Paring back to the essential
The architect John Pawson’s latest book is a wonderful discovery and an inspiration. Pawson is a master practitioner of identifying the essential, setting everything else aside and making the essential beautiful. Pawson elevates the everyday to something simple and rich with meaning. Mies van der Rohe pioneered this approach and called it beinahe nichts.
Cooking and and spending time with family are super important to us and its expression in our home is a priority.
What’s essential in your life?
Is there something–an activity or a pursuit–that you want to make a priority in your space?
How do you want to live?
John Pawson’s book Home Farm Cooking
#johnpawson #focus #kitchen #family #phaidon
The architect John Pawson’s latest book is a wonderful discovery and an inspiration. Pawson is a master practitioner of identifying the essential, setting everything else aside and making the essential beautiful. Pawson elevates the everyday to something simple and rich with meaning. Mies van der Rohe pioneered this approach and called it beinahe nichts.
Cooking and and spending time with family are super important to us and its expression in our home is a priority.
What’s essential in your life?
Is there something–an activity or a pursuit–that you want to make a priority in your space?
How do you want to live?
John Pawson’s book Home Farm Cooking
#johnpawson #focus #kitchen #family #phaidon
Wood structural systems that behave like steel
When we think of innovative structural systems, we think of Mies's iconic 50 x 50 house which was supposed to be built in Winnetka but we are unsure exactly where. The 50 x 50 house was built in steel but what if it could be completed in wood? (Periana Architecture in LA is actually building Mies's 50 x 50 house which is pretty cool.) Wood embodies carbon rather than creating it as in the case of making steel. Here's an idea in wood where laminated eight 2x4 beams are laminated together and then arrayed in alternating rows 5 feet apart and then stacked a 3/4" threaded rod at each intersection bolts the assembly together. 60 foot clear spans are possible. Check out the model and a completed interior. #architecture #mies #Chicagoarchitecture #chicagoarchitecturecenter #cac #miesvanderrohe
How do you want to live?
When we think of innovative structural systems, we think of Mies's iconic 50 x 50 house which was supposed to be built in Winnetka but we are unsure exactly where. The 50 x 50 house was built in steel but what if it could be completed in wood? (Periana Architecture in LA is actually building Mies's 50 x 50 house which is pretty cool.) Wood embodies carbon rather than creating it as in the case of making steel. Here's an idea in wood where laminated eight 2x4 beams are laminated together and then arrayed in alternating rows 5 feet apart and then stacked a 3/4" threaded rod at each intersection bolts the assembly together. 60 foot clear spans are possible. Check out the model and a completed interior. #architecture #mies #Chicagoarchitecture #chicagoarchitecturecenter #cac #miesvanderrohe
How do you want to live?
Our drawings are featured by an English provider of architectural educational services as examples for professionals to emulate
We are honored to have our working drawings featured by an English provider of architectural educational services as examples for other professionals to emulate and learn from.
Sloped, the only Sketchup and Layout Certifier
We work very hard to make legible drawings that read well, provide clear instructions and look great! Architects, just like the artist Sol Lewitt, create instructions for others to follow and it’s crucial that they are comprehensible. Please have a look. We put great effort and pride into our work. Clear, accurate drawings are a key ingredient in project success and a happy client.
#sketchup #layout #trimble #sloped.io #sloped #architecturaleducation #sollewitt #architectureprojectsuccess #happyclient
We are honored to have our working drawings featured by an English provider of architectural educational services as examples for other professionals to emulate and learn from.
Sloped, the only Sketchup and Layout Certifier
We work very hard to make legible drawings that read well, provide clear instructions and look great! Architects, just like the artist Sol Lewitt, create instructions for others to follow and it’s crucial that they are comprehensible. Please have a look. We put great effort and pride into our work. Clear, accurate drawings are a key ingredient in project success and a happy client.
#sketchup #layout #trimble #sloped.io #sloped #architecturaleducation #sollewitt #architectureprojectsuccess #happyclient
Expectations and Dealing with Contractors
One of the pitfalls of being an architect is getting an experienced, competent and fairly priced general contractor to do the work. I mean, we all want to see our client's vision realized at a reasonable cost, in a timely manner and according to spec. As the former chair of Oakton Community College's Construction Management program, I have seen this issue from another side. In 2014, I was asked by a former colleague in the program to fix, finish and shepherd this unfinished house through inspections in the village of Northbrook. Some of the deficiencies were comic and easy to fix–the kitchen exhaust fan that pushed air into the attic and no further. Some were more serious like an outdoor pool that had not been bonded properly to prevent someone from being electrocuted and the use of drywall screws and sized-too-small dimensional lumber in place of the required Strongtie structural fasteners and laminated lumber. After a lot of work and $1 million, we worked successfully together to pass 72 inspections and fix the house. I have been told by many that this contractor–under the guise of many different LLC names–gives potential clients prices that are much lower than other bids. According to them, he hires subcontractors who do not complete the work according to spec and schedule as documented in this case and online in this website. https://lnkd.in/gqMaSDhz The old rule is to throw out the low bid and the high bid and interview those in the middle to see who is the best fit. I recently began another job and after hearing that I was not the first architect and that the client had taken over the GC role, I did some digging in public court records on my own. The previous GC is same person fired from this job for the same reasons as stated in the article before. I am doing the last technical part of this job because–I am doing this as a joint venture with a really good architect–my client has good drawings and I have a track record of getting complex things finished and through inspections. Obviously, many of us try to use the same people again and again. But what happens when that person is unavailable or the client thinks they can get a "bargain"? How do guide them and remain positive and effective? We all want projects to work out well and that takes leadership. Would enjoy hearing your comments and experiences.
