Below you’ll find a selection of random thoughts about architecture, building homes, and sustainability.
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Yesterday I spent the afternoon rereading the downloadable PDFs on this website. I do this from time to time so that I can add new information and frankly, so that I can recall what I have already written about!
As I read, I was reminded how much information and what broad topics one needs to be familiar with if the process of starting and finishing a design/construction project is to be as pleasurable and stress-free as possible.
After over 40 years of practicing architecture, it has been fun to put on paper some of my experience. Hopefully you find the PDFs useful and educational. But in reading the papers, it became clear to me how much more can be said on all these topics—and so many more!
Some of the most fun I have had as an architect has been talking with my clients, answering their questions, and guiding them through the process. Design is of course fun, too, but it often falls at the end of lengthy conversations covering what could be considered a wide range of sometimes only loosely related topics.
In my written papers I have chosen topics I feel are universally important and have tried to be as clear and complete as possible. The information reflects both my experience and my biases, but because it is intended for a wide audience, by necessity it remains fairly limited in its depth and quite generic in its content.
In short, I miss the chance to tailor this information to you specifically! I also wonder if other topics or questions would serve your needs more completely?
I hope you will take a look at the opportunity for hourly consultation offered on this website. This is your chance to ask anything at all and to direct the topics most important to you. I know you will find it very useful, and I also know that it will be lots of fun to talk together!
Avoiding “Contractor Extortion”
"My contractor is a really good builder but is just a small businessman and won’t agree to a retainage.…"
Boy, am I tired of hearing that comment.
“Retainage” is the practice of holding back a percentage (often ten percent) of your contractor’s invoices during construction, which is then paid when you and your contractor agree that the project is completed. It is a standard practice throughout the construction industry.
I recently became aware of a very sad situation where, at the end of a project, a homeowner was presented with a final bill well exceeded the approved mortgage loan amount. This owner had tried—with every monthly payment request—to obtain backup details to the contractor’s invoices. She wanted to understand where the money was being spent and where the project stood relative to budget projections. However, no information was ever forthcoming, and the owner, while significantly exasperated, did not want to "rock the boat" by holding back timely payments. She feared the contractor would stop work on the project if he were not paid in full. This threat is what I call “contractor extortion.”
In this case, at the time they signed the contract, the builder had one other project underway. When it was suggested by the owner that ten percent retainage against monthly invoices was a standard practice and should be in the contract agreement, the builder claimed he was too small a business not to receive full payment each month.
But by the time this owner's project was 50 percent complete, the contractor had landed seven other projects. Given today's prices and a typical work scope, it is safe to say that this builder's workload easily surpassed $4,000,000 (and was probably significantly more).
By anyone's definition this is no small business. A viable business with this level of workload could easily qualify for a line of credit to cover any retainage amount, giving it sufficient cash flow. Had there been retainage on this project, the owner could have forced a degree of accountability each month. While this might not have solved all the problems the project faced, the one-way street of contractor power would have been significantly diminished, allowing the owner to hold the contractor accountable for regular budget conversations.
I cannot stress enough that the mystique of the lone skilled craftsman as key to the success of your project is a mischaracterization. When you are investing your hard earned money into any project, you must insist that your chosen contractor is not only skilled with a hammer and nails, but just as important, is an equally skilled business person who can manage the project and your money, and is someone you can trust.
2023 Climate/Energy Tax Credits and Rebates Information
We are planning to add a mini-split heat pump system to our house in the next few months and, having read of the availability of federal rebates for heat pump purchase, I went online to determine how the credits and rebate system will work. Given all the publicity this has received, I expected to find numerous sites explaining the details. To my ultimate frustration, very little information was accessible.
This all changed yesterday when the NY Times published a very informative article outlining the program and linking to the federal site where in-depth information is available. Take a look.
All of us should be doing something to address climate change. This site lists a whole host of changes/upgrades that qualify for rebates and/or credits. I hope this link eases your search and paves the way to your participation!
Don’t subscribe to the NY Times? Here’s the direct link: https://whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy
Mainstream Architecture Design Press Falls for the Easy Stuff
When will the mainstream press focus on the much harder task of designing or renovating affordable houses that achieve a high level of design quality while simultaneously addressing real sustainability challenges?
I spend as much time as anyone, I am sure, looking at architecture publications both online and in magazines. It is no secret that the mainstream press tilts toward new modern house design. What is maybe less obvious to the lay reader is that almost all published work is outside the ability of most of us to afford!
For example, I watched over the years as Dwell evolved from a magazine where good design was geared toward the affordable to today where the houses are out of reach.
Not to disparage architects who do private expensive home design, but designing a new home with a wealthy client is a pretty easy stretch.
Designing a home for clients who don't have an unlimited wallet is a bigger challenge. But meeting this challenge is a real measure of talent and skill, and offers a social contribution as well.
Finally, a TV Show about Houses That’s Worth Your Time
HOME, A television series on Apple TV, is worth watching. Filmed in a number of countries and true to its name, the series focuses on how "home" is defined by a variety of families of various cultures. Living in houses ranging from a barn renovation in the French countryside to a cottage in Maine to—believe it or not—an abandoned concrete plant on a very isolated beach in Iceland, the series is at times a bit unfocused in its intent but is always interesting.
My favorite episode involves a young architect in Amsterdam and his design of a three-generation house for his family and in-laws. The story is wonderful, and the final building is a beautiful example of sustainability and light. I have recommended the series to a number of people and am always pleased to hear they have already discovered it and have their own favorites.
https://tv.apple.com/us/show/home/umc.cmc.5xjrgoblr5l5i1ypamtayuhe9
Hypocritical or Just Clueless?
I read a review today of a new coffeetable book showcasing many contemporary high-end houses constructed in remote and beautiful places. The review was in the new books section of the alumni magazine of a prestigious university.
The reviewer cited three major highlights of the book, the last being what they considered to be “the most worrisome.” Naturally, I expected this to be a discussion of sustainability and society’s inability to continue to justify such remote extravagant second and third homes.
In fact, the reviewer cited the potential for wildfires in remote locations and concluded that it was “a good thing so much concrete and steel is in evidence.”
When will the recognization of the threat of climate change—and the massive role construction has in perpetuating the destruction of the planet—find its way into our everyday discourse? When the presumably informed editors of this alumni magazine miss the mark, what hope do we have for the future?
By the way, in the same article you’ll find a glowing review of Unsustainable World, by Peter N. Nemetz, in which Nemetz asks, “Are we losing the battle to save our planet?” How ironic.
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2022/07/montage-off-the-shelf-ja22
Housing Crisis Solution Today? Yes!
All of us who are interested in house construction and the climate crisis are aware of the significant negative impact that construction of almost any kind has on the environment. Recently I came across an article and a related TED talk that, while quantifying in a rather frightening way the significant housing crises facing the world, is nevertheless encouraging in its outlook about how we can address this in a sustainable manner using the technology we have available today.
For a sobering bit of context, architect Vishaan Chakrabarti tells us: “To house our existing and future population affordably and with dignity we need to build over 2.4 trillion square feet globally, which is the equivalent of adding one New York City to the planet every month for the next 40 years.
But don’t be discouraged! Take a look at his article and talk for an encouraging presentation about how we can address this worldwide problem in a sustainable manner and starting today!
https://www.dezeen.com/2022/05/16/goldilocks-housing-vishaan-chakrabarti-opinion/