Here’s the latest on the books that have been stacking up around the office lately. It’s been a good mix of visually stunning, academically engaging, and useful reference texts this round.

Visual Complexity: Mapping Patterns of Information by Manuel Lima, $50
Princeton Architectural Press

There’s no denying that we now live in a world where your average pie chart just won’t fly with audiences as a means of visually communicating raw data. Advances in data visualization have made even the often dry political polling or mundane year-in-the-life trivialities fascinating eye-candy.  Lima chronicles information patterns and their associated graphics from back in the day to current times. An engaging read, but also just pure fun flipping through the well-constructed graphic designs.

The Architectural Detail by Edward Ford, $40
Princeton Architectural Press

In this intellectually-weighty book, Ford explores the elusive answer to the question, “What is a Detail?”  And the answer isn’t as simple as you’d think. The book explores five separate arguments behind the idea of a detail, unraveling each within the context of history coupled with technical diagrams.  The conclusions don’t necessarily come to a single winning argument, but that’s hardly the point. It’s an enjoyable  philosophical read, grounded by the literal nuts and bolts of history brought to light. Not exactly eye-candy for all, but definitely for anyone who geeks out on architectural details.

Gene Zema, Architect, Craftsman by Grant Hildebrand $60
University of Washington Press

As one of the members of the Northwest School of architects, Zema’s life and work has been profiled on film and now, most recently, in Hildebrand’s book. His design and craft possesses a deep connection with Japanese carpentry, and the pages documenting each of his projects clearly tell that story. At a recent lecture at UW, celebrated and published architect, George Suyama, recounted stories of Zema’s influence in his career and life. It goes without saying, but if you have Suyama, A Complex Serenity (also by Hildebrand) on your bookshelf, this one should be right beside it.

Transmaterial 3 by Blaine Brownell, $40
Princeton Architectural Press

As with the first two volumes, Transmaterial 3 collects a variety of new techniques available to shape our built environment.  The technologies and techniques range from tactile to digital and everything in between. The physical book is a solid reference for the snapshot of materials available up to its publication date, but if you’re looking to keep a pulse on the emerging material technologies on an up-to-the-day basis, transmaterial.net will hold you over until the next volume comes out.

Materials, Structure, and Standards by Julia McMorrough, $30
Rockport

McMorrough writes a dense, high-quality reference book that anyone studying or practicing architecture should probably have in their library. For reasons not the least of which include its compact size (see: highly edited content). The pages of this go-to guide cover the gamut of architectural topics ranging from materials, code, history, even CAD and hand-drafting. Yes, you heard us, hand-drafting.

Idea House by Jason Pomeroy, $35
ORO

Idea House documents the design process involved in the first zero-carbon protoype in Asia. In a response to the climate change problem, a team of designers work to come up with a site-specific solution, maintaining the practice of sustainability and responsibility from Day One, by prioritizing collaboration and using their multi-modal resources. The takeaway was less “How-To Manual,” and more “Lessons From The Process.”

Matter In The Floating World by Blaine Brownell, $40
Princeton Architectural Press

Almost any book that illuminates Japanese designers is guaranteed to be an engagement in both the elegant projects and cultural wisdoms. Brownell collects his interviews with twenty individuals, each with a unique process emerging out of a shared culture. Each conversation delightfully documents the well-crafted projects we’ve all come to expect while insightfully (re-)introducing the reader to the person behind the project.

Banham In Buffalo by Mehrdad Hadighi, $25
ORO

This book covers five essays and explorations by five  Banham Fellows at SUNY Buffalo from 2005-2010, each addressing different works by renowned architectural critic, Peter Reyner Banham. A departure from the glossy coffee table design book we often peruse, this one is a heartier, academically-weighty read. It serves as a good reminder of Banham’s ideas and exposure of their evolving longevity as subsequent generations of Fellows continue the conversation.

No Nails, No Lumber by Jeffery Head, $25
Princeton Architectural Press

Wallace Neff was better known for his California style and his famous clientele.  Head, however, focuses his attention on Neff’s lesser-lauded Bubble Houses, structures constructed by casting concrete using air form techniques. Though these projects didn’t take off in the U.S., their affordability and speed of construction made them attractive to affordable housing projects in locations abroad. The book is an intriguing peek into a famed architect’s B-sides and the disparate responses stateside and abroad.

A QUICK NOTE: We adamantly support local bookshops and are loyal supporters of urbanism and community. We encourage you to vote with your money and support exceptional book stores like Peter Miller Books in Seattle, William Stout Architectural Books in San Francisco, Powell’s Books in Portland and many more around the country that foster culture and community.

A QUICK DISCLAIMER: We don’t read all of these books from cover to cover -as we’re very busy designing and building things most days. Our reviews are based on a variety of aspects such as how we use the books in our office and how often they end up open on our desks (as opposed to passively sitting on the bookshelf). The reviews are often based on skimming the books or mining them for specific information. We’re not professional writers or book reviewers; we’re just architects that can’t stop talking about architecture.

Got a book suggestion or want to involved in the play by play? Hop on our twitter account.

