Re:Vision Salon: Link to blog

Here is a link to a posting on Michelle Kaufmann’s blog with images from David Baker + Partners, Architects that I really like.

http://blog.michellekaufmann.com/?p=2408

http://www.dbarchitect.com/

“Revolution, baby.”

As I am working up a plan to try and salvage a large-scale residential project by taking a more in-depth look at the pro-forma (no small feat considering how land and housing prices have changed), I am reminded of the design successes we had on a similar project in Tempe in 2006. That project, too, was about more efficiently utilizing the land and doing it in a more appropriate way. It was also about playing directly to the specific location (a group of properties adjacent to Arizona State), so the product offering was very dependent on place – focusing mostly on student housing and working within the existing zoning requirements. Unfortunately, that developer also could not weather the coming economic storm, but the lessons learned there apply to the work we are doing now to understand just how exactly new projects are supposed to get built in the new economy.

The good news: The days of “build it and they will come” are over, at least for the near future.

The bad news: The inverse that seems to be in play, “perfect build” let’s call it, is much deeper water than we architects are used to. The product needs to be spot-on. Exactly the right price. Exactly the right style. Exactly the right size. Exactly the right location. And while the design is humming without hitch, it needs to be equally matched with an over-performing financial analysis that the banks will take notice of so developers even have a shot of  getting a construction loan.

At least in the metropolitan Phoenix area, I can’t really complain about this “new rules” condition. I have watched almost an entire generation build mostly shoddy homes in areas that should not have been built on anyway in further expanding concentric rings away from center city. In addition to being over-priced, the obnoxiously bad home and development designs were outdone only by the shockingly bad workmanship (and that fulfills my sweeping generalization quota for this paragraph). My industry, the building industry, has certainly “made our bed”.

So, what’s next then?

As the rock band Silversun Pickups would sing…”revolution, baby.”

Exterior Rendering

Section 1

Section 2

Floor Plan

Rethinking Adjacencies – Scottsdale 52

Overall exterior - group of 8

This project is comprised of 52 previously independently-owned lots in Scottsdale, Arizona  immediately south of a very famous (and very cool) boutique  hotel. The buildings have fallen into disrepair, and the tenants – in the buildings where there are actually tenants – range from hard-working illegals to dazed crack heads. The common thread seems to be “class”, not desire.

Noting the obvious underutilization of the site, the property owners desire to establish a mix on these lots that hasn’t been seen here before.  There is a significant need in Scottsdale for senior living spaces, and the adjacency to the hospital provides opportunity for upgraded living spaces for nurses and hospital staff – something also lacking in most of Scottsdale.

Working together with Reset Studios, the design that has emerged retains the ground floor structures (masonry walls) after removing the wood framed roof, and adds on top of that a thin independent steel structure that supports new floors, roofs, and SIPS panels. The individual configuration of existing buildings varies from site to site, allowing a diverse range of exterior courtyard solutions to exist. As always, density is important, but equally important is how to create that density in ways that allow all tenants to have equal access to things like views, natural light, and common areas.

This project is currently seeking additional funding.

existing conditions

1 Bed Plan

2 Bed Plan