Blurring the line between preservation and renovation
I
I just read an interesting article in the magazine “Preservation” that’s put out by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The article, written by Blair Kamin, was entitled “Friends or Foe”. It was about the ongoing battle between architecture and preservation. His article begs the question: “Should preservationists place a new and unremitting emphasis on saving energy, or should retaining the integrity of architectural masterworks remain paramount? In other words, should the green movement and the threat of climate change prompt a rethinking of WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST at the dawn of the 21
st century?”
Interesting dilemma, for sure. When we at Green Builder Magazine were enmeshed in the ReVision project in Las Vegas this past January, this question came up many times. Now, I’m not saying that this little Palm Springs Modern home we worked at was the holy grail of architecture, but this particular period in architectural history was significant in that this style home was the first of its kind in the concept of ‘open floor plan’ living. Palmer & Krisel, architects of the home and surrounding development, had 5 or 6 different models of modern homes to select from. The ReVision house was model # 6C , and featured windows meeting ceiling heights, with beams extended out to the roof rafters to create fusion between inside and out. Which was all very well and good, but given that the house was in the desert, where temperatures can reach 110 degrees, I can’t imagine how unbearably hot it was, especially since the home has a southern exposure and air conditioning was in its infancy in the 60’s.
Steven Winter and Associates, the company in charge of the energy audit on the house, was insistent that the front clerestory windows that faced south had to go. Most of the homes on the block had already had those windows removed because of the massive heat gain. When the ReVision house was purchased, the front windows were intact and were actually painted over as an inexpensive way to block the sun’s rays from entering the master bedroom. Obviously, as you can see from the original architect’s rendering that these windows play an integral part of the overall design of the building. So I was more than upset that they had to go. I asked about installing really heavy blinds to block the sun, etc, but Bill Zoeller, the architect in charge of the energy audit, was unmovable, stating that there would also be significant solar heat gain through the blinds, given the southern direction of the home. So we came up with the idea of closing off the windows, but made sure that they appeared as if they were still there by painting the space where they were an accent color. As you can see from the recent photo, it was successful. And because of the removal of that glass, along with the beautiful Milgard windows and doors being so well insulated, the house far surpassed its goal of a 70% energy reduction.
I can certainly understand when an architect balks at the re-designing of his or her original idea. I would feel the same way. But here’s the conundrum: The ReVision house was bought at auction 2 years ago when it was literally a crack den. The neighborhood and surrounding area has declined over the years, even though there are several people who have lived in the development since its inception. So what’s the solution: do you demolish a home that’s now a crack den because you can’t bring it back to its absolute original state without making necessary changes it needs to house a family of today? As an avid preservationist who’s seen the heartbreak of losing our history day by day, adaptability is key. Yes, Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the very few architects we revere to the point of absolute preservation no matter what the cost. Somehow, some way, money is always found to preserve his works. But what about the other ‘not so Wright’ homes that are perfectly wonderful mirrors into our past that are still viable as good places to live? Do we abandon them in the name of preservation, or do we adapt? If we don’t adapt, we lose not only our heritage, but the chance to save our planet as well.
Posted: 3/11/2010 10:13:14 AM by
Pat Gaylor | with 0 comments
California's CARB requirements for wood products
Now that houses are being more efficiently insulated, they become a lot more airtight. Because of that, the air you are breathing inside the home can become irritating or even harmful.
One of the basic tenets of green design is good indoor air quality. Everything that’s brought into the house affects it, and we are all aware of the term “VOC” regarding paints or even carpeting. That ‘new carpet’ smell is actually a chemical soup off-gassing in your living room.
More than just the obvious things like paint and carpet, furniture and cabinetry have sometimes been overlooked as a culprit of poor indoor air quality. Formaldehyde is the number one chemical that can affect young children, the elderly, or people with compromised immune systems. But would you want to bring anything in your house that can potentially harm you, regardless of your age or health?
As of January 2009, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved an Airborne Toxics Control Measure (ATCM) to reduce formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products such as hardwood, plywood, particleboard, medium density fiberboard, and also from doors, windows, furniture and other finished products with composite wood parts. California is now the first state to make low formaldehyde emissions mandatory and hopefully other states will follow.
Xylem Corporation, a Georgia based company, designs and manufactures a diverse selection of products including vanities, faucets, mirrors, and sinks for the bath in traditional, transitional, and modern styles.
Ahead of the “green” curve, all Xylem products are compliant with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). By complying, Xylem becomes a leader in environmental responsibility, and is positioned to sell its entire product line in all 50 states, not just California.