We’re currently working on a residential project thick with site complexities and jurisdictional requirements. The lot in question includes an existing home that will be demolished down to the foundation; the majority of the existing foundation will then be retained and reused in the new construction. There are numerous advantages for keeping the foundation; you can read about them here.  As typical, the city requires footing drains around the entire perimeter of the house (whether the foundation is existing or new); the relatively small amount of water from these footing drains, along with the much larger quantity of water from the roof downspouts, needs to be managed as part of the building permit submittal. This leaves two options:

1.    Tie into the neighborhood’s existing dedicated storm sewer (separate from the sanitary sewer).

2.    Engineer the water infiltration on site.

Typically, most projects would tie into the storm sewer and be done with it. But it’s not that easy with this project. As it turns out, the storm sewer is located across the street and would require a complicated (and expensive) process of closing off the street and carefully conducting the necessary work. In addition to this, the nearest catch basin on the storm sewer line sits higher than the existing footing, requiring a pump to properly deliver the water. As our geotech says:

When you need the pump the most is precisely the moment when it won’t work.

Meaning that the occasions in which a pump is most necessary are typically the times during extreme weather conditions; the same conditions that commonly knock-out the electricity that powers the pump. Which leaves us with option 2 above; engineering the water run-off so that it properly disperses in the soil on site. He makes a compelling argument.

Working with soil conditions can be a bit perplexing in the architecture world. Some building departments are adamant about bearing capacities, infiltration rates and erosion control methods; other jurisdictions couldn’t care less. There always seem to be inflated factors of safety involved with anything soils related and the publicly available documents on such codes will put you to sleep faster than your dishwasher manual (like King County’s 134 page Surface Water Design Manual Appendix C Small Site Drainage Requirements… yawn). If you’re not careful selecting a professional geotech, it can also seem like hocus-pocus and tarot cards were involved in the soil evaluation process.

Fortunately for us, we work with some good geotechs that keep both feet firmly planted on the ground. We recently met one of our geotechs on site and had a soil evaluation experience that was so straight-forward and productive that we couldn’t help but write about it. Here’s the dirt:

1.    The climate and ground conditions were recorded. At the time, it was the worst case scenario for soil drainage as the Pacific Northwest had just received a week’s worth of rain and snow; so the ground was very saturated before we even began testing.

2.    We rented a single-man auger post-hole digger (about $50 for 4 hours from Home Depot); this thing is basically a lawn-mower engine hooked up to a really big drill bit.

3.    (4) 6” Diameter x 3’ deep holes were dug (drilled) on site at a variety of locations to give us the broadest sample of soil conditions on site.

4.    The geotech reviewed the soil pulled from the holes and determined that it was excellent for drainage (basically no indications of clay).

5.    Each hole was filled with water; the decrease of water level was then measured per minute. We found that the water decreased an average of 2” per minute. According to our geotech, a rate of 10” per hour is good -so the soil on site is exceptionally well draining (even in the wettest of weather conditions).

6.    The hole locations and findings were recorded on our site plan for future submittal to the building department.

7.    Using section C.2.2.3 “USE OF GRAVEL FILLED TRENCHES FOR FULL INFILTRATION” of the King County’s 134 page Surface Water Design Manual Appendix C Small Site Drainage Requirements (yawn), our geotech applied the guidelines of 20 linear feet of trench per 1,000 square feet of impervious surface on site. These trenches should be 2 feet deep by 2 feet wide and filled with ¾” to 1 ½” drain rock; this drain rock can remain exposed or covered with backfill. A 6” diameter perforated PVC pipe should be embedded within the trench.

8.    Using our maximum impervious area of 3,000 square feet we came up with 80 linear feet of trench or (2) 40 foot trenches.

9.    The geotech will email us his recommended details sketched out; we’ll draft them up and incorporate them with the permit set. We’ll update the plans with the appropriate drainage trench information.

10.    Once the permit set is produced we’ll send the geotech a copy to sign, stamp and bless; we’ll combine this set with a letter from the geotech stating his findings and submit with the permit set.

You can, of course, have a full-service geotech crew handle the entire package, but it can get a bit expensive and occasionally time consuming. The method described above worked on this particular project because it was cost-effective, straight-forward and gave us a quick turn around on the answers we needed.  And this experience is aligned with our lean approach to creating projects that are only as expensive as they must be.

We should really give out a free lunch or something for anyone who makes it through a post on soil infiltration, eh?

Cheers from team BUILD

It’s been a few years since we’ve visited the high altitude urbanism going on in The Centennial State. On a recent visit last month, it had become clear that with each passing year Denver is becoming known as more than a city within striking distance of a high altitude playground.  The mountains will always be an integral part of the culture and growth of this city, but in the past year alone, Denver has (and by the looks of it will continue to) put itself on the art, culture, culinary, and architectural maps.  So when you book your next ski trip to Vail, it’ll be worth spending some time exploring the ever-changing Mile High City.

ART + ARCHITECTURE

Clyfford Still Museum, 720-354-4880
Joining the ranks of the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art, the newly opened jewel of a museum  holds its own as a compact, yet elegantly designed structure to house the work of the abstract expressionist. Designed by the northwest’s Allied Works Architecture, the collection will be on view as a rotating exhibit of Still’s works, many which haven’t been available for public viewing until now. Fun fact:Still spent a good chunk of his youth in Spokane and Pullman, Washington. For additional information on the progress and inaugural weekend (as well as sunnier photos), check archaalto’s blog.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art, 303-832-8576
Tucked away uphill from museum-central is another museum dedicated to Vance Kirkland, a mid-century artist and art collector. Current exhibit is on Colorado abstract expressionism, a nice tie-in to the Still, a straight shot down 13th Avenue.

