The drywall is complete @ the millcreek house and painting should be finished in the next week. The metal cladding is being delivered next week, so the outside should see some change in the next month. It’s very nice and snug in there – the Insulspan walls are serving it well.
I ask because this is an example of a design we were working on for a development in suburban Edmonton. The requirements were for a sustainable modern home with limitations on square footage based on number of bedrooms as established by the neighbourhood architectural controls. This and three other models we designed will not be built because of concerns about buyer interest. The problem seems to be a conflict between wants, needs and expectations.
To us, a walk-in-closet is a luxury not a need. When you think about it, it’s really a waste of square footage. A walk-in requires dedicated floor area to stand in and gaze at your clothes. Same thing with a regular closet, just you happen to be standing in the bedroom in view of your bed instead of a separate room. Similarly, what’s wrong with a laundry in the basement? If I can get a decent sized room that I can hang clothes in during cold winter months and have room to fold, I’d much prefer that to a closet near the bedrooms so I don’t have to walk. But maybe that’s just me.
I’d pay for a nice design, sustainable features like extra insulation and a solar-ready mechanical room, and a courtyard that extended the outdoor living season in Edmonton with a fireplace. I want my kids to be in the dining room when they’re doing homework so I can watch and help them. I don’t want a separate room for a computer where they can hide. I don’t mind a tv room in the basement.
I don’t live in the suburbs. Maybe that’s why I don’t get it. But I’m sure there must be people who want to live in the suburbs and yet value smaller footprints and design excellence. Granted, it wouldn’t be inexpensive - probably in the $650K range. But that’s still less than it’d cost to buy a property in a mature neighbourhood and build new. 
I attended a workshop yesterday held by the City of Edmonton as part of the development of their long-term strategic plan for people services. The conversation focused on how places + spaces contribute to our life in Edmonton and was engaging + thought-provoking. The overarching concern, interestingly, was sustainability and how that affects everything we do, plan and envision. Without a sustainable intent, people services be they policing, parks or facilities are doomed to fail.
An example of this theme was heard in the agreement that people places first need to reinforce and support a community at a local level. There was general concern that the multiplex model, while fiscally efficient, contributes to vehicle use, isolation + homogeneity. In contrast, the traditional model of school/community league/playground/rink and/or playing fields reinforces community connections through its intimate scale that encourages neighborhood gatherings, cross-generational interaction and accessible fitness. Granted, this model cannot exist in isolation of other opportunities provided by swimming pools + larger facilities. But it should not be discarded in favour of a one-size-fits-all solution.
Another discussion theme revolved around creating a “geography of place” for Edmonton. In contrast to the “placeless-ness” exhibited by many North American cities, including Edmonton’s suburbs, a geography of place would create an immediately identifiable urban fabric. It would be rooted in this northern landscape, connected by the river + ravines, informed by the plants, animals + ecosystems that sustain the city and acknowledge history and first peoples. Places + spaces that evolve out of the region will have more poetry, identity and meaning than ideas + designs transplanted from distant cities. Start and the river and work out along the ravines. Protect those sacred spaces, daylight buried waterways, rejuvenate lost land, honor precious arable soil. Celebrate winter. Protect dark skies. Revel in long summer days.
Dream a magic city. Make it happen.
DESIGN, SOLAR PANELS AND FOOTPRINTS – WHERE TO BEGIN?
With fall, thoughts start to turn with some trepidation to another heating season. If you’re tired of high utility costs you might be contemplating a renovation or even starting from scratch. It’s not too late to plan for a construction start in the spring of next year. With the downturn in the economy, construction costs are decreasing and government grants for home renovations are available. Media is filled with articles on green homes, energy alternatives, green roofs….the choices are dizzying and you may be wondering where to begin and how to make the best choices for your project and family.
Your first step should be to clearly establish the project goals that will then be used to check every following decision. Aim to establish visionary goals that go beyond “I’d like a really nice walk-in-closet”. Your guiding principle could be to spend less money on utilities, maximize efficient use of space, or allow for aging-in place. You may have more than one goal, but they should be compatible. It is difficult to reconcile an aspiration to have a sustainable home with a 5,000 square foot area requirement.
Once you have established your guiding principles seek out the advice of a professional – either an architect or a builder. Builders typically offer design services as part of the construction services in a design/build agreement. A reputable builder will have a clear contract that you will review and sign prior to beginning any work. For renovation projects, RenomarkTM is a good place to start to find a professional, reliable contractor- reputable builders will happily provide references. Review their portfolio and assess whether their style and approach is compatible with your dreams.
An architect can offer a unique set of skills acquired in years of training both in university and in practice. Architects are not merely designers – an average house design involves building science, negotiations with city authorities, material selections, site analysis, solar studies, and marital counselling. A good architect will provide an innovative and personalized solution that is unique to you, your family and your site. Typically, a full service architectural agreement will result in a set of construction documents that are more comprehensive than a builder package. Architectural fees are usually calculated as a percentage of building cost and therefore increase as the budget does – reflective of the increasing work required for a larger project. Make sure you review the architect’s portfolio and that you like the firm’s body of work – the relationship is doomed to fail if you dream of a Victorian mansion and your architect is a modernist. Similarly, if you are particularly interested in sustainable design, seek out a firm that specializes in it and can offer advice based on experience. Most architects will recommend contractors they trust to complete the building portion of the work. Your architect can review pricing, perform regular site visits, address issues that arise during construction and advocate for your interests in the case of a conflict or discrepancy. Note that the term architect is often used loosely and incorrectly. A registered architect must be a member of the Alberta Association of Architects and is allowed to use the designation AAA.
Grant options are available for sustainable homes or energy retrofits – your builder or architect should be able to provide direction if needed. Generally, if you are contemplating a renovation you should consider investing in an energy audit of your home prior to embarking on any planning to take full advantage of the available programs.
Finally, always keep in mind that every additional square metre of area not only has an associated cost of construction but also the cost of its ecological footprint. Small, well designed spaces are made beautiful by the dinner parties, family gatherings and quiet reflections that occur within them, not by the area of exotic wood on the floors or the large sectionals they contain.
is up and running (www.shelterbelt.ca), thanks to our friends + neighbours freckle creative….the blog will be shifting to there I think, once Patrick gives me the run down on how to post.
Meanwhile, we’re busy working on our Churchill Square LRT canopy, more Derrick Club changes and a couple of houses. Oh, and suffering through Revit 2010 menu changes. Some sneak peeks for your entertainment….
