Fun Design Challenge

[Steven Hockstein]

This is a house under construction designed by AHM Architects. The stair tower was fun to figure out. 

[Jim Katen]

No curved windows? 

[Marc]

What sort of shingle can protect roofs, walls and can curve that way?

[Steven Hockstein]

1 hour ago, Jim Katen said:

No curved windows? 

No.  The house is under four million. Curved windows are too expensive. Roof will be metal.  Curved wall section is mostly Azek. We laminated plywood for sheathing. 

Edited April 28, 2018 by Steven Hockstein

[Tom Raymond]

$4 million dollar house the builder probably agrees with you on the fun. A $1 million dollar house they'd have been calling you Martha Focker. 

The last house I built was $1 mil. The stair didn't fit. And, out of 27 corners in front elevation, it had to be tucked into the one that was 3" out of square. 

Edited April 29, 2018 by Tom Raymond
Spelling

[John Kogel]

Washing those windows will be a PITA.

They can do whatever they want, but if I was building for those prices, it would be an efficient design, not something that will need endless upkeep. On the upside, it will provide employment, and that's a good thing.

 

[Steven Hockstein]

5 hours ago, John Kogel said:

Washing those windows will be a PITA.

They can do whatever they want, but if I was building for those prices, it would be an efficient design, not something that will need endless upkeep. On the upside, it will provide employment, and that's a good thing.

 

Not sure what you mean by an "Efficient" design.  The house surpasses energy code requirements. The exterior materials are low maintenance.

Worrying about window washing on a custom home is  like someone buying a Range Rover and asking only about the gas mileage.  The people that buy this house are not washing their own windows. They have people like us to do it for them!

I could only imagine what architectural design would be like if the main concern of the design was low upkeep. 

PS- I drive a VW

 

Edited May 1, 2018 by Steven Hockstein

[Les]

Steven, is there a particular reason every other rafter in the dome terminates in a sawn point?  how is that piece held in place?

 

[Marc]

9 hours ago, Les said:

Steven, is there a particular reason every other rafter in the dome terminates in a sawn point?  how is that piece held in place?

 

I would've preferred purlins.

[Steven Hockstein]

16 hours ago, Marc said:

I would've preferred purlins.

There will be hurricane ties installed along the bottom plate. The plate ring is a continuous laminated circle and cannot deform. I suspect that will be the strongest roof in town!

 

The intersecting roof is more like a cricket and is built over the dome to divert water. It will not be seen from the ground.

[John Kogel]

Sorry if I ruffled your feathers, Steven. I am not belittling the work you have done there, not at all.

I wonder at the logic of building a silo into the side of a house, but it looks fantastic. Good job.

[Les]

I don't care what those other guys are saying - I am claiming to know the guy that designed that place.  I really like to see work done by others that I can't do!

 

[Steven Hockstein]

I just wanted to know what you meant by efficient design. No offense taken. Design aesthetic is subjective. 

I attached a few photos of other stairways we designed.

An engineer designs a stairway to allow people to travel from one floor to another. Function typically trumps aesthetic.

An Architect designs a stairway that does the same thing but also tries to make it a beautiful experience travel on the stairway.

Meanwhile the building contractor tries to figure out how to build what the architect draws.

Hopefully everyone works together to make it happen successfully.

A home inspector looks at it after it is built and tries to determine what is wrong with it.

Thanks Les!