[Image Credit: designobserver.com]

14th Avenue Cultural Spine, Larimer Street to Colfax Avenue
The newly pedestrian-friendly 14th Street has improved its function as a cultural axis connecting the south edge of Downtown Denver starting from Larimer Square passing the Convention Center, a few hotels and high rises, the opera house, and new food/drink spots, and eventually terminating at Colfax. There, Civic Center Park hinges between a continuation of a denser collection of urban activity eastward on Colfax Avenue and an arts-heavy cultural experience down Bannock, leading down to what’s now become Denver’s Museum Campus: Ponti’s original DAM, Daniel Liebeskind’s  Hamilton Wing addition, Allied Works’  Clyfford Still Museum, and Tryba Architects’ Colorado History Museum (coming Spring 2012). We’ll throw in Graves’  Denver Public Library in for good measure.

TAXI by Zeppelin, 303-573-0781
The site of the former Yellow Cab central hub in the River North (RiNo) District in NW Denver, TAXI is a mixed use development of condos, restaurants, and offices. The latest additon includes FREIGHT, a novel flexible office space. Zeppelin continues to stay busy with upcoming projects like The Taxi 3.3  Workshops – a fresh take on workplace communities, Greenhouse V.7 for green urban living , and The Source -an open marketplace for your local-sourcing needs.

[Image Credit: denverpost.com]

The Justice Center Courthouse, 720-337-0410
Originally slated to be designed by Steven Holl in collaboration with local firm klipp, the courthouse was finally completed in 2010 after Steven Holl left the project in 2006.

[Image Credit: topboxdesign.com]

FOOD

Trillium, 303-379-9759
Scandinavian fare with an appropriately minimalist interior.

[Image Credit: Trillium]

Masterpiece Delicatessen – sandwiches and salads in style and good taste in the booming Highlands neighborhood just across the pedestrian bridge from Downtown Denver.

Park & Co., 720-328-6732
A welcome addition to the 17th Avenue dining scene.

Linger, 303-993-3120
Taking over the space of the former Olinger Mortuaries, Linger kept the rooftop signage, just turning off the “O.”

[Image Credit: examiner.com]

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Sausages,
We previously covered Biker Jim’s, the food cart. Even Bourdain gave Jim props for his wild game twist on the average hot dog.  As an early-adopter to the street food scene, Jim was ahead of the pack and poised to open his first brick & mortar location along the booming infill going on along Upper Larimer Street.  Complete with expanded menu, including…wait for it…deep-fried mac ‘n’ cheese.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

Fuel Cafe, 303-996-6988
The anchor eatery at  the TAXI community.

Snooze, 303-297-0700
The brunch scene in Denver experienced a boost with the addition of Snooze. So much so that several other locations have since opened, mostly in the vicinity, but one in San Diego as well. Go for the modern interior eye-candy, stay for the decadent pancakes.

[Image Credit: jumponmarkslist.com]

Hutch & Spoon, 303-296-2317
Following the trendy brunch trend, another satisfying spot to get your early day meal on along Upper Larimer.

[Image Credit: westword.com]

City O’ City, 303-831-6443
The former Watercourse home and newly expanded vegetarian/vegan cafe expanded recently to include a breakfast diner and coffee bar component. Clean, bright interiors up front, cozy, dark tones in the back.

Jonesy’s Eatbar, 303-863-7473
Gastropub just perfectly off the beaten 17th avenue track.

Denver Biscuit Company, 303-377-7900
We recently wrote about the mobile food frenzy hitting Denver hard in recent months. This beloved food truck/permanent pop-up shares their brick and mortar location with Fat Sully’s Pizza and Atomic Cowboy Bar. Tip: Don’t miss out on The Franklin and enjoy some E. Colfax people-watching.

[Image Credit:BUILD LLC]

Tony’s Market, 720-880-4501
A fantastic new urban grocer along the central drag of  Broadway.

The Pig + Block Charcuterie, 303-455-6328
For all your charcuterie needs. And upcoming courses on making your own, if DIY is your sort of thing.

[Image Credit: thepigandblock.com]

*Upcoming: The Source, 3350 Brighton Boulevard
The aforementioned project by Zeppelin Development slated to open later this year. It looks to be a hybrid of Seattle’s markets, Pike and Melrose, with the intent of local vendors housed within one space for your multiple-vendor one-stop sourcing needs. The market will be located in a space which formerly housed BUD’s Warehouse.

DRINKS

Infinite Monkey Theorem Wine, 303-736-8376
Located in a warehouse space in SW Denver, this inventive wine company is currently open  by appointment only.

[Image Credit: denverpost.com]

TAG, 303-996-9985
Cocktails and creative small plates in the historic Larimer Square, an urban block transitioning from its former identity as high-end local boutique shopping to food and drink destination.

Matchbox, 720-437-9100
Showcases local distilleries’ goods and stands as yet another business filling in the gaps along Larimer Street. Check out their facebook page for photos of their signage install.

[Image Credit: dipentinobuilt.com]

DESSERT

Crave Dessert Bar + Lounge, 303-586-4199
One of the new additions to both the dessert and 14th Street pedestrian scenes.

[Image Credit: culinary-colorado.com]

d Bar, 303-861-4710
For your sweet tooth’s needs after the inevitable dining on 17th Avenue.

