So here goes:
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APRIL 8TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
Over the last decade we’ve spent quite a bit of time and energy remodeling mid-century modern homes (MCMs). We admire the original design of these homes and it’s always satisfying to breathe new life into them -allowing them to be useful, inspiring homes for another 50 or 60 years. Remodeling an MCM home differs from remodeling just any old house though. There are a number of differences to understand about MCM homes- characteristics that make them unique. The materials and methods common in the 1950’s were distinctive and relatively consistent. Understanding these materials and methods helps determine the viability of a remodel and allows for a more straight-forward decision making process. Here are a few common characteristics of MCM homes:
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APRIL 5TH, 2011
By BUILD LLC
[Renderings by Hugh Ferriss]
Working on a substantial architecture project requires the gathering and analysis of a great deal of information. This information is found in documents like the International Building Code and city municipal codes; subsequently the process can lead to an overwhelming amount of data for any sizeable project. Such data involves everything from setbacks and height limits, all the way down to the required dimensions of a handrail. At face value, this information can seem awfully dull, but there is also a beauty in crunching through the raw data. Approached with the right mindset, there is poetry in the process.
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