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dave72
Joined: 15 May 2008
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SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1640
Location: San Francisco
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 Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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In my opinion, you don't.
What's really wrong with this house -- oddly placed and insensitively sized windows -- isn't going to be easily corrected with moldings and pilasters. But by photographing it as is, and using copies of that photo to try different treatments, some improvement may be arrived at. By all means, stick with the "colonial" prototype and its vocabulary of material and detail. Nothing is sadder and more indicative of ignorance than an architectural smorgasbord !
As to the above advice and your illustration, perhaps turning the garrison overhang into a projecting central bay, "supported" on freestanding columns rather than pilasters, is a useful improvement on both the existing condition and on your original intended treatment, and the best idea yet offered.
Again, making the siding uniform throughout is probably the best way to go; getting rid of that completely inappropriate "Palm Springs MCM" stonework is certainly the single most important change you can make.
SDR
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csintexas
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Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1667
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:32 am Post subject: |
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Well, other than the basic square and symmetric shape I don't get a colonial vibe from this one. Certainly if you support the projection with columns and add other colonial details you could make it into a colonial but then it would loose some interesting character and charm.
But I agree it would be easier to turn it into a prototypical colonial than a prototypical arts and crafts. Ya'll need to maybe put more fiber in your diet though and loosen up. Have some fun with things, every house in the world doesn't need to be turned into a boring run of the mill traditional.
A nice garage door, better corbels, paint, etc. would fix this house right up.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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mx2
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Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1906
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:06 am Post subject: |
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Sorry Chris, but I have to give my opnion and state you are way off mark. It is that kind of approach you suggest that lands homeowners in these situations where they feel their homes isn't quite right. It's not in issue strictly of 'style' but rather has more to do with memory and comfort. Aesthetics is borne from our past experiences and visual encounters and i find that most of the time clients are uncomfortable with 'hodgepodge' homes. In fact, the idea of loosening up is the direction that PoMo has pushed upon us designers that I find the public has rejected more often than not. Proportion and scale are fundamental to good design and in this case, either we get rid of the entire colonial "style" or embrace it. The language of the colonial could be more contemporary but it stillr equires understanding the principles and basic character of the colonial. Throwing Arts and Craft at every home, regardless of the 'bones' of the original house is not truly appropriate.
mx2.5
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*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1640
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:51 am Post subject: |
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I'm a great fan of the Arts and Crafts period and its products. We have lots of original bungalows and other homes in that style, here in California.
To be fair to Chris, Texas isn't the place where one would see original Colonials; I spent a long time in the Northeast so I was exposed to them and their direct descendants.
SDR
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csintexas
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Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1667
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:17 am Post subject: |
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I don't see where PoMo has been rejected. I think the opposite is true. Houses today are more post modern than ever (other than a few new urbanist type developments)
I agree that there are a lot of ugly houses in the world but at the same time subdivisions become boring when they lack individuality. I personally like other flavors besides vanilla. I guess I am more of a mutt than a purebred dog lover though.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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SDR
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Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1640
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:36 am Post subject: |
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Different tastes and priorities are developed based on formal versus informal education, I think. We are each the product of the sum total of our influences and experiences. Tastes will vary from individual to individual, of course, but certain tendencies can be predicted based on the history of each person's influences (including the order in which they were received).
It is what it is. Life goes on. There's something for everyone out there in the big wide world.
Facts of history can be argued, but personal preference can't, and probably shouldn't.
SDR
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