[Image Credit: regandmitzi.wordpress.com]

It’s impossible to keep up with the rotating dessert trends, but it seems froyo’s pretty hot these days.

BOOM Yogurt Bar, 303-440-3805
Denver may have landed the venerable Pinkberry, but Boulder hits back hard with sleek design aesthetics and wins significant points for the small business with locally sourced ingredients.

[Image Credit: gracefullplate.com]

Then there’s the other frozen treat that never goes out of style: Ice cream. Two new on the scene are Little Man, within view from Linger, and Sweet Action, smack in the heart of South Broadway’s shopping district.

[Image Credit: dailywaffle.com]

COFFEE

For Pacific Northwesterners, coffee is life fuel. But it’s also a point of urban culture, serving as a neighborhood anchor and water-cooler. Something we couldn’t ignore on this last trip to Denver was the influx of new, good coffee shops and roasters in the city. So, we’re calling it: 2012 will be The Year of Coffee in Denver (and Boulder, and possibly the entire Front Range). The third wave is swelling and we’re ready for it.

Crema Coffeehouse, 720-235-2995
An appropriate add to the Upper Larimer stretch, Crema serves up coffee from all over (including Seattle’s Herkimer and Victrola!) and shows love to the booming third wave roasting scene in Colorado and across the country. In the short time since its opening two years ago, it’s already expanded to double its size. Get the full photo tour here.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

Denver Bicycle Cafe, 720-446-8029
Bikes, beer, (coffee) beans. Need we say more?

[Image Credit: thedenveregotist]

Huckleberry Roasters, 720-381-2504
The founders of this micro-roaster a half blcok down from Crema, have an infectious passion for coffee, from the sourcing to the serving. They host daily cuppings featuring a different bean and a different filtering method.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

Boxcar Roasters, 303-527-1300
Boulder-based roaster with sharp design and graphics.

[Image Credit: boxcarcoffeeroasters]

*Upcoming: 2914 Coffee in the Higlands neighborhood. Because every neighborhood needs their own coffeeshop. At least.  And Happy Coffee, which is currently operating out of Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop, is on track to open its own space this “wintry spring” on South Broadway.

[Image Credit: happycoffee]

SHOP

Fancy Tiger Clothing and Fancy Tiger Crafts, 303-282-6590 and 303-733-3855
Staying along Broadway, they’ve relocated to adjacent renovated spaces shared with Buffalo exchange.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

Buffalo exchange, 303-866-0165
It’s more than your run-of-the-mill recycled clothing store. The location(s) in Denver has expanded/relocated to the South Broadway shopping district into a newly refinished space that rivals any first-run boutique.

Hazel & Dewey, 303-777-1500
Goods for the modern chef.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

Ironwood, 720-458-0015
Home accessories and indoor greenery.

…And in a sea of chain restaurants and shops along the 16th Street Mall, an outlier emerges…

I Heart Denver Store, Denver Pavilions
Proven a shopping destination, the local-only boutique is a refreshing independent business oasis on 16th Street Pedestrian Mall, tucked behind an Express and beneath a Lucky Strike Bowl. This hidden gem showcases 100% local designers, and the search will be worth your while. Added bonus: A cultural interactive map near the entrance.

[Image Credit: nvate.com]

RECREATION

B Cycle, multiple stations throughout the city
Seattle may have a one-up on Light Rail expansion to the airport, but Denver’s got us beat (so far) on the bike share, which is quickly becoming a barometer for vibrant urban life. The Democratic National Convention in 2008 jump-started the program, and has since expanded bike stations throughout the city. Tip: Not available during winter.

[Image Credit: flickr.com/deucer] 

That about covers this round. Let us know of anything we missed in the comments below.

Cheers, Team BUILD.

BUILD just finished up a residential project in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood and it includes a stair design that we think you’ll find interesting. In our book, stair design is one of the most challenging aspects of architecture because of the bandwidth it requires. The building code regulates strict provisions over stair design, stairs are typically located where several materials integrate together, stairs can be geometrically complex, and stairs are often the architectural highlight of a project. An innovative stair design requires an architect to put their structural engineer cap on to some degree and, during construction, a modern stair requires several trades (framers, finish carpenters, steel workers, cabinet makers, etc) to coordinate and communicate successfully together. So basically, stairs are unusually complicated for their relative amount of square footage.

In addition to highlighting our latest stair, we’ve got 6 bullet points for successful stair design. These are some behind the scene tips that we’ve gathered over many years of designing, building, and pulling our hair out over stair design. Each point dives into the thinking and development of this particular stair. Enjoy.

Stair as focal point. The stair needs to be designed, constructed and paid for no matter what – so it might as well become a significant feature to the home. In this particular residence, the stair is located in the center of the house and can be seen from just about everywhere inside (and outside for that matter). In addition to this stair being perfectly functional, we designated it as a visual sculptural piece within the home. We decided to integrate the stair with the adjacent cabinets for a deliberate sense of harmony in the living spaces; the delicate vertical steel guardrails become a pleasing backdrop to the living room. Opening up the stairway also allows the adjacent rooms to feel a little more spacious.

