Just looking for fresh ideas and new ways to experiment all sorts of things.
Created by: irgeorgellanespecore
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Architects Renovate a Tiny House and Keep It Tiny, Modern and Classic
Michelle Linden and Henry Walters of Atelier Drome write about their philosophy:
As architects, we believe in encouraging green sustainable building and design, understanding that our resources are precious. We get excited about creating intelligent solutions, rather than bigger solutions, and strongly believe that a thoughtfully designed project will have less impact on the earth, help foster positive relationships, and ultimately enhance the owners' lives.
They certainly have created an intelligent, rather than bigger situation here in their Ravenna Remodel in Seattle.
They describe the project:
While this home was very small, the clients did not want to increase the footprint, but rather increase the usability of the spaces.... a new sliding glass door in the 2nd bedroom/office was added to the exterior, with a folding wall system separating the room from the main living area. This allows the owners to open the entire space to the exterior, but still provides privacy to the bedroom when needed.
The result is a very tight, efficient floor plan with lots of storage, as the owners are "avid collectors."
It
is actually nice to see stuff in the house; usually architects go all
minimalist and fluff it within an inch of its life, you don't see
anything. Here you actually get Corb's LC4 Chaise Longue, but also a big
desk with someone actually working at it.
The architects described the project in an email:
Obviously, the most green aspect of the project is its size. At only 600sf, we're using less materials for construction and significantly less energy to run the home. But, we also tried to include other sustainable design features including salvaged materials (oak flooring for the kitchen, wood sliding glass door, wall oven and microwave, framing lumber, and baseboard trim), energy efficient appliances (combo washer/dryer, on-demand water heater), and added insulation.
The architect selected light colored paint and large windows to help keep the brick fireplace from overpowering the small space. Dark floors give it a modern edge and help ground the space.Tags: Architects | Less Is More | Seattle
The original bathroom was
extremely tight. The architect provided a new plan including expanding
the bathroom to a more appropriate size, as well as providing storage
where possible. Wall to wall mirrored medicine cabinets were provided
above the sink and cabinet. Additionally, the ceiling above the shower
was dropped, which provided a more cozy showering experience, and also
allowed for the addition of storage space accessible from the adjacent
bedroom.
All walls and floors
were tiled with a square ceramic tile, which reflected the square motif
also seen in the light fixture, mirror, sink, tub, and wc. The bright
whites of the finishes and fixtures were intended to help reflect the
limited Seattle light from the window located in the shower, as well as
provide a feeling of spaciousness.
Courtersy: Lloyd Alter - Tree Hugger
