I’m building a home soon and I think I’ve narrowed down my architect(s). the (s) is the problem….
On one side I have a great guy who is “old school,” very detailed, and has a very creative eye. He also seems to abhor poor quality, flimsy jobs which is a big +. On the other side, I have new talent, a green/sustainable designer who specializes in everything from passive solar, thermal mass, green building products, geothermal, etc. Sustainable design is very important to me and my husband, but his designs do not have the same feel. The green architect’s work is nice, just not VERY nice. Whereas, the former architect seems solid, well versed, and unique but he knows very little about sustainable design. Who should I favor? Do you think it’s realistic to think that it could work to have the green builder work as a consultant on the older architect’s plan?
Replies
I think you've already decided. I recommend that you go with who you feel the most comfortable with to understand your wants (the experienced one, if I read your post correctly).
Then, discuss with that experienced person about the green and sustainable things that you would like to try and do. They will then give you the benefit of their (probably large) experience and help you avoid getting into trouble.
Designing a house is hard enough, and building one that much harder, that you will want to hire the very best that you can find, architect and GC.
Don't forget to check references on both! Someone who 'seems' competent may not be, no matter what your gut tells you. If your instinct is good AND the references are good, then you've found your person. Ask the references too if the architect can work well with others, i.e. your green consultant.
Well I hate to name names....I know one of them at least subscribes so...
Let me know what you think. I asked the older John Carnivale (http://www.affordabehouse.com) for ref's and he said wouldn't give me names of home owners because he wanted to protect their privacy. Said he'd been around enough not to have to prove himself. Was very nice though and threw out that he recently did a home for a congressman. I didn't get to that phase with younger greener gentleman Jeffery Tole (http://www.turtleislanddesign) yet but seems like he'd probably be ok with it. Well if either are reading this "HI!" I think you're BOTH great. THat's why it's so hard. Take a look at their sites and let me know what you guys think.
Thanks,
esther
I have a tendency, particularly after reading the thread heading, to think that timeless beauty IS sustainable. Good design, quality construction, and forethought reduce use, reduce rework, and improve with age. That to me is a sustainable practice. Probably not up there with some of the other "green" building ideas, but certainly, better than implementing low-energy ideas just for the sake of implementing them. And there's nothing to say you can't have both; by going with the one architect, it might not be a totally green...but certainly some ideas can be incorporated.
I work with several arch firms..and the choice you have to make is a hard one... keep in mind, that the arch is not the builder, design work should be one that satisfies all of your needs , not only the floor plans, but the mech,ele,and plumbing needs you have as well as the current/modern amenities you may want,,,, the old school is ok, however take a close look at what the new school has to offer..... youth in design may surprise you, as well as the efforts they may take in pleasing you as they have to prove themselves. Check references, and find out about the builders the intend to use......Mark
Going by the contents of their respective websites, I'd tend to favor Mr. Carnivale. How "old school" is he? The plans on his website look like they could have been photocopied from 1920's plan sets. I've been studying historic architecture for years, and I've perused every historic plans folio I can find--and if I didn't know better, I'd believe that these were reproductions of early 20th century works. Not only is the lettering and drawing style typical of that era, but the actual floorplans are unlike anything done since the depression. The only immediate clue otherwise might be the lack of servants' quarters.
It's not the historic look of Mr. Carnivale's drawings that impresses me though--it's the actual plans. Axial planning, enfilades, hierarchy of spaces, balance, a purposeful use of symmetry/assymetry, a knowing sense of proportion--all good, important planning techniques that have been forsaken by all but a handful of schools. This is the stuff that separates a "house planner" from an "Architect."
There aren't enough photographs to be able to discern how well Mr. Carnivale actually resolves finishes and details, but one might assume based on the quality of his planning that the details are up to snuff. The question begs, why aren't there more photos of finished works?
I wonder though--if one is building a 3,000 square foot house, is a 5' by 14' kitchen and a couple of 5' by 8' bathrooms really adequate?
Mr. Toal's work is competent, but I think I see what you mean by his work being nice, but not very nice. I don't think the work shown shows a particularly good sense of proportion or knowledge of details--at least when it comes to traditional stuff. Fenestration, trim, and details all seem common. Decent enough, but not masterful by any means. Offhand I wouldn't think that he's got the same kind of formal training or historical background in his education. Details matter a great deal, and proportion matters even more. If you have a discerning eye, do you really want to live with something second rate?
You might be able to persuade Mr. Carnivale to utilize some principles of sustainable building, but in my experience it's pretty hard to teach connoiseurship to someone who just doesn't have it.
Or, you might hunt through back issues of "The Classicist," or some such publication and find a better architect for your needs.
Edited 7/2/2002 1:36:09 AM ET by Tellurian
your selection should be the one withthe pleasing design.. but I don't like his attitude. How do you know if you can work with him if he won't provide references.
You should be able to talk to other Owners to find out about working relationships and how the construction phase was handled.
Maybe you really haven't finished your search. Good design , pleasing to the eye, and liveability of the spaces are paramount.
BUT... while you are building it, you hve to have a good working relationship with the Architect and the Builder.. it is a 3-horse team...the Architect, the Builder , and the Owner. If one is pulling against the other two, it doesn't go very well.
AND... after you build it you have to maintain it.. is he integrating materials that are easy to live with and require low maintenance .. or is he designing another high-maintenance monument to his vision of what architecture is all about. Without references and feedback from previous Owners and builders, you will have no way of knowing.
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 7/2/2002 12:16:26 PM ET by Mike Smith
Esther, If he will not give you names of the home owners ask for builders that he has worked with. This will answer questions about his designs and how well he plays with others.
JW
Thanks everyone for your feedback. I really appreciate your thoughts. One of the reasons I am leaning towards Mr. Canivale is price. When I talked with him a while back asking him why his cost for designing a house was so low, he said something like, "let's put it this way, my family has lived in the same house for 350 years and I'm not in it for the money." He also admitted that his website wasn't quite up to snuff but I think I'm going to purchase his book which I assume has more real life pictures of his completed homes. I'll ask for a way around the reference issue. I think asking for names of builders is a good idea. He also lives in statan island and I live in western MA, is this a bad idea? Well we'll see how this fleshes out but in the meantime I'll take all the good advice I can get!
Peace be with you all, as corney as it sounds...its the truth so I hope you all have a great day!
esther