Beauty in translation. The building code has stringent parameters around stair design –right down to the very dimensions. While the governing codes could be viewed as limiting, they also offer design opportunities through their translation. We like to design with an “everything it needs to be and nothing more” attitude and the building code gives us a backbone to this philosophy. Every piece of steel, every dimension and every guard in this stair design is there for a reason; there’s nothing superfluous. A good example of this is the guardrail and handrail at the upper floor. Guardrails are not required when the difference between the treads and the floor is 30″ or less, so at the bottom/top of the stair run the guardrails terminate and allow the handrail (which is still required) to slide past. It’s a nice attenuated look; it’s also a diagram of the building code if you’ve got your x-ray vision on.

Double duty. When architecture is designed and constructed intelligently, it can perform a variety of functions at the same time. As the design of this stair developed it become clear that a bank of living room cabinets would provide practical storage and could also serve as a guardrail for the stair down to the basement.

Intentional integration. Most stairs sit adjacent to other important functions; dovetailing those functions together is a great way to develop the craftsmanship and make everything count. Even the 4” diameter steel post at the bottom of the stairs (required to hold up the 2nd floor) is integrated into the composition here.  The end of the kitchen counter aligns with the stair and the living room cabinets. In order for a composition like this (with steel, finish carpentry and cabinets) to come together nicely, everyone needs to be in synch. The cabinet maker has to ask the right questions of the steel worker and vice versa; the architect and builder have to be engaged in the conversation with their sleeves rolled up ready to problem solve.

Develop a language. With most good design, there are rules at work behind the scenes. Elements meet where they do for specific reasons; material choices are made based on rationale. In other words there’s a language at play. In this stair, the language consists of three materials. Steel is used for its structural abilities where attenuation is needed most. The heavy walnut is used at the lower cabinets and the closed stair treads under 36” creating a dark band of wood at the base. The lighter maple hardwood treads are used above the level of the countertops to differentiate the break from closed risers and open risers; the maple also relates with the flooring at the level above. The horizontal steel guards between open risers (required by the building code) are extensions of the vertical steel guardrails.

[Click to Enlarge Image]

Dance with the variables. Construction is messy, there are a lot of moving parts, and the variables are in constant flux. When the site conditions change, exercise the flexibility to change with them -or dance with them, as we like to say. On this particular stair we were originally planning to align the 5th tread from the bottom with the top of the book cabinet and kitchen cabinet. The top of the book cabinet would have transitioned into one of the treads which would have been inset in the kitchen countertop as a cutting board. It would have been pretty slick. But the variables changed; we ended up raising the level of the main floor ceiling which, subsequently, changed the geometry of the stair. So we re-jiggered the design for the 5th tread to become a solid maple open tread that floats over the top of the adjacent cabinets. Maybe we’ll nail that flush tread on the next one…

There’s our five cents (or six cents) on stair design. We’d love to hear your ideas on stair design and see your favorite stairs out there. In case you missed it, we recently poked some fun at stairs that don’t meet the building code, check it out here.

Cheers from team BUILD.

We’ve all seen them. You know the ones. The super-sleek, super-sexy stair designs.  The ones that, without fail, attract the design-minded like moths to a flame. We know them well; they’re always defying gravity with open cantilevered treads and enigmatically hidden connections. Handrails, when actually implemented, are a mere wisp of steel delicately gliding above the composition. This elite class of stair is generally white and always lead to some lofty, exclusive eden  – a place where one leisurely lounges, nibbling on figs, admiring the stair. And they usually float above a pool of water or any variety of objects found in the “Dangerous To Fall In” category. Admit it, you’re fascinated by them.

It’s worth noting that these stairs bear no resemblance whatsoever to anything that can even remotely be designed, permitted, built, inspected, or approved within the United States of America. Not a one. No guard between the open treads? No can do. More than 4 inches of open space between guardrails? Negatory. No guardrails? Go fish.

For us architects it’s a cocktail made with equal parts frustration and envy –throw in a dash of resentment for good measure and garnish with a twist of cynicism. Each time we open the latest design-mag, it’s the same bitter taste: a smoking hot, totally unrealistic open-tread, cantilevered, guardrail-less stair. Did the building code finally change to allow for more flexibility in stair design? Or did someone figure out a clever new way to interpret the code? Maybe we missed a building code exception? Oh, wait,….it’s in….Brazil?

So it goes.

Whether this is our way of liberating ourselves from stair envy or simply an enjoyable exercise to poke fun at stair design that might as well be on Mars, we’re launching the inaugural Ridiculous Stair Awards. Here are the top ten “winners” in reverse order:

 Black stair by Ecole.

VDVT House by Boetzkes | Helder

Circular Stairway by satt

Home Studio by ataSTUDIO

Shallard House by Lat Forty Five

Cool ribbon staircase by HSH Architects.

Minimal Stair by tecARCHITECTURE

Illuminated floating stair photography by Veronica Morales Angulo

Loft F27 by Schlosser + Partner

And the winner is…

Floating Concrete Stair by Ábaton Arquitectura

Big thanks to contemporist.com and stairporn.org.

Let us know if we’ve missed any contenders in the comments below.

