Report from the Field – Spanish Oaks

Mini-tour of home construction commencing at one of our projects in the Spanish Oaks subdivision.

Andersen Windows VERILOCK System

Recently, Shan and I visited the Andersen Window plant in Bayport, Minnesota.  We learned a LOT about windows, including details about the Andersen VERILOCK system. Whereas the traditional approach to window security involves drilling into the frame to install some sort of device, the Andersen windows come already prepared to integrate with most home automation systems.  This is important because if you drill a hole into a beautiful wood window, you can create some real problems, such as drilling into the wrong place and ruining it.  Even if the window isn’t ruined, the warranty on the window is immediately invalidated.  That means that should anything go wrong, the cost of replacement falls completely on you, the homeowner.

The reason window manufacturers place such restrictions around having framers and security technicians drill holes in their precision windows is due to the problems putting a hole in a window can cause – not just to the window but to the entire home!  For instance, one hole drilled into a window could cause the water to drain right into the building envelope causing major problems, such as mold.  Windows, especially Andersen windows, are engineered very precisely to channel water a certain way and drain a certain way.  You can see, then, how drilling a hole can change all of that, causing the flow of water the change.

So, if you aren’t going to drill a hole into the window, how do you send a signal to a security system?  Well, wireless of course!  Thus was born the VERILOCK system.  We were honored to have one of the minds behind this great technology at our last Luxury Home Show, Sachin Gore.  Although the system is fairly new on the market, already the opportunities for technological advancement are vast!  For instance, using this technology, you could:

1.  Have a smart phone notify you if a window is unlocked.  (No more sleepless nights for mothers of teenagers!)

2.  Have the smart phone lock the window.

3.  Design a system of opening certain windows at a certain times during the day to allow fresh air into the home.

The Verilock system itself doesn’t contain the technology to program the windows, but it does have a cross-platform technology that will work with most home automation systems.  So, it is extremely flexible in this regard.  The technology is really only limited to the imagination of its programmers.  Can you think of a unique use for this technology in a home or office building?  How would you use it?

Stay tuned for other great Andersen Windows products…this company is heavy on innovation, one of the main reasons we really like them!

The Newest In Design Technology

In previous posts we’ve written about our fascinating new software, Autodesk® Revit® Architecture, but this is a home we recently designed using this latest in CAD technology. All of the photos shown here are of the same home, as seen from different angles. This home is now under construction in The Reserve at Lake Travis.

This 8,000+ square foot project has beautiful lake views and plenty of real estate but is located almost entirely in the flood plain. Our solution was to re-use fill from the front of the project in the back and raise the home as shown. A reflecting pool in the front of the home has been designed to draw guests in and then appears to flow into a creek in the back yard.

One of the most amazing features of this home, and there are many, is the “man room”. It is a wild game trophy room complete with wet bar, dedicated bathroom, pool table, and covered balcony, located away from the main house. Another amazing feature in the planning stages is the Plexiglas hallway that looks down onto the water feature below. The “piece de resistance”, though, is the fantastic views from the glass main living area.

Here we used Revit Architecture to do the heavy lifting of the design work. Revit, which is simply the 3D, colorized version of CAD, produced by the makers of CAD software to be the next generation of CAD, allowed our design team to show these homeowners the architecture of their home in 3D, both on our plasma screen in our office in real time, and in still photo-realistic shots. We produced the drawing shown on this page with Revit; however, what is more impressive is the virtual tour, shown below.

How It Works

“People think that it’s this veneer – that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make this look good!’. That’s not what we think design is.  It’s not just what it looks like and feels like.   Design is how it works.”

- Steve Jobs

Although volumes have been written in the pursuit of defining “good design”, the above quote, taken from page 10 of the book Design Is How It Works by Jay Greene, may be the best summary of that elusive definition that I’ve found.  Makes sense – considering the source.

However, if you think about it, this quote can be reduced to that age old adage, “Form vs. Function”. That is really what he’s saying isn’t it?  Form without Function doesn’t make good design.  It may look great, but if it doesn’t work, what use is it?

Although I never thought of it in exactly those terms, that really is at the heart of the design/build philosophy of project delivery.  Unless the architect and his team of professionals seamlessly collaborate with the builder and his team of professionals, the “how it works” part remains illusive.  Frankly, the Jurassic method of employing the architect to oversee the builder is woefully inadequate.  You would think that with modern technology that method of project delivery would be as efficient as ever.  Not so.  Technology has quickly advanced construction materials and methods at a pace and breadth beyond what the architect and builder can master together, much less separately.  Add the rapid adoption rate of BIM (Building Information Modeling) to the equation, and it becomes even more apparent the need – or better yet, requirement – for better, more efficient team collaboration.

Accepting the requirement for collaborative design/build, there is no way to execute this philosophy better than within the walls of the true design/build firm.  Separately, the architect and builder will always rest on their primal need for self preservation.  In other words, at the end of the day, the architect ultimately only cares about his reputation and his business, and the same goes for the builder.  Within the true design/build firm, this basic conflict is removed as neither discipline is more important than the other, and the client is the ultimate winner.  Finally, when the designer and builder are united in matrimony, they can give birth to their twins “Form” and “Function” and ultimately, the project (home) not only looks great, but IT WORKS great also.  Ahhhh – triumph!

