Don’t move, Improve! is a London-based breath of fresh air.
We love finding inspiration and lately, we’ve been spending a lot of time salivating over amazing small residential projects in London. We have always found inspiration in John Pawson’s work. Like Mies, he distills design to its essence, realizing a transcendent domestic simplicity.
So take a look at some of these fantastic projects and let us know which ones you fancy. Don’t Move, Improve!
#Don’tMoveImprove #LondonResidentialArchitect #LondonSmallArchitectureFirm #ChicagoHouseAdditionArchitect
We love finding inspiration and lately, we’ve been spending a lot of time salivating over amazing small residential projects in London. We have always found inspiration in John Pawson’s work. Like Mies, he distills design to its essence, realizing a transcendent domestic simplicity.
So take a look at some of these fantastic projects and let us know which ones you fancy. Don’t Move, Improve!
#Don’tMoveImprove #LondonResidentialArchitect #LondonSmallArchitectureFirm #ChicagoHouseAdditionArchitect
The Architect you Hire and do they have the right skillset, open-mindedness, experience and humility to ask the question “Are we solving the right problem?” before pushing ahead on something that may not be the right solution, fit, sustainable or be financially prudent?
The blank sheet of paper can be the most terrifying of opportunities for a designer. But the blank sheet of paper also has the most potential for increasing the bottom line and the common good. For instance, here in Lincoln Park a local architect who mainly designs luxury housing designed–what do ya know!–a 59 foot tall luxury development with classrooms stuffed into it. It requires displacing 15 families and tearing down a 15 unit apartment building who homes are an average of 2300 sf. The demolition, the dust, the loss of embodied carbon, the risk of harming the neighboring historic buildings including one designed in 1910 by Dwight Heald Perkins, whose son went on to found Perkins and Will outweight any benefits? In fact, is there a better way forward of Parker and the neighborhood?
Or a number of us–a diverse team–who work build large, complex $100 million plus construction projects, geothermal conversions and on school projects came together to present an alternative that supports Parker’s desire to expand but is also a win for the neighborhood and, ultimately, Parker’s bottom line? First we are expanding on Parker’s existing spacious 6 acre property. We propose filling in a 13,565 sf corner–the school’s architect innaccurately claimed it was 7,500 sf–where Parker once had a building. (See the 1896 Sanborn map and the red polygon.)
How? We will dig into the numbers...
So have a look at some of these fantastic images in the meantime.
#FrancisParker #AldermanTimmyKnudsen #ward43 #Chicago #ChipVonWeise #SustainbleChicago #chicagolandmarks #stopparker #chicagolandmarks #midnorthassociation
The blank sheet of paper can be the most terrifying of opportunities for a designer. But the blank sheet of paper also has the most potential for increasing the bottom line and the common good. For instance, here in Lincoln Park a local architect who mainly designs luxury housing designed–what do ya know!–a 59 foot tall luxury development with classrooms stuffed into it. It requires displacing 15 families and tearing down a 15 unit apartment building who homes are an average of 2300 sf. The demolition, the dust, the loss of embodied carbon, the risk of harming the neighboring historic buildings including one designed in 1910 by Dwight Heald Perkins, whose son went on to found Perkins and Will outweight any benefits? In fact, is there a better way forward of Parker and the neighborhood?
Or a number of us–a diverse team–who work build large, complex $100 million plus construction projects, geothermal conversions and on school projects came together to present an alternative that supports Parker’s desire to expand but is also a win for the neighborhood and, ultimately, Parker’s bottom line? First we are expanding on Parker’s existing spacious 6 acre property. We propose filling in a 13,565 sf corner–the school’s architect innaccurately claimed it was 7,500 sf–where Parker once had a building. (See the 1896 Sanborn map and the red polygon.)
How? We will dig into the numbers...
So have a look at some of these fantastic images in the meantime.
#FrancisParker #AldermanTimmyKnudsen #ward43 #Chicago #ChipVonWeise #SustainbleChicago #chicagolandmarks #stopparker #chicagolandmarks #midnorthassociation
The Green or Organic Farmer's Market in Lincoln Park only has a handful of accredited organic farmers
Our favorite Farmer’s Market is the Green Farmers Market here in Lincoln Park is one of our favorite places. But if you ask the farmers you get some surprises. One told me that they spray glycosphate to control weeds on the periphery of their property. Does the glycosphate then make its way on to the lettuce or the broccoli I buy? I dunno. So created a short–and not complete–list of farmers who go the extra mile and expense to be be accredited by an outside body so they are really organic. Here are three that frequent the Saturday market.
Growing Home is local to Chicago and awesome because they create local jobs and show us Chicagoans to eat better. Flatwater Farms is located in Buchanan, Michigan, and has wonderfully sweet carrots. And the third I want to mention is Wholesome Harvest in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. And remember to look at the signs and make sure that your produce is actually organic rather “natural” or another euphemism for a farmer that could by spraying glycosphate on their field and not telling you.
#GreenCity #GreenCityMarket #ward43 #Chicago #SustainbleChicago #midnorthassociation
Our favorite Farmer’s Market is the Green Farmers Market here in Lincoln Park is one of our favorite places. But if you ask the farmers you get some surprises. One told me that they spray glycosphate to control weeds on the periphery of their property. Does the glycosphate then make its way on to the lettuce or the broccoli I buy? I dunno. So created a short–and not complete–list of farmers who go the extra mile and expense to be be accredited by an outside body so they are really organic. Here are three that frequent the Saturday market.