Cheers from TeamBUILD

Last weekend we had the rare opportunity to visit one of only 3 Frank Lloyd Wright houses here in Washington State. Recently touted as one of Seattle’s 10 Greatest Homes, the Tracy House is a mid-century gem located in Normandy Park (approximately 30 minutes south of Seattle), and it also has the distinct honor of being listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The house was designed and built for William and Elizabeth Tracy from 1954 to 1955, and they were the sole owners until Elizabeth’s passing a couple years ago. We were extremely honored to see such an exceptional piece of architecture and want to extend our thanks to the organizer, tour guide, and Wright aficionado, Larry Woodin.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

While the tour offered an exclusive look at a private residence designed by, perhaps, the most celebrated of American Architects, there was something more serendipitous that struck us. The Tracy house is a remarkable example of Wright’s Usonian Automats – a series of residential designs intended for the middle class. The floor plan is a modest 1,150 square feet which includes 3 simple bedrooms and only the necessary common areas, nothing more. At the same time it seems to have offered the inhabitants a perfectly comfortable life.

[Image Credit: Larry Woodin]

Architecturally, the house demonstrates so many ideals of good design; all the characteristics that we’re always chattering on about with regard to smarter, smaller dwellings. Psychologically, everything had been thought about –even how the interior shadows from natural daylight would change over the course of a day. As far as sustainability, don’t even get us started; given that this house will easily last 100 years, its carbon footprint is negligible compared to the average modern day “green” home (even with its single pane windows). The house embodies a philosophy of design that is now more critical than ever.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

In organizing our own thoughts we wondered about the constituent components that contribute to such an efficient whole. So we did what we do; we broke it down into our top 10 list of design concepts that make this residence so successful. It could just as easily be called 10 architectural tips for smaller floor plans. Here goes:

1. Everything it needs to be and nothing more: There’s no “bonus room/video game room” or other superfluous space that doesn’t have a primary purpose.

[Image Credit: Larry Woodin]

2. Indoor/outdoor spaces: The terrace was designed with the same intention and thoughtfulness as any room inside the home. Given the careful siting and coziness of the terrace, we’re willing to bet that it’s contributed an essential function to the home over the decades.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

4. Deliberate views: Sightlines from the home’s common areas offer clear views over the bluff and out onto the Puget Sound. The expansive view balances out the intimate feel of the interiors.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

6. Dynamic spaces: Relief within the concrete walls as well as the intentional breaks of the window bays offer light conditions and shadows that constantly change throughout the day. Apparently there’s even a specific location for flowers based on the shadow patterns between dawn and dusk.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

7. Bedrooms that are just bedrooms: The bedrooms are simple and straight-forward, maintaining their use as places of sleep and rest, while encouraging The Tracys to use the common areas for up and about activities.

8. Walls of glass: This opens the interiors up to the terrace, the view and an abundance of natural light.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

9. Built-in seating: Designed correctly it allows less wasted space in the living room and creates a harmonious feel at the interiors.

[Image Credit: Larry Woodin]

10. Integrated components: Items like lights and scuppers, that are designed into the structure and the concrete block geometry, don’t necessarily save space but lend a feeling of everything being in the right place.

[Image Credit: BUILD LLC]

If you made it to this tour let us know what thoughts you came away with. If you missed this one, stay tuned to the BUILDblog, we’ve got the scoop on the next Frank Lloyd Wright house tour.

You can check out some additional resources about the house here, here, and here.

[Image Credit: sahafoto]

Big thanks to Larry Woodin at ecohome@mindspring.com.

Cheers from Team BUILD

We recently interviewed Will Bruder for the spring issue of Arcade Magazine. In addition to being a master architect, Bruder is acutely insightful and the discussion was full of wisdom that you’ll be able to read all about in the next issue of Arcade. In speaking about academics and the learning process of an architect, Bruder said something that really hit home. Here’s a teaser:

BUILD: As a self-trained architect and a teacher, you bring a fresh perspective to the nature of academics; are architecture schools preparing students to be good architects?

Will Bruder: It’s challenging to teach architecture in such a way that students capture the spirit of understanding. We’re so fascinated with the machine and the software that it’s often at the expense of the intellectual tools. Once you’re in line at the laser-cutter, so much of the design is already lost.

Once you’re in line at the laser-cutter, so much of the design is already lost.

KA-POW! Only a master architect can throw down like that. Only an architect with 40+ years of experience can deliver a zinger of that caliber. It really got us thinking. And if you’re a student of architecture (young or old, in school or practicing) it should get your gears spinning too.

We’re big on handmade physical models around the BUILD world headquarters; in fact we’ve got so many physical models that they no longer all fit in the office. But we keep building them because they are integral to an architectural understanding of a house or a building; they are a necessary part of good design. As great as digital models are, they do not replace the physical model – the two have different qualities and in a modern design firm, it takes both to properly understand and communicate a project.

So for today’s post we thought we’d celebrate the physical hand-built architectural model by showing off a couple that have been recently completed in the office. A big thanks to Duff, Charles, and our intern Kate for wielding knives, straight-edges and tweezers to generate some beautiful physical models. Enjoy.

Cheers from team BUILD

Not long after the building was completed we had a deck party and one of the guests happened to be a firefighter. We explained the ship-ladder situation to her; that the emergency glass must be broken to get the key to open the lock to open the gate to access the ladder. She laughed and said “I wouldn’t do any of that, I’d just climb over the gate.”

This put us at ease about two things. First, it validated our opinion that the entire building code enforced sequence was nonsensical. And second, that our firefighters are rational problem solvers.  (Thanks firefighters!)

What doesn’t provide us peace of mind is that, while minor, this situation is a crystallization of a bigger nonsensical picture; too often the building code requirements contradict common sense. This is harmful on many levels:

    The financial and time implications on our ship-ladder incident were minimal, but scale this logic up a few notches and it gets into real money with serious schedule impacts.

