Thursday, March 31, 2011
Progress...
A special shout out to all team members who made the Foundry presentation look so fantastic.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wood Floor Arrives!
Tuesday afternoon we received a load of reclaimed white oak floors from Salvage Antique, LLC. Scott Brady of Salvage Antique has been generous enough to donate the materials as well as aid in the installation of the floor in the coming week. The wood itself (originally cut down nearly 150 years ago) is quite beautiful is comes from a former barn in Kentucky. Check out the Salvage Antique website here to learn more about their product: http://www.salvageantique.net/
To finish the floors, we will be using an environmentally friendly product made by OSMO North America. Often floor finishes can be extremely high in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and this can adversly effect the interior air quality over time. We have been fortunate enough to partner with OSMO and a specifying a floor finish that is exteremly low in VOCs. Not only will this make our building healthier to live in, but it also earns us LEED points. You can learn more about the OSMO on their website: http://www.osmona.com/
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Pop, Deltalok, and Drop It
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Eco-friendly paints
Changes to the Planting Plan
- minimal maintenance
- ecological integrity
- preservation of resources on site
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Cabinet Excursion Part Deux
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Siding on My Mind
There was some work on the blocking that needed to be done around the door on the east side of the house before strong progress could be made. Once that was completed, the siding progressed from north to south past the canopy and front door. Also, the place for the vent for the stove range hood needs to be blocked out as well for the siding to be completely finished on the east side.
On Thursday and Friday I helped with the siding on the west side of the house. The first task was to install the box frame around the two windows looking out of the swing space. This was the first box frame I had installed. It was a tedious task of maintaining a continuous spacing around the window frame and keeping the box frame level. We used wood shims to maintain an even space around the window frames. The shims on the sides lined up with the furring strips on the wall, and we drilled through the box frame, through the shims and into the furring strips. After we finished the sides, we repeated the same process along the top and bottom of the frame. Once we cut back the shims to be flushed with the blocking on the wall, we continued putting up siding.
As we are positioning and nailing the siding, we have to think about how the water is going to run off the walls. Around the windows we have the cut a 10 degree angle that follows the angled slope of the box frame to assist in water proofing. We push the siding right up against the bottom of the box frame. On the top we leave a small gap so that water does not get trapped between the top of the frame and the bottom of the siding.
The most effective way to install siding is to have at least 2 people nailing the siding and at least 1 person cutting the siding to length on the chop saw. This process also includes checking and rechecking the spacing between each piece as well as making sure the pieces remain level. As Aaron wrote in the previous blog, checking the blocking as each piece of siding goes up is essential.
The siding on the south facade is complete and the siding on the east and west facades are expected to be finished on Monday or Tuesday. The completion will hopefully come in time for the hardwood floor to be delivered and begin installing, and as well as the tiling to begin in the bathroom.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
What about siding?
March interiors
[ To read about David Matthews’ impressions of the New Norris House, see Reflections on Norris ]
color
The application of color within the realm of the Home had been addressed as static within the private realm. While the team still believes in the use of paint as a highly impermanent and personable element, the decision was made to limit the application of color to the inside of the marriage wall rather than the entirety of the rooms. The warm orange (swing space) and yellow (bedroom) of the wall now lend a hand to light as it paints on the white canvas of the house, defining those spaces as more intimate. The bathroom ‘nook’ remains yellow, as it becomes perceived as carved out of the marriage wall; in addition, the use of a warm color allows for a positive perception of the self-image, as bathrooms are meant “to make the occupant look good, not the room.” (David Matthews)
The next step is the choice of paint colors, most importantly the whites; the interior team has been coordinating with the casework team in order to obtain a harmonious relationship between the white cabinets and the walls. We have been very fortunate to establish a partnership with the Sherwin Williams Company through Mr. Dwight LeClair, who is in the process of helping us obtain 0 VOC paint as the house will be seeking LEED homes platinum certification.
furniture
In accordance to the design concept of the house, the interior focuses on emphasizing the common space and its relationship to the outdoors. As the “public” living space visually links together street, landscape and people, the furniture remains light in presence and the sight unhindered, while allowing for a flexibility of use. We are very excited to work with David Koch, who has enthusiastically agreed to donate one of his 3style table, which will be staged as an actor sharing its time between the swing space and the living room.
The design of a modular piece (alternatively used as a couch, lounge chair or bed) will start this week, with the immediate goal of a first mock-up achieved over spring break.
flooring
Salvage Antique’s white oak flooring was the general consensus, and will be installed next week. A clear finish will preserve the relatively light color of the wood, as a high contrast in value (dark floor v.s. white walls) would provide discomfort to the occupants.
casework
While the casework team has been working hard on the making of the kitchen cabinetry, the design of the swing space casework is approaching schematic completion through numerous discussions and collaborative efforts. The design includes the loft ladder and wall storage which accommodates a curtain that will allow for a more private use of the swing space. (The curtain height, texture and color are in the process of being designed.)
[ Further updates will be given about lighting and window treatments. A mock-up lighting session will happen soon in order to determine the best way to illuminate the space. ]
For architecture students to approach the task of designing an interior --more particularly this interior-- has proven to be an extraordinary mind-broadening experience. As a new member of the New Norris team, the design process has been at turns daunting, challenging, and intimidating, but most of all highly exciting. The New Norris House has been a constant reminder of how much we can give; of how far the urge to create spaces for high quality of living --that will to do good design-- may take us.