Craftsmen Series Question

[perryh]

Perry,
The fact that you seem unable to distinguish between good plans (which are just good instructions to a builder and which depend on technical training) and good designs (which requires some talent and design training) is exactly what I'm talking about. Some people don't see anything wrong with wearing a striped shirt with plaid pants. But they probably shouldn't promote themselves as fashion consultants. Of course, that is an "elitist" attitude.

Richard, how can you possibly talk about me as if we knew each other. I have never meet you and you have never seen any of my work. You want to talk design, OK. I did the College thing just like you, Architecture, and also studied privately with a well known Disney artist for many years. Some of my art work has received national awards, I also graduated from a 4 year art school.
I also did my time under architects for many years. That said, I'm done. Now you know a little about me. Please don't discuss peoples training without first knowing something about them.

[lbuttery]

It's the eye and mind not the degree/training

After graduating from high school, Sullivan studied architecture briefly at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Learning that he could both graduate from high school a year early and pass up the first two years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by passing a series of examinations, Sullivan entered MIT at the age of sixteen. After one year of study, he moved to Philadelphia and talked himself into a job with architect Frank Furness.


Wright attended a Madison high school but there is no evidence he ever graduated.[3] He was admitted to the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a special student in 1886. There he joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity,[4] took classes part-time for two semesters, and worked with a professor of civil engineering, Allan D. Conover.[5] In 1887, Wright left the school without taking a degree



I don't have it but my partner who has an art degree and decades of art experience does

he could get a degree in architecture and it would benefit him greatly
I, on the other hand, not so much...

Lew

[Cliff Bunyea]

Allen,

Thanks indeed for the pictures. Wow!

The kitchen: beside the retro stove, is that a built-in refrigerator that looks like the ol'
"ice box" or am I being overloaded with way too much artist work?

[tmunson]

Dorothy,

Great JOB!
Excellent attention to detail - one of the best I've seen, including some by Greene & Green.

Is that a photo or a rendering? It looks like a photo but the landscaping is so perfect.

Dorothy, thank you. I recently acquired a job where the client wants a front porch, Craftsman style, along with a remodel of the front elements of the house. I only had a vague of what he meant. This thread has been great, and especially your work.

[Allen Brown]

Cool looking fridge, huh? I think I found the website: http://oldicebox.com/

[Cliff Bunyea]

Allen,

I bookmarked that web page- slicker than a greased watermelon!

And you caught me- I made copies of your elevations (Pg 1) and they are in front of my keyboard. As I'm waiting to price a plan, I thought I would get out of this boring box and practice w/ features you and others have shown.

Allen- what roof pitch did you use -4/12 ? And curious- how did you saddle the garage to eliminate water issues against the house?

[Allen Brown]

Should have been 4/12 to stay with the craftsman style, but it was 6. The garage had a cricket.

[sherpa_jones]

I'll jump in, kinda late, and say I'm with the architects on this one. I have immense respect for anyone who has devoted several years of their life to education and then to apply that knowledge and experience and care about the details. I am just beginning to study design concepts like massing, scale, light, ect. on my spare time and I am discovering that I have much to learn. But when you actually recognize the value of these concepts, and see it in real life, you can't "unsee" it.

[WendyWelton]

Rod,

Thank you, but this architect would prefer we back up the flame train and focus more on the skill that comes with experience and the earnest study of design concepts - as you describe. And yes, study art as a good foundation. Sometimes jumping right into building design leads designers for focus on the technical and miss the subtle changes in proportion that make something really hit the mark, or not. Training yourself via art, which is free of building codes, 24" sill rules and standard length studs, will train your eye.

[amddrafting]

Aaron,

Thank you for sharing these. These are some VERY nice designs and great floor plans. Somebody there really knows what they are doing. These are great examples of a contemporary floor plan fitting well in a traditional exterior. [EDIT: In looking at these, the one design that doesn't work as well as the others for me is the "Custom" home (the one on 118th St.), which appears to be just a pastiche of style. Maybe, sorta Victorian (?) Definitely not at the same design level as the others, but illustrates very well what I was talking about in my previous post.]

@Dorothy. Tour de force.

Well I wish I could take the credit for the originals but I merely take those plans and create permit and custom sets. I also create new elevations when desired. The Tudor was mine with some input from my current boss.

I had to chuckle about your comment on the house on 118th street. My former boss (the builder) created that and I had to do it. I shiver looking at it everyday. But the floor plan is fantastic and has a ton of charm on the inside.

Most of the credit for our home plans and designs comes from these architects.

http://www.donaldpowersarchitects.com/

However, some of the builders in our builder's guild have added their own flavor based on each client's taste.

[Alaskan Son]

Rod,
Sometimes jumping right into building design leads designers for focus on the technical and miss the subtle changes in proportion that make something really hit the mark, or not.

How do you decide something "hits the mark"? Because its been done the same way over and over again?

[sherpa_jones]

No intention to flame here. And that is interesting that you say, Wendy, as I have been considering taking my bachelors in Fine Arts.

[WendyWelton]

How do you decide something "hits the mark"? Because its been done the same way over and over again?

That's the gazillion dollar question now isn't it? It's a little bit like the Supreme Court's definition of pornography "can't define it, but know it when I see it". Even then, one person's provocative art is another persons mortal sin. I think even "hits the mark" with architecture is like that - has a significant personal preference component, regional differences, even generational and class differences.

[RMorrison]

That's the gazillion dollar question now isn't it? It's a little bit like the Supreme Court's definition of pornography "can't define it, but know it when I see it". Even then, one person's provocative art is another persons mortal sin. I think even "hits the mark" with architecture is like that - has a significant personal preference component, regional differences, even generational and class differences.

Louis Sullivan has written extensively about how architecture expresses the intellect and abilities of the person who has designed it, and how one can almost see the quality of the inner life of that person. (Although probably there are many more influences on a design now than there were in his day.) Someone who can "see" architecture and design can perceive ability, even if the design is distasteful, though. For example, I am not sure if many of Zaha Hadid's work should even have been built, but I stand in awe of her design ability. Similarly, many works of Daniel Libeskind. But I am willing to put my own preferences on hold out of respect for the artistic vision. I am not as generous with amateurish blunders, however. These just make me sad.

[sherpa_jones]

For example, I am not sure if many of Zaha Hadid's work should even have been built, but I stand in awe of her design ability.

I did a quick google search of her work. I have to admit that I felt a little lost looking at her buildings. I'm not sure where to look at, and what I am looking at. I will admit the design is impressive, but I just don't get it. The function of the building is lost on me.