   Contradicting common sense confuses people; homeowners, business owners, and tenants fail to find value in the building code when the requirements don’t add up to something that has a direct relationship to “safeguarding public health and safety”. When people don’t see the value in building codes they tend to favor the loopholes.

    It’s a poor use of people’s time. Most everyone likes doing something useful, something of value. The hard-working individuals at the building department are no different. It must be frustrating to work on building codes that contradict common sense or conflict with other codes.

    It’s producing visual pollution. Our built-environment has become a victim of warning signs and over-designed safety measures.

    Ultimately, it’s not producing a better, safer built-environment. It’s solving granular issues without looking at the whole picture.

Obviously building codes were originally put into place for good reasons: life safety, the health of our built-environment, solving disputes, keeping the peace, and so on. And we wouldn’t want to operate without regulation, but something is amiss with the current state of most building codes –we’ve gone off the rails.

As architects and builders we care immensely about the state of our built-environment and the nature of the building codes that are part of our everyday lives. And while working toward the evolution of a more purposeful building code is an agenda often met with great resistance, it’s precisely the architects and builders who need to lead the charge –it’s in our court. We are the mediators between the public and the building code.

We’ve been scratching our heads a lot on this one and we’ve come up with 5 solutions to make for a better building code. Granted, some of them are bold suggestions requiring major social shifts; but, nonetheless, here’s what we think needs to happen for the building code to become a sensible, purposeful, and respectable document again:

    Soft eyes; jurisdictions need to take the big picture into consideration before implementing building codes that address granular issues. They need to use their “soft eyes” as we like to say.

   Vertical communication; there needs to be more communication between the people writing/enforcing the building codes and the people in the field building/using/designing the built-environment. The code writers need to talk with the fire fighters.

   Lawsuits need to be replaced with conversations (refer to major social shifts above). A quick review of just about any chapter in the building code and it’s painfully evident that a significant amount of the codes were originally written as a response to someone suing someone else over something that could have been resolved through a conversation.

   Fewer building codes and more responsibility. Architects need to take full accountability for their designs. Too many codes are being written to regulate and penalize architects who submit poorly conceived designs or half-baked permit documents. Professionals who are accountable and responsible shouldn’t need a 4.5” thick binder telling them how to design. (Did we mention that some major social shifts are needed to get us out of this conundrum?)

    Less paperwork; the amount of submittals, forms, and documents required to obtain a building permit in most urban areas has become entirely ridiculous. Spending more time on the permit submittal forms than on the architecture itself should be a red flag to architects and building departments alike. It is possible to maintain regulation of the built-environment without nearly this much paperwork.

So there are our top 5 ideas for a more purposeful building code; feel free to add yours. Take ‘em, leave ‘em, counter-offer or laugh at them. Either way, they are more realistic than the notion of fire fighters ever using the key and gate to access our roof.

Cheers from Team BUILD

Recently, we found ourselves in one of those situations. All of the sudden, we started noticing references to the same thing or the same person popping up in a variety of different social circles. It was one of those when-it-rains-it-pours scenarios. In this case we noticed it with a handful of wiser, well-experienced architects. And again with some younger cutting edge architects. And on blogs. And then it came up at dinner parties. It was undeniable: All roads were suddenly leading to Sigurd Lewerentz. Though we had briefly brushed up on this architect back in college, we never really sunk our teeth into his portfolio of work. So we decided to take seriously the signs pointing in Lewerentz’s direction and started to do some homework on his projects. Based on our discoveries, we think you’d enjoy reviewing his work as well, so enjoy, and let us know of anything significant we missed.

[Image Credit: arch.et.bme.hu]

Born in Lund, Sweden, Sigurd Lewerentz (1885-1975) was formally trained as a mechanical engineer. He later apprenticed in architecture while living in Germany, and eventually opened up his own office in Stockholm in 1911.

[Image Credit: flickr.com/jmtp]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/seier]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/seier]

In his early career, Lewerentz collaborated with Gunnar Asplund (1885-1940) on projects which included the Woodland Cemetery and the Stockholm International Exhibition. Mid-career, he took a hiatus from his architectural work, focusing his attention on designing windows and other architectural fittings. His return to architecture for the last couple decades of his life produced some of his most well-known and well-loved projects: St. Mark’s in Bjorkhagen and St. Peter’s in Klippan.

[Image Credit: flickr.com/jmtp]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/seier]

The Eastern Cemetery in Malmo was a long-term project Lewerentz worked on from 1916 until the end of his career. He was involved in the landscape design as well as several buildings on site, including St. Knut and St. Gertrude chapels.

[Image Credit: flickr.com/jmtp]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/seier]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/jmtp]

Whether in the materiality of building elements or in the construct of landscapes, Lewerentz had an integral understanding of how things work and relate. Even the under-accentuated aspects of plumbing and site drainage were deliberately designed and beautifully incorporated into the composition. This intimacy with site, program, and detail comes through in each of his projects.

[Image Credit: flickr.com/jmtp]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/seier]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/jmtp]

His final act of architecture was a simple flower kiosk for the Eastern Cemetery in Malmo. A fitting project to end his career with, this humble structure is intentional about each and every detail. From its simple rectangular plan to the articulation of the applied plate glass windows, it’s clear that each design decision was carefully made and masterfully executed on site. The flower kiosk is known for its raw purity and has become a symbol of Lewerentz’ work.

