For a long time, the building industry opted for quantity (more square footage) over quality. But as the average lot shrinks in size, the counter movement is underway. Communities are cracking down on mega-houses built in tight spaces where once a modest ranch stood. BuilderOnline has an interesting article on the innovative designs and smart site plans builders are devising as they realize there is a market for smaller homes with sidewalks and short commutes. According to Ray Johnston of Johnston Architects, designing within the tight quarters "results is unique projects that diverge from the easy formula, which is always an improvement."
Here's a project someone should undertake: rehabbing Mike Tyson's now abandoned estate in Ohio. The property has had a colorful history since Tyson sold it in the late 90s and now it stands abandoned and decaying. It features a 10,000-square-foot swimming pool, sundae bar, a waterfall, two fountains, tiger cages and a gate with Iron Mike's name written in steel. The architecture borders on the over-the-top side but what else would you expect? The man was paid to bash people, not design houses. Check out the pictures to get a sense of the excess.
When it comes to The Lord of the Rings, some people are fanatical. And so it was with this fan who commissioned a hobbit home. The 6oo-square-foot home features a round Spanish cedar door with hand-forged single pivot hinge, handmade clay roof tiles, custom 'butterfly window', Douglas Fir timber framing, custom-designed antique light fixtures and a range of fanciful interior details. The home will serve for display and to house the owner's extensive Tolkien collection. It's easy to see why this unique home recently won an award from the American Institute of Architects for a small project.
Don't think there are good building materials being sent to landfills? Check out this house in Texas where 85 percent of the material used was reclaimed from the dump. In this video, the Texas County Reporter interviews Dan Phillips, who is spearheading an initiative to build affordable housing. Phillips uses mostly recycled materials, hires unskilled labor and keeps the projects small. So far he's helped eight families build and purchase a home.
Hard to believe the house in this photo was once a horse stable. Archer & Buchanan Architecture recently won an award for the conversion of this 1898 William L. Price designed stable into a 4-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath private residence in Wayne, Pa. The Heritage Commission of Delaware County praised the "wonderful detail and craftsmanship...(in) maintaining the integrity of the historic structure" when they presented the award on May 6th. I've got to agree with them.
To celebrate National Home Improvement Month, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), professional remodelers who voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics, is offering homeowners three pieces of advice for planning their remodels.
Think your project through from start to finish. Careful planning allows you to achieve the remodel you want while keeping costs down.
Look over your property carefully. Homeowners should ask themselves what repairs or improvements should be made to their home.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and make adjustments for the added value of the work being done.
NARI also recommends homeowners consult professional contractors for larger remodeling jobs. Homeowners considering a major remodeling job this spring can search NARI's web site to find a qualified professional who is a NARI member.
There are homeowners who make a sustainable home by putting in energy-efficient light bulbs and there are those who take it to the next level. DivineCaroline.com has a list of 10 innovative homes that are pushing the boundaries of sustainable construction and living. Some of the homes look quite conventional while others look like they belong on the Moon. My favorite is the home pictured here; the walls are constructed of misprinted rice bags filled with natural material and the outside layer is made of papercrete, recycled paper mixed with cement. Use of these recycled materials reduces the use of wood, concrete and steel. These homeowners want to live off the grid entirely; they grow their own food in a greenhouse and the heating system is solar powered. Read more about this home and others in the Divine Caroline article.
