Saturday, February 27, 2010

Northfield Commons - Single Family Residence



Energy star rated, open patio floor plans,
exterior 
balconies & roof top terraces
are a few of the elements we are exploring! The community has a comfortable feel with its central park, well preserved pedestrian paths and connection to local bike paths its no wonder this neighborhood feels integrally connected to Boulder and its surroundings............
In Coordination with Cary Hendricks of Hendricks Fine Homes, I've been designing new homes in a North Boulder subdivision. Focused on density and mixed housing types, Northfield Commons is a new development style for the city of Boulder, integrating higher density standards including single family residences,
duplexes, row houses, four-plexes &
eight-plexes, also inclusive of fixed income housing.

What About Architecture?

What about "good" Architecture?

Architecture is more than just buildings. Architecture is more than one mans vision. Architecture is more than facades and division of space within. Architecture is so much more than strip malls and suburban housing clusters. Architecture should reflect more connection between environment & culture. Architecture is justified when structure and its cladding are integrated, when the space within is connected to the sights the sounds, the elements that surround, emotions touched when embraced when protected, by the sense of place which becomes architecture.

Architecture can be Elegant - Architecture can be Provocative.

Encompassed by Design

It became aware to us at a young age that playgrounds are fun places to be, they are colorful, full of interesting shapes and structures, exciting sounds can be heard, they are multi-textural with steel, wood, sand, and a variety of materials. There are low places with obvious connection to the groundscape and some a bit higher with views of the distant landscape. Playgrounds are interactive and experiential places to be. They stimulate and encourage activity and social connection with others. I probably did'nt think of what made playgrounds fun places to be as a child I did'nt need to ponder it I just knew it. We didn't need our parents to tell us and teach us that these are fun places, a child just senses these things. Its thru these same seven senses we become aware of our surrounding environment & as adults and we often take an assessment of where we are, how we feel, and what we are doing when walking thru life. When walking into a building some people will do the very same thing, & good architecture provokes and awakens our senses helping the human body to feel alive and aware. Good architecture provokes a feeling and although different for every individual creates a distinct sense of place.