Housing Stock. Friday's New York Times featured an interesting piece outlining the rising popularity of architects selling stock housing plans online: Click Your Way to an Architect-Designed House. Rather than hiring an architect to design a custom home, some owners are opting to purchase stock plans (about a 75% savings over custom-design) and paying an architect an hourly fee to customize the existing plan...
While savings is significant, we wonder how well-suited the various stock plans are for the wide variety of lots and environments. At the same time, we know that the majority of new homes are inexpensive and contribute largely to sprawl. And we wouldn't turn down a craftsman bungalow from Sears Roebuck & Co. We suppose this is a positive trend, right?
• Real Estate
• AIA launches How Design Works
• Good Questions: Do I Need an Architect/Designer?
(Pics: Lori Cain, Caleb Kenna)
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Slightly better than buying one of those new houses in a suburban development that all look alike and are made of newspaper that will self destruct in 10 years.
view LaDonnaNichole's profile
The article mentions the architect Ross Chapin (www.rosschapin.com). He designed my friend's house (it's on the website) and I have seen several of his homes inside and out. My friend lived in my favorite, the Green Tower in Langley, Washington on Whidbey Island while her house was being built. The rooftop deck is the best ever. http://www.rosschapin.com/Projects/NewResidential/GreenTower/GreenTower.html
The cottage developments he has pioneered are clever and sophisticated. One of the developments of six cottages is being built across the street from me in Alaska. His use of space in small houses is astonishing and delightful. The houses don't seem small and are very cozy.
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I often wondere what my apartment would be like as a house - whether it would be too small and a bit silly.
The floorplan of this one www.rosschapin.com/Plans/Cottage/BettiLu/BettiLu.html
is just like it - bedroom, bathroom, living & kitchen are in the right place with the entrance where the study is.
The windows aren't right, but it would work - bit like a large dolls house. The vernacular style is wrong for here - but so cute.
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I have been designing custom homes for over 13 years. 95 percent of clients wish to start with a home plan they found on the internet. That being said, not one time in my career has the home plan worked as designed. I design homes that people will live in for the rest of their days, settling on a plan that was another persons dream is silly. I show home plans on my site at www.foxdesignstudio.com as a starting point for ideas. A good home design takes many factors into consideration. View, southern exposure, climate, personal needs, lot size, the list goes on. In the end, an Architect or Engineer is usually required to seal the plans and money spent on internet plans was wasted. Save your time and hire a professional designer or Architect. You will spend more money per square foot on carpet and tile than you will for a home plan that was designed for your needs, budget and site. You can replace carpet and tile, a home that does not work is forever. Wade Fox, AIBD
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