Progress...

The interior team is swiftly moving along in the process of their design, focusing on perfecting the details that make the house that much closer to completion. With the tiling currently in process, the bathroom is well on its way. One of the many important things coming from the design of interiors is the process of trial and error. Such is true with lighting. We have been assigned the task of designing/building a medicine cabinet also doubling as a light source for the bathroom. After several weeks of design, we were unsure of the amount of light needed to correctly illuminate the space. After several suggestions, the only real option was to test it out. After a speedy mock-up was erected, we realized there was not going to be proper lighting for the space. It was back to the drawing boards. After fully correcting what was observed from the trial run, we corrected our mistakes and are now ready to hit production. Going through this process has made us realize the value in trial runs and how they really fine tune the details. From full scale mock-ups to tiny models, it is this attention to detail that makes the New Norris House so unique.

A special shout out to all team members who made the Foundry presentation look so fantastic.

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/

Pop, Deltalok, and Drop It

The days are getting longer, the weather warmer, and my hours of sleep shorter, that's right, spring is here. With it comes the task of creating cohesive design solutions for several landscape elements. Samuel, Drew, my fellow Landscape Architects, and myself, have been working on designing a series of terraced rainwater filtration beds, raised vegetable beds, a cistern enclosure, and a plinth area near the back of the property. The challenge now becomes to make certain that these elements merge seamlessly with the house and the existing contextual conditions. Although we have been through several design iterations involving all the landscape elements, my primary focus of this post will be on our use of a product called Deltalok. "What is Deltalok?" you may ask. Well, my inquisitive friend, Deltalok is, "an innovative solution for erosion control, slope stability, soil retention and earth wall applications." While the Deltalok product can be used to retain extremely steep slopes (see below), for our project the product gives us the ability to seamlessly mold our landscape elements into the existing land. Each bag contains a unique mixture of sand (70%) and mushroom compost (30%) which can be seeded, plugged, or planted into providing an immediate visual impact, as well as an extremely strong retaining wall. We are hoping to begin installation in the bio-retention beds and behind the plinth next weekend, April, 2, and with over 300 bags to fill and stack we're going to need some help. Pizza (I'm not getting into the argument of Domino's or Papa John's) and drinks will be provided for anyone willing to donate a few hours of work. If you would like to see more about the product visit their website at www.deltalok.com

Nightlight

Eco-friendly paints

Paint for the walls and cabinetry has been ordered! The New Norris House team would like to thank the Sherwin-Williams Company and Rodney Bishop on Baum drive, Knoxville, for the donation of their new eco-friendly paint ProMar® 200 Zero VOC. The company is also donating the paint finishes for the cabinetry: ProClassic Waterborne and Premium Wall&Wood Primer. All products have low VOC content which satisfy LEED criteria.

Thank you again to Dwight LeClair and Rodney Bishop for making this partnership possible.

Changes to the Planting Plan

The primary ideology behind the design and construction of the Norris House is that of sustainability. In regards to the landscape, this umbrella term addresses three important concepts:

• minimal maintenance
• ecological integrity
• preservation of resources on site

In previous design iterations, the West flank of the property was designated as a meadow restoration era. Far more than just a "field", a meadow is a wonderland of biodiversity and an important aspect of many biomes. In our area, meadow areas are generally products of disturbance by man, grazing herbivores, or wildfire. Occasionally, they may be found over poor, thin, calcareous soils or in areas of frequent flooding. For our purposes, a meadow is a wise design choice if sustainability is the mantra. Although there is a certain degree of maintenance required to establish a meadow, the end result requires very little attention. Selecting native plant species, which are better adapted to extremes of temperature and moisture, ensures success in establishment and eliminates watering need thereafter. A typical lawn area requires frequent watering in hot, dry spells and a repeated need for mowing. Meadows only need to be mowed or cut back once a year. This makes a huge difference! Aside from minimal maintenance requirements, meadows also add to, and function within, the surrounding ecology. Containing a diverse array of native grasses and perennial forbs, meadows provide diverse food (seed, nectar, foliage) and cover options for a variety of micro- and megafauna. Establishing a functional meadow contributes to the local seed bank as well, serving as a source for early successional species that can readily spread into newly disturbed areas. Furthermore, a meadow can preserve on-site resources through the uptake of rainwater, filtration of sediment in sheet flow, and holding soil on slopes with extensive, intertwined root systems.

