unbuilt | san diego . ca | 2010

This unbuilt project explores the role of a house and its landscape.  Could a house be better than an object surrounded by  lawn?  Could a house and its landscape exist more directly than a simple window or threshold?  Could a house be more than a big window to a view?

The three ways of architecture engages landscape are:

• encompass (object and landscape)
• enclose (object surrounds landscape)
• immerse (landscape within object

In immersion, the house was broken apart into simple volumes.  The volumes act as pavilions, shifted to invite the landscape in, and to frame the views out.

saw this on ArchDaily.

Dieter Rams Ten Principles of “Good Design”

Good Design Is Innovative : The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.

Good Design Makes a Product Useful : A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product while disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

Good Design Is Aesthetic : The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products are used every day and have an effect on people and their well-being. Only well-executed objects can be beautiful.

Good Design Makes A Product Understandable : It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product clearly express its function by making use of the user’s intuition. At best, it is self-explanatory.

Good Design Is Unobtrusive : Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.

Good Design Is Honest : It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept

Good Design Is Long-lasting : It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today’s throwaway society.

Good Design Is Thorough Down to the Last Detail : Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the consumer.

Good Design Is Environmentally Friendly : Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimises physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Good Design Is as Little Design as Possible : Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.

in construction | 2011 | San Diego . CA | with associate architect Jared Bradley AIA

To capture the qualities of tranquility and calmness, the architecture of Sancuate Spa takes inspiration from ancient monasteries and timeless building forms.  Using varied-width vaulted ceilings, each treatment room is unique experience, allowing clients to pick their “environment” based upon lighting and room size.

Working within limited means, the material palate consisted of drywall, simple 2x wood framing, pre-fab wood arches and simple finishes.  Built for $45 per square foot.

design in process | 2011 | east austin . tx

a backyard creative space for a couple.  it is an architecture of linkage, like that of a chain, two mutual parts locked together, free to move in action.

his a man-cave for all things oily and loud, hers a quiet light-filled printing studio.

Thank you to visitors, friends and family for the support for the last 2 years.

This week brings incredible change, and this site will no longer be updated as is.  Beginning in November, this will become my portfolio.

On Monday, I now officially work for one of Austin’s best architects, Michael Hsu.  Beyond the gratuity, he’s a great person as is his office.  I’m honored and can’t wait to show you what we’re working on.

Be well and Best to you all,

-Scott

Tile is starting being installed and grouted in the guest bathroom & children’s bathroom.  Look at the excellent tile alignment and precision cutting by contractor, John Munoz.   Pictured above is DAL TILE’s Keystone 1″ Hex in colors Biscuit & Pool.   To coordinate with the toilet & bath tub, we went with a white grout to tie it all together.  The lower half of tile continues as the vanity backsplash and the ledge is for shampoo, soaps and a rubber ducky.

One of the challenges using mosaic or hex tile is how stop the tile, or turn corners.  One simple and great solution is a product made by Schluter.  This metal L angle provides a straight edge to end the tile at.  The metal can be painted or left in its anodized finish.

june 28 . 2011
An update: things are happening just not as quickly as imagined.  Phase 1 is wrapping up, but the contractor is about 6 weeks behind schedule.  Someone wiser than me once said:

“You can have it cheaper, faster or better.  Pick two. Only two.”

He was right. So time fell to the side.  But the floating arrival steps got poured, the drywall got taped & mudded and the vinyl shadow reglets are being installed in-lieu of using a baseboard or 3″ MDF base trim.

The Google Street View Truck immortalized the Stimulus-Funded Curb Cut Repair Crew.

week 14 of construction and drywall has started.  the house is changing quick and the finishes are showing up.  exciting!

may 16 . 2011 | Good Design Stories : Herman Miller @ the Austin Museum of Art

Nicole from Studio 512 & I picked out these Abet Laminati colors to use for the forthcoming Herman Miller exhibit at the Austin Museum of Art.  Cross your fingers, I hope the laminate arrives today!

week 9 | construction visit

Flew back to San Diego to see the house’s 50% mark.  We’re 5 weeks from scheduled completion and its going to be a push to make the June 15th date.  The Fleetwood windows look beautiful, Pete Pelletier did an incredible job measuring and with the installation.  His company’s website is www.thepellco.com.  I was out to verify the mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins before the drywall goes up.  One already can sense why we flipped the house’s layout-what an incredible canyon view!  45 days and counting!