Architectural Articles
Choosing a House Design
"What should my new house look like?"
Seeking the answer to this important question requires a close working relationship between you and your architect. Good communication is vital to convey your needs and desires and to critique the architect's proposals.
Seldom does the finished design pop into the architect's head (Eureka!) with a quick sketch on a restaurant napkin. Designing the ideal home, or a compatible addition to your present house, is a collaborative process requiring time and effort, which I call "co-design."
Among the more significant factors in determining the appearance of a new residence are the homeowners' desires, budget and site. Homeowners have communicated their hopes and dreams to me in a variety of ways. One person made a rough but well thought out sketch of a desired floor plan. Another brought in a page for discussion from one of those l01 Floor Plans books that tend be capricious and sometimes confusing. Another individual had carefully filed book and magazine clippings to communicate the image of their ideal home.
From this information and the helpful discussions that they generate, an "architectural program" will be compiled to list each of the activities and spaces, their characteristics and approximate sizes.
A preliminary budget set by the owner will determine the square footage, volume, and number of stories. Cost will often govern the homeowners' selection of products and materials. You may dream of rare hardwood flooring throughout the house but your budget may dictate carpeting in some areas.
The site, whether an urban lot or rural acreage, will profoundly determine the building's shape, location and style. On rural acreage, the path of the sun and wind may determine the location and layout of the house. On a city lot, design review boards may have something to say about what gets built. The architect may design in context of the existing neighborhood, requiring the new structure to have a compatible sense of scale, style, materials, and landscaping. Even rural sites, which may not have close neighbors, can be designed in a regional or historical context. Local architects are sensitive to the architectural heritage, natural environment and micro-climates of Monterey County.
The talent, training and experience of the architect is, of course, another significant factor influencing the design product. One way to judge whether you share an architect's sense of beauty is to see a portfolio of his or her work, or visit a finished residence. With the architect's ability to communicate through hand drawn illustrations and computer generated images, you should be able to get a pretty good idea what your "baby" will look like before it is delivered.
Published in The Californian
