Building Science

It's been over a year since my last blog post. Yes, it has been busy at MK Architect.

I am gradually settling into a new office in the heart of Greenport Village. I have been working on some small, fun projects (that I will be featuring in upcoming blog posts) and I have been focusing my continuing education on the latest building science skills and applying that knowledge to my projects.  

Recently, I attended a full-day workshop presented by Gord Cooke of EEBA (Energy & Environmental Building Alliance) called "Houses that Work for Existing Homes – Remodeling for Energy Efficiency Workshop." Architects, builders and energy consultants attended and the experience reaffirmed my commitment to sustainable architecture. It also gave me further scientific background to justify the methods I have been implementing in my practice.

The workshop applied the latest building science to common components of remodeling projects such as re-roofing, re-siding, new windows, kitchen and bathroom renovations, as well as foundation, basement and HVAC upgrades. Without a thorough understanding of these principles and protocols, retrofits and renovations have the potential to negatively affect the house as a whole.

We reviewed what is required to make homes more efficient, safe, healthy, durable and comfortable. We discussed the latest changes in the materials and systems we use, how they impact remodeling decisions, and how they affect risks and opportunities presented in the projects. We reviewed the fundamentals of air, heat and moisture flow and how new materials and systems can be applied to these principles. Mold, indoor air quality, water and moisture damage were just a few of the issues we learned to manage more effectively.

We also talked about how homeowner's expectations have increased over the years. Most people spend 90% of their time indoors.  Because of this, we have lower tolerance for temperature fluctuations.  We also want to feel more connected to the outdoors with larger expanses of glazing.   

I have been integrating many of these ideas in my work for the past few years and have been sharing my knowledge with homeowners and contractors. Together, we have been able to cost-effectively add energy efficiency into renovation and new construction projects.  I look forward to featuring some of these projects here soon.

Seeing in a New Light

Yesterday afternoon I was called to a job site to discuss the placement of suspended track lighting with the electrician.  The original electrical drawings showed the track lighting suspended by cables from the cathedral celiling.  The track was supposed to be configured in a rectangle, defining the living area within the larger living/dining room.  


A little background....The design of this particular project is a somewhat industrial aesthetic.  My clients like to call the original version "early meth lab."  We have a metal roof, metal siding, solar voltaic and solar hot water panels on the exterior, and simple detailing, exposed spiral ductwork, and painted plywood floors in many areas on the interior.


Back to the story....It turns out that the exposed ducts and suspended ceiling fan were interfering with the locations of the track and the cables that support them.  I needed to rethink the track design. Scary.  I called my clients to discuss their furniture layout ideas.  Luckily, they were both available, and we soon got a conference call going, while I was standing in the middle of their soon to be living room. (Gotta love technology).  As the conversation progressed, I started letting go of my preconceived idea of the lighting design.  Why did the lighting need to define the whole space?  Why couldn't it become smaller, more centralized, and still achieve the same end result?  No reason!  In fact, I really started liking the new design idea and especially liked that it came from a functional, rational place.  


I am going to try to carry this release of preconceived notions into more of my daily life.  It was so liberating to let go of an idea, and let a new one evolve.


“…there are no wrong turns, only unexpected paths.”  Mark Nepo

My Trip to Tulum

I thought that maybe I would make my posts a bit more personal, and maybe I can get some more people to read them.  Please let me know that you read my blog...that I am not doing this solely for my own entertainment.....


Last month I took a well deserved trip to Mexico organized by Claire Januzzi from the Giving Room in Southold.  The Giving Room is where I practice yoga most of the time.  I've never been away from my family on my own for more than a day or two, and certainly had never been on a yoga retreat!  In addition to opening up my yoga practice, it opened up my mind and psyche.  I am trying to steer my professional practice in that same direction.  What direction?  In my direction!  Sustainable, cleanly designed, more modern, open, spiritual and honest. 

I visited some Mayan ruins while I was there...

I observed that the vernacular architecture of most of the beach structures must not be regulated by any building codes.  The ceiling structures are made of long tree trunks and thatch covering.  The floors sway when the wind blows and the bounce when we walked.  Hurricanes be damned.

I like how they incorporated tiles into the stucco walls to make pretty designs.....

Thank you to the lovely Paula DiDonato, owner of The Giving Room for allowing me the use of some of her photos  :)

Construction Administration

Lately I have had people ask me if I would consider giving them drawings to get a building permit with, and that's it.  They are looking for ways to save money, and they think that by not hiring an architect to do Construction Administration, they will have more money to spend on the acutal construction itself.  

