Let the Design Begin

We have signed a design contract that, when complete, will result in a building permit. That's a big step and I think it's exciting to be entering this phase. Denise is kind of boggled that we're spending thousands on something as intangible as "design" - something we can't touch and won't see on the property. But we know the project will take years to finish, some built by contractors, some built by us, and if we don't have a unifying design to follow, the final product will be disjointed either because we built C before building B or we changed our minds over time. We could keep that in our heads - we did this when we built the house in Flagstaff years ago. But part of what we're paying for in design this time is the higher standards of building permit applications. I'm not as willing now as I was then to do all the drafting of plans required for a permit. They require several plans (floor plans, site plans, section drawings, plus the various systems - electrical and plumbing) with dimensions. It would take days to do the drafting and that doesn't count the time needed to fiddle with the design.

Our site is also on a hillside this time and will require a registered engineer to design at least one retaining wall. There could be other needs for an engineer but we know of that one for sure.

But the most important reason to hire out the design is to get a better product - a home with all the components we want arranged in a way that fits us and fits the environment. As a kid, I always dreamed I'd be an architect - I got an engineering degree under the assumption I'd get a graduate degree in architecture. I took a few classes in architecture but ran out of money and didn't finish. So I have an understanding of design and I can - and have - put together a basic concept. Hiring someone with more experience gives us a better chance to get a product that is well-tuned to the task, tightly calibrated to our environment, and has the touches that catch your eye or make you smile inside every time you see them. We would have to get lucky to make that happen with our own design. Since we expect to be in this home for a long time, I'd hate to make a mistake that we cringe at everytime we see it.

We've been looking at a book series called the Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka. She has lots of good ideas for creating pleasant spaces in smaller houses and we're tagging many of those ideas for reference to the architect. As we envision it, our thick adobe walls will give us the opportunity for nice touches like deep window seats, built in bookcases, and maybe a built-in wall pantry. We're looking at little touches like benches in the entry area for taking off and putting on shoes or creating interesting interior views that make a small house seem at least interesting if not larger. My greatest desire for this home is to have interesting spaces, intimate in scale, both inside and outside and perhaps transitioning from one to the other. Our climate (winter nights in the twenties, summer days around 100) allows lots of pleasant outdoor time - some winter days, summer mornings, and lots of time spring and fall. So outdoor living spaces will be important, too.

When we have our first sketches, we'll share them with you if we can.