The Benefits Of In-House Design

In the custom home industry, there are basically two delivery methods: design/build and traditional bid and build. Among design/build firms there are two delivery methods as well. There is in-house design and outsourced design. With in-house design, the architect or residential designer is on staff. With outsourced design, the architect or residential designer works for him or herself, or for a separate firm. In Austin, most builders outsource the design. Shan Jenkins, of Jenkins Custom Homes, has done it both ways, and he strongly advocates the in-house design approach for a variety of reasons. Some of his reasons, like the cost savings and time savings, are very practical. Others, like the way the client has more control over the creative process, are less obvious to the casual observer. Either way you cut it, however, it makes building a new home a better experience for everyone.

The practical reasons for having a residential designer in-house are the time savings and cost savings it allows the client. In the case of Jenkins, because the designers work in the same office as the supervisors and cost estimator (not to mention the rest of the staff), they have almost instant access to the resources they need to provide cost feedback to the client on design details. For instance, “I like that wrought iron detail but not at that cost. Is there a way to achieve the same look with less expense?” This means that work proceeds at a much faster pace, especially throughout the design phase. Also, having an in-house designer is one of the reasons Jenkins can guarantee that the cost is within 5% of the initial budget.

However, a less obvious reason Shan Jenkins believes in this approach is that having the design team in-house means that the client has more control over the creative process. When a builder outsources their design work, the client must explain his or her wishes to the builder, who then submits the change to the designer. Quite often, what the client had envisioned and what the designer returns are two very different things. So the client must again attempt to explain what he or she wanted, and the builder must again submit it to the designer. After a few weeks of that type of back and forth, many clients will simply settle for what they have been given, just so they can move forward with the process of building their new home. With Jenkins, the client is continually interfacing with the designer, which means the design evolves in real time, with the client present to give his or her input, the designer sketching each detail as the client speaks. Want to add a half bath by the door to the pool? No problem. The designer can sketch it in right there during the meeting on trace paper and, if it isn’t the way you envisioned it, you can correct it right there on the spot. Shortly thereafter, the team will provide you with cost data on that additional bath. Before any changes are made to the plan, you can decide if it’s worth the extra money. It’s a win-win for both the client and the builder. The synergy that is created from having everyone working together as a team to accomplish the desires of the client means a superior home and a superior home building experience.

Top 5 Kitchen Trends for 2010

There is possibly no more important room in your house than the kitchen. The kitchen is the hub of activity, the source of sustenance, and the number one room a potential buyer will consider when choosing a new home. That is why designing the kitchen must be done with an eye to the current trends. Here are just a few of the trends we found for 2010.

• Kitchens are getting bigger. “It seems as though families are getting smaller and at the same ti me, kitchens are getting bigger. Designers are using industrial appliances, state-of-the-art cabinets and countertop materials, and including a kitchen island whenever possible.” (source: http://interiordec.about.com/od/kitchenislands/a/a_kitchenisland.htm)
• Kitchens are getting to be more earth-friendly. “Eco-friendly is all the rage these days, but most notably in the kitchen where a few small changes can make a significant impact. You can use inexpensive recycled or natural materials such as recycled glass counter tops or formaldehyde-free bamboo for work surfaces and flooring. Convenient built-in recycling centers and food composters can save space and make recycling simple. The overall idea is making the kitchen effortlessly eco-friendly so that being green isn’t a sacrifice, it’s just an easy part of your everyday life.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are focusing on being both convenient and multi-purpose. “This year’s kitchen features products that are…all about convenience-meets-multifunctionality.” (source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,1637271,00.html) What does that mean? Well, “sinks with accessories, such as built-in preparation boards, colanders, and/or drain trays…storage that is both stylish and highly engineered…Cupboard inserts and custom storage areas with adjustable dividers and pull out baskets…appliances set on wheels or movable islands which allow you to easily rearrange the kitchen for convenient preparation, cleaning, and entertaining… which is not just multi-functional, but also kind of fun.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more colorful. Color trends change regularly, but the top color choices for kitchens include “Creamy Neutrals, Veiled Violets, A Gamut of Grays, Pale & Punchy Greens, Bold Turquoise” (source: http://www.kitchens.com//design/color/color-trends/color-trends-2010.aspx). Also consider that “Unexpected flashes of color and bold shapes are all the rage, and offer a nice juxtaposition to the earthy mellowness of the eco-friendly trend.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more high-tech. “Just like every other aspect of our lives, kitchens are featuring more technology than ever. A lot of this technology is focused on making the kitchen more enjoyable and adding a bit of the “wow” factor. From flat-screen televisions and computer-based entertainment systems to retracting ventilation hoods and gas burners, technology can make the kitchen more fun, convenient, and cool. The kitchen is both a social and functional space in the home. Small additions, like a small mobile device charging station, really illustrate this point. Imagine your family returning home in the evening, immediately plugging in their mobile devices, and congregating in the kitchen to catch up with each other.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)