There are sooooo many reasons to keep your Architect for Construction Administration.  These are the boring reasons:  

• First, the drawings and specifications prepared by the Architect might not be used as intended or substantially adhered to by the contractor.  If problems subsequently occur with construction, the design professional may be embroiled in allegations that the documents were negligently prepared.  
• Second, there will be no opportunity before construction to find and correct possible errors or omissions in the construction documents.  Clearly, correcting problems on paper is much cheaper, faster, and easier than correcting them in the field. 
• Third, if the Architect does not evaluate the work of the contractor as it progresses, the opportunity is lost to have construction defects and deficiencies corrected before it is too late.

The photo above shows the exciting (at least for me) reason why you should use an Architect for construction administration:


Many ideas just pop into my head while constuction is underway.  The photo is of the Long Island Cauliflower Distributer barn renovation in Orient.  The corregated metal with the letters painted on it used to be located on the exterior of the house.  When it was time for demolition, we (the Owners and I) decided to keep the letters and siding, because of the local significance of LICD and for nostalgic reasons.   We were going to replace them in their original location, but then we decided to move them to a more prominent location on the exterior.  Later, we decided to move them inside.  I truly believe that the collaboration of Owner and Architect was essential to this decision, which we are all thrilled with.

Out to Bid

There is a certain vulnerability inherent in this job.  When my work is out there, I am really putting myself out there, too.  So every time the phone rings, for a split second, I have to wonder, is there a problem?  While the phone is ringing, my mind begins instinctively running through all the changes made on a project. Was there a change made on one drawing that was not shown on another?

Sometimes changes are made midstream in a project for one reason or another. Perhaps the client has made a different design choice, or we have an opportunity for cost savings. One “small” change necessitates many changes in the drawings, which launches a scavenger hunt to find all the places a change must be shown. When the phone rings, I wonder if I missed one.

Today when I answered the phone, it was the contractor, just calling to clarify a question. I welcome those calls.  I enjoy working as part of a team with the contractor, plumbers, electricians and masons. Here on the North Fork, people are friendly and laid back. We develop relationships working together on projects over and over again.  It’s a small community.  When the phone rings, after that moment of anxiety where I anticipate what might be wrong, it is good to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the line. 

From the Water and Other Places

We finally have our sailboat in the water after 8 years of not having it in the water.  I am hoping to sail past some of the waterfront homes that I have designed and take some photos from a different angle.  Stay tuned!


Meanwhile, I am working on many house renovations, none of which are on the water.  One of my clients is going solar photovoltaic, solar hot water, geothermal heating and air conditioning, among other sustainable building features.  I am grateful to be working with people who care about taking care of the planet in this way.


I have another client all the way in East Quogue.  The project started out as a kitchen renovation but it has expanded to include an addition for a master bedroom suite, a bathroom renovation, and a sunroom addition.  


I am also working on a craftsman style bungalow in Greenport Village.  My clients are so appreciative of their home.  They are dedicated to remaining true to the bungalow style.  They are so enthusiastic.   They have picked out their tiles, appliances, plumbing and lighitng fixtures, before I have finished the drawings.  I keep joking with them that they are leaving me with very little to do. 


A former client of mine just called today to tell me she purchased a new creek front house that she wants to renovate and add a second floor to.  She consulted with me on the purchase of the house, to make sure that she could do with it what she wants.  She told me that she wants to have the same feeling in the new place as she does in the old one.  It's a good feeling to know that someone has chosen to work with me a second time.  

Kharma

Last Weekend I visited Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, the North American Seat of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa.  The Tibetan Buddhist monastery is located next to Overlook Mountain in Woodstock, NY.  The building was painted by a Tibetan artist in the style of a traditional Tibetan monastery.  The residences, dining room, other facilities and the shrine building all all organized around a yet-to-be completed courtyard.  The grounds are decorated with Tibetan prayer flags draped in the trees and along the pathways.  We took a tour given by a lovely woman who explained the philosophy of Buddhism, meditation and the history of the buildings.   It was a beautiful experience and I left with a feeling of peace and calm.

Last night I attended an AIA Peconic Chapter lecture organized by my colleague and friend, Peter Wilson.  The presentation was by Christopher Benninger.  He is an internationally renowned architect who has designed spectacular buildings in India.  He has been practicing there for 40 years and his work focuses on campuses of universities and institutions.  HIs designs reveal a deep understanding of traditional Indian architecture and "place making."  His buildings are very connected to the landscapes that surround them.  A recent commission achieved LEED Platinum.  I was inspired...

So, within one week's time I was immersed in Buddhist architecture and philosophy, without knowing it was going to happen.  I am hoping that this might be a foreshadowing of my next design project.  A courtyard scheme, perhaps?

And then, of course there's a dog named Kharma that I am fostering, quite by accident...