#crainschicago #generalcontracting #architect #architecture #dennisrodkin #northbrook
One of the pitfalls of being an architect is getting an experienced, competent and fairly priced general contractor to do the work. I mean, we all want to see our client's vision realized at a reasonable cost, in a timely manner and according to spec. As the former chair of Oakton Community College's Construction Management program, I have seen this issue from another side. In 2014, I was asked by a former colleague in the program to fix, finish and shepherd this unfinished house through inspections in the village of Northbrook. Some of the deficiencies were comic and easy to fix–the kitchen exhaust fan that pushed air into the attic and no further. Some were more serious like an outdoor pool that had not been bonded properly to prevent someone from being electrocuted and the use of drywall screws and sized-too-small dimensional lumber in place of the required Strongtie structural fasteners and laminated lumber. After a lot of work and $1 million, we worked successfully together to pass 72 inspections and fix the house. I have been told by many that this contractor–under the guise of many different LLC names–gives potential clients prices that are much lower than other bids. According to them, he hires subcontractors who do not complete the work according to spec and schedule as documented in this case and online in this website. https://lnkd.in/gqMaSDhz The old rule is to throw out the low bid and the high bid and interview those in the middle to see who is the best fit. I recently began another job and after hearing that I was not the first architect and that the client had taken over the GC role, I did some digging in public court records on my own. The previous GC is same person fired from this job for the same reasons as stated in the article before. I am doing the last technical part of this job because–I am doing this as a joint venture with a really good architect–my client has good drawings and I have a track record of getting complex things finished and through inspections. Obviously, many of us try to use the same people again and again. But what happens when that person is unavailable or the client thinks they can get a "bargain"? How do guide them and remain positive and effective? We all want projects to work out well and that takes leadership. Would enjoy hearing your comments and experiences.
#crainschicago #generalcontracting #architect #architecture #dennisrodkin #northbrook
Zoning Services
Early Wednesday, the phone rang. The number had a check mark by it so I picked up and warmly greeted, "Good morning!"
"Hi, we are going to buy this vacant lot and I want your help with designing a three unit condo building on it."
"Sounds good. What's the address?" I asked.
He told us and we looked it up on the City of Chicago's fabulous zoning site.
"The zoning district is RT-4." I observed.
"Oh, yes," the caller said "and the 4 is for the number of units I can build on the lot."
"Ummm, no, that's actually the zoning district–in this case it's residential– and the number classifies the density of the district. The number of units you can build on a lot come down to a couple of items spelled out in the district's bulk and density regulations."
"Really?" He puzzled.
"Yes, the first place is with the rule 17-17-0302 which defines the lot area per dwelling unit. In RT-4, 1,000 ft2 of lot is required per dwelling unit. What are the dimensions of your lot?"
"25 feet by 100 feet," he replied.
"Ok, so 2500 sf divide by 1000 sf per unit gives you two dwelling units."
"Really?" He sounded let down.
I continued, "the other number to keep in mind is the Floor Area Ratio."
"What's that?" He asked.
"It's a multiplier known by the acronym FAR. RT-4's FAR is 1.2"
"What does that mean for our lot?" He inquired.
"So 1.2 times 2500 feet equals 3000 square feet. So that's maximum square footage allowed. It doesn't count a basement that's more than 50% under the grade."
"So I cannot build the 3 condos I was counting on when I bid for the property." He observed.
"Exactly! Sorry to hear that but no at least you know BEFORE spending $400,000."
"I really appreciate it, William. You saved us from making a big mistake. I am gonna talk this over with my wife and I'll get back to you with another property."
So we have a full suite of advisory services. This one was pretty straightforward but many times an analysis of a property can be complex and we’ll discuss another example soon. #chicagozoning #realestate #realestateadvisory
How do you want to live?
Early Wednesday, the phone rang. The number had a check mark by it so I picked up and warmly greeted, "Good morning!"
"Hi, we are going to buy this vacant lot and I want your help with designing a three unit condo building on it."
"Sounds good. What's the address?" I asked.
He told us and we looked it up on the City of Chicago's fabulous zoning site.
"The zoning district is RT-4." I observed.
"Oh, yes," the caller said "and the 4 is for the number of units I can build on the lot."
"Ummm, no, that's actually the zoning district–in this case it's residential– and the number classifies the density of the district. The number of units you can build on a lot come down to a couple of items spelled out in the district's bulk and density regulations."
"Really?" He puzzled.
"Yes, the first place is with the rule 17-17-0302 which defines the lot area per dwelling unit. In RT-4, 1,000 ft2 of lot is required per dwelling unit. What are the dimensions of your lot?"
"25 feet by 100 feet," he replied.
"Ok, so 2500 sf divide by 1000 sf per unit gives you two dwelling units."
"Really?" He sounded let down.
I continued, "the other number to keep in mind is the Floor Area Ratio."
"What's that?" He asked.
"It's a multiplier known by the acronym FAR. RT-4's FAR is 1.2"
"What does that mean for our lot?" He inquired.
"So 1.2 times 2500 feet equals 3000 square feet. So that's maximum square footage allowed. It doesn't count a basement that's more than 50% under the grade."
"So I cannot build the 3 condos I was counting on when I bid for the property." He observed.
"Exactly! Sorry to hear that but no at least you know BEFORE spending $400,000."
"I really appreciate it, William. You saved us from making a big mistake. I am gonna talk this over with my wife and I'll get back to you with another property."
So we have a full suite of advisory services. This one was pretty straightforward but many times an analysis of a property can be complex and we’ll discuss another example soon. #chicagozoning #realestate #realestateadvisory
How do you want to live?