Sustainability is not the only reason why the establishment of meadow areas in a residential landscape is desirable; there is a certain aesthetic character achieved. Meadows are an excellent way to bring bold textural statements and seasonal interest to the landscape. These qualities, coupled with the sustainable attributes listed above, more than justify our decision to establish meadow swaths. Potential issues relating to steep slopes on the North and East ends of the property now present opportunities to establish even more meadow areas on site.

The chartreuse color represents the areas previously alloted for meadow establishment. The area highlighted in green represents the recent decision to extend the meadow across the path to wrap around the steep slopes on the North and East ends of the property.

Yesterday, following our meeting with TDEC officials regarding grey water usage, the landscape team took a good look at the area along the North property boundary. Taking into consideration the likelihood of ample Summer shade and consistent soil moisture, we once again discussed refining the design. From the fire pit plinth and rain gardens northward, the site conditions are less than ideal for meadow. Instead, we are considering the establishment of more shade and moisture tolerant species. A rich and visually striking mixture of Spring ephemeral wildflowers, woodland ground covers, and texturally bold fern species comes to mind.

The area highlighted in dark green, roughly corresponding to the tree line, represents where woodland plantings would be more appropriate than meadow plantings.

Another recent change to the planting plan is the addition of new shrub plantings. On the Eastern edge of the property, between the rain garden beds and the existing retaining wall, the slope is rather precipitous. The ideal way to address the problem is to plant something which roots deeply, suckers, and covers the ground quickly. One species (or a cultivar thereof) comes to mind: Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-low'). Not only does it cover the aforementioned bases, it is also visually striking throughout three seasons. In the Spring, its terminal branches are covered in showy yellow flower clusters. Come Summer, its fuzzy red berries provide a visual contrast with the glossy compound foliage. In the Fall, the leaves are ablaze with a striking spectrum of red, orange, and yellow. Somewhat like taking the hues of a maple-rich woodland and painting them across the ground plane. On the North end of the property, at the edge of the adjoining woodland, the landscape team has decided it to best to add scattered groupings of native shrub species. Repeating the same shrubs as are planted in the front-Itea, Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Mapleleaf Viburnum-provides unity throughout the landscape and brings more visual interest to the back yard. Adding a middle layer between the ground plane and the tree canopy above softens the look of the woodland edge, bringing a human scale element to the transition. Wildlife will delight in the additional cover opportunities; the onlooker will delight in the additional visual interest. Aside from the species repeated from the front of the property, we have decided to add some Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) to the planting scheme. Not the most showy plant, its merits are still notable. It is an excellent choice for erosion-prone areas (a steep slope with a drainage swale running through it?) because it colonizes like crazy. Sweetshrub's real claim to fame is its olfactory majesty. Indeed, one specimen can fill a patch of woodland with the most delightful apple cider-meets-strawberry scent in the Spring as its unusual maroon blooms unfurl. For this reason, it was named "boobybush" by distinguished Southern ladies during the Victorian era, due to the placement of the flowers within certain undergarments (an early version of "sustainable" deodorant).

The shrubs highlighted in the front were previously designed into the landscape. New shrub plantings are in darker green along the East end of the property (Fragrant Sumac) or shown beneath the tree line on the North End of the property.

Cabinet Excursion Part Deux

The cabinet production is in full effect now!!!!!! And we couldn't be happier!

With the help of our new found friends at A&M Supply, Blum Hardware, and Columbia Forest Products, we have been able to dive pretty deep in the construction of the base cabinets. They have been great help in the process of picking material and coordination.

It is still a learning process as our lead critic Steve likes to walk by and laugh at us as we struggling to figure the details out. I 'think' we have figured out the process of construction now and the wall cabinets should come together pretty quick. Although we are slightly behind schedule, we are trying to work day and night to get them done. We barely have time to breath, little alone blog, with how hard these 'research specialist' are working us.

As I digress, we are about 90% done with the base cabinets and should start the wall cabinets within the next couple of days. Hoping to install as soon as the flooring is installed, we are trying to get them finished by the middle of next week.

So until the next time I get a Union Break.... I bid you adieu!