[Image Credit: flickr.com/aiert]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/seier]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/jmtp]

[Image Credit: flickr.com/jmtp]

Cheers from Team BUILD

This edition of OtR is overflowing with incredible design, designers, and design events. No better way to kick off a new year than with some highly inspired activity brewing within the creative community. Let us know what’s been grabbing your attention and spinning your wheels these days in the comments section below.

LEARNing
Get familiar with Theaster Gates. Chicago-based artist, designer, cultural change-maker. His time is ripe in Seattle with an ongoing exhibit at the SAM and an upcoming lecture at the University of Washington.

[Image Credit: kavigupta.com]

BUILD’s online presentation of social media for architects and designers is now live. The content is essentially what was presented at Reinvention. Check it out here.
-thanks to Hanley Wood

ARCHITECTing
We recently had the pleasure of meeting the sharp minds over at Dallas-based Shipley Architects.
-thanks to Dan

Arkin Tilt Architects out of Berkeley, California creates sharp, warm, and naturally responsive spaces. Take a look.
-thanks to Rob

Keep tabs on the progress of a modern bungalow in Austin, Texas by Salas Design Workshop llc.
-thanks to Tony

E. Fay Jones-style church designed by BDCM Architects out of Omaha, Nebraska.
-thanks to Kevin

[Image Credit: churcharc.tumblr.com]

This video of Alvaro Siza will inspire you. We wish nothing more than to be this happy and playful when we’re his age.
-thanks to Kelly

For some visual candy, check out the photo gallery of the Lake Lugano House by JM Architecture out of Milan, Italy.
-thanks to Mike

[Image Credit: archrecord.com]

TASTing
Thomas Haas artisan chocolatier from Vancouver, BC knows his chocolate. And his design. A clear focus on design in their packaging, inventive execution of their product, and a well-honed attention to detail elevates their product to meet the high standards of the food-loving architect’s discriminating palate.
-thanks to Terri

TOURing
The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Tracy House is opening up for a public tour, which only comes up every few years. On the heels of a recent write-up in Seattle Met, The EcoHome Foundation is hosting this event on January 21st near Seattle, WA. Tickets are $35. Contact Larry Woodin for details and registration.
-thanks to Larry

[Image Credit: flickr.com/dalydaly]

Our friends Lauren & Kyle did a fantastic job documenting the recent house tour for the Hanley-Wood Reinvention seminar in Phoenix.
-thanks to Lauren

PHOTOGRAPHing
The work of French photographer Thomas Jorion deserves your full attention. It’s worth your while to check out the entire gallery. Haunting, spectacular, elegant work. We’ll leave it at that and let the images speak for themselves.
-thanks to T.s. Flock

[Image Credit: pphotographyb.blogspot.com]

FILMing
Swiss designer Herbert Matter is a name you ought to know.  Matter was a boundary-pusher who redefined the worlds of photography and graphics. And, no surprise, his friends and peers did the same in their spheres: Alexander Calder, Jackson Pollock, Charles and Ray Eames, anyone? The Visual Language of Herbert Matter dives head-first into the work and personality of this pivotal art figure. Icing on the cake: it also provides a fascinating backstory to the life and work of the Eameses, making a fitting, if unintentional, counterpoint to the other recently released design documentary.

We bet you’ve come across the video that was circulating the social media channels (particularly if you are or know an architect…or rapper), but it’s worth another mention. A refreshing take on design and planning from outside the echo-chamber: Ice Cube talks about Eames, architecture, and the sociology of Los Angeles traffic.
-thanks to Chris

BLOGGing
Redefine “cabin fever” with this collection of daydream-caliber cabin architecture.  Browse, dream, and enjoy.
-thanks to Brian

Little Monster blog provides a unique perspective on urbanism from an architectural photographer.
-thanks to Matthew

Some friends of ours in Alberta, Canada recently finished up a blog chronicling the design and construction of their home. We can’t get enough of these modern house blogs.
-thanks to Chris

It’s a tale we’ve all heard before, but perhaps not quite like this. The architect as his own client in The Zabel Project.
-thanks to Steve

TUMBLing
Has anyone else noticed the tidal wave of fun, inspiring, and eye-opening architecture and design tumblrs (and related meta-sites) that are popping up every single day? It’s hard to keep up, but that’s what friends and hyperlinks are for. We recently caught wind of a beautifully-curated one worth multiple pages of scrolling. Fair warning: This site is the channel that will release you a pool of beautiful design tumblrs…which will, in turn, take you down the waterfall of a hundred more. Go, enjoy the ride.
-thanks to Gavin

READing
Who says published works have to be printed on paper, or blasted on the web? The world is a canvas. (Within reason, of course.) The 16th Issue of the quarterly publication, The Thing, challenges old media notions and opens up new horizons for the possibilities of publishing. And, it doubles as a spectacular housewarming gift.
-thanks to Jenny

MAKing
Barcelona-based furniture designer, Kunquad, makes some sleek and playful chairs. It’s hard to choose favorites, but we’re particularly fond of the wood chairs.

Lately, we’ve been dabbling in some screen-printing on the side. Keeping it minimal, modern, and monochrome. Want your very own? Follow us on twitter for details on the giveaway.

Cheers to the New Year, Team BUILD.