Growing Home is local to Chicago and awesome because they create local jobs and show us Chicagoans to eat better. Flatwater Farms is located in Buchanan, Michigan, and has wonderfully sweet carrots. And the third I want to mention is Wholesome Harvest in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. And remember to look at the signs and make sure that your produce is actually organic rather “natural” or another euphemism for a farmer that could by spraying glycosphate on their field and not telling you.
#GreenCity #GreenCityMarket #ward43 #Chicago #SustainbleChicago #midnorthassociation
Colors Weave an Interior Together
We offer color and interior design services. Sometimes we begin with a painting like this one by Robert Vickrey. Sometimes we begin with a piece of furniture like this Tokyo Bed and Sideboard designed by Piero Lissoni. The two colors–White Sand and Western Reserve by Emerald from Sherwin Williams–bring it all together.
#ChicagoInteriorArchitect
We offer color and interior design services. Sometimes we begin with a painting like this one by Robert Vickrey. Sometimes we begin with a piece of furniture like this Tokyo Bed and Sideboard designed by Piero Lissoni. The two colors–White Sand and Western Reserve by Emerald from Sherwin Williams–bring it all together.
#ChicagoInteriorArchitect
City of Chicago Building Permits
What's the difference between the standard permit process and the self-certification permit process in the City of Chicago? What are the advantages of each? What's a revision permit? Which is right for your project? Ask us!
All architecture drawings first go through the Department of Zoning, no matter if they are self-cert or the standard permit process. Dependent on the size of the queue, that takes a couple of weeks.
The standard permit process is the safest and most secure way of getting a permit. Why? Because all of the permit drawings are looked at by the different disciplines at the department of buildings and they leave their comments and, ultimately, give their approval. Thus the drawings comply with the provisions of the Chicago Building Code and the inspectors must accept their authority and abide by them. The standard permit process takes three around months if there are no more than one set corrections. Always expect corrections. That’s just the nature of the beast. It’s better for complex projects and ones with a high bar of scrutiny like daycare centers. In fact new all new build projects must go through the standard permit process.
On the other hand, a self-certified permit is one where the architect swears the drawings comply with the all of the applicable municipal codes. The Department of Zoning still examines the drawings and once Zoning blesses them then the Department of Buildings stamps them “approved contingent upon inspection.” Thus, the drawings and the built building are only approved by the Department of Buildings once the project has passed all of the required inspections. That’s a big difference and is also why we reserve the right in our contracts to approve the use of a contractor. We try to vet all of the contractors we work with so that we are all on the right side of the law and committed to making a great building where it meets the holy grail of on spec, on budget and on time.
Self-cert permits are allowed for renovations and are only good for simpler projects. They have the advantage of taking only a few weeks in addition to the Zoning examinations.
In summary, self-cert permit permits take 3 to 4 weeks total whereas the standard permit process can takes a minimum of 3 months. Self-cert is good for simple renovations whereas the standard permit process is required for new builds and more complex projects like daycare centers. Big changes to the Chicago Department of Buildings Permit Process later this year. Stay tuned!
#Don’tMoveImprove #ChicagoResidentialArchitect #ChicagoSmallArchitectureFirm #ChicagoHouseAdditionArchitect #buildingpermitschicago #chicagogeneralcontractor
What's the difference between the standard permit process and the self-certification permit process in the City of Chicago? What are the advantages of each? What's a revision permit? Which is right for your project? Ask us!
All architecture drawings first go through the Department of Zoning, no matter if they are self-cert or the standard permit process. Dependent on the size of the queue, that takes a couple of weeks.
The standard permit process is the safest and most secure way of getting a permit. Why? Because all of the permit drawings are looked at by the different disciplines at the department of buildings and they leave their comments and, ultimately, give their approval. Thus the drawings comply with the provisions of the Chicago Building Code and the inspectors must accept their authority and abide by them. The standard permit process takes three around months if there are no more than one set corrections. Always expect corrections. That’s just the nature of the beast. It’s better for complex projects and ones with a high bar of scrutiny like daycare centers. In fact new all new build projects must go through the standard permit process.
On the other hand, a self-certified permit is one where the architect swears the drawings comply with the all of the applicable municipal codes. The Department of Zoning still examines the drawings and once Zoning blesses them then the Department of Buildings stamps them “approved contingent upon inspection.” Thus, the drawings and the built building are only approved by the Department of Buildings once the project has passed all of the required inspections. That’s a big difference and is also why we reserve the right in our contracts to approve the use of a contractor. We try to vet all of the contractors we work with so that we are all on the right side of the law and committed to making a great building where it meets the holy grail of on spec, on budget and on time.
Self-cert permits are allowed for renovations and are only good for simpler projects. They have the advantage of taking only a few weeks in addition to the Zoning examinations.
In summary, self-cert permit permits take 3 to 4 weeks total whereas the standard permit process can takes a minimum of 3 months. Self-cert is good for simple renovations whereas the standard permit process is required for new builds and more complex projects like daycare centers. Big changes to the Chicago Department of Buildings Permit Process later this year. Stay tuned!
#Don’tMoveImprove #ChicagoResidentialArchitect #ChicagoSmallArchitectureFirm #ChicagoHouseAdditionArchitect #buildingpermitschicago #chicagogeneralcontractor