We were lucky to have these gorgeous vanities in the ReVision house in Las Vegas. The double vanity in the master bath has a beautiful marble top and rich, chocolate furniture style legs. The hall bath’s vanity boasts an incredible glass countertop and open storage underneath.
The KraftMaid kitchen cabinets in the ReVision house are another example of how a healthy home can also be a beautiful one. Stunning and stylish, the soft modern design blended perfectly with the retro vibe of the house. And all KraftMaid cabinets meet current CARB requirements as well.
Thanks, Xylem and KraftMaid, for making the ReVision house not only beautiful, but healthy as well. We can all breathe a little easier.
Posted: 2/23/2010 10:39:16 PM by
Pat Gaylor | with 0 comments
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” - Poet Don Williams Jr.
I now know what Williams meant when he wrote those words. These past few weeks have been a blur of furious activity, all of it culminating as the Builder’s Show opened on Jan 19th, and my ‘journey’ ended. The completion of the house is usually the happiest time of the project, but not for me. I really enjoyed the process of putting this house back together, and now it’s time for me to go.
As we approached the show deadline, there were scores of workers, trades people, product manufacturers, business owners and various other people that were practically tripping over each other. It was refreshing to see them working harmoniously side by side, while no one copped an attitude or argued. They all knew that we were all working towards a common goal. Being an east coast gal, I was amazed at how pleasant everyone was, coming from a part of the country where attitude is king most of the time. It didn’t go unnoticed, and I am eternally grateful for all of those involved in the creation of this show home.
Lance Gonzales, our head contractor, should be commended for his positive attitude and even demeanor. He was always thinking ahead and never lost his cool. As long as we kept him in Coke Slurpees from the local 7 Eleven, he kept going. His two workers, Paul Christianson and Dennis Johnson were also very polite and cooperative, not to mention talented. I can’t say enough about this team, and how much they meant to all of us.
I’d also like to mention my boss and co-worker Craig Savage. He has a clear vision about the future of building and construction in America, and coupled with his passion for design and architecture, came up with the idea of creating this show home. Without him this project would never have taken place.
And finally, to Sara Gutterman and Ron Jones, creators of Green Builder Media. It’s not an easy task to bring radical change to an ailing industry, but they have achieved it not only well, but with their true heart and passion. And that’s what we should all do: Be the change you wish to see in the world.
All the best,
Pat
Posted: 2/3/2010 9:53:34 AM by
Scott Donnelly | with 0 comments
“What Lies Beneath”
Lance Gonzalez and his crew have been peeling away layers of drywall and insulation and removing the exterior siding, revealing the skeleton of the original house. I love looking at houses this way. Seeing years of past remodels getting stripped away and revealing the house’s true intent is akin to a good detective novel in my mind. Or maybe even an autopsy. You can’t deny what’s really going on when you get down to the bare bones.
Sometime during the last 15 or so years, there was a fire in the house caused by a faulty television set, according to the owners. Once the underside of some of the eaves was uncovered, traces of smoke damage still remained. Luckily, the damage was minor. The REAL damage was the 90’s style remodel. It wasn’t bad, it was just BORING. Beige tile everywhere, white ‘stucco’ walls, skimpy trims and moldings and cheap hardware and windows turned this little mid-century gem into just another mundane looking tract home.
I’d like to try to balance what was originally designed for the house with new products and materials that will not only pay homage to its past but allow it to grow into the future gracefully, and more importantly, sustainably. Now I’m not saying that the original design of this house was perfect. But there are certain things about it that are unmistakably mid-century and whimsical, like the tapered fireplace chimney in the living room, or the cool square block pattern on the outside walls. Those were signature items of the architect, some of which remain on a lot of the houses on the street. So how can I balance my love of this simple yet arguably funky house style with what’s out there in home design right now? Are families today any different from the families of 50 years ago? Maybe so, but I think we all still want the same things- a safe, comfortable haven that with nurture us for many years to come.
One of the things that have never changed is the idea that the kitchen is the heart of the home. This still rings true today. Most of our activities are centered on the kitchen, even though our current lifestyle is much faster paced than those before us.
The original plan of the house had a solid wall in between the kitchen and living room. By breaking through and cutting a 6 foot wide opening over the sink, it’s created a whole new look and feel. Now the kitchen area doesn’t feel isolated from the rest of the home, and people can mingle about the space and still feel connected. And yet people still need private or ‘quiet’ spaces. By adding a wall in between the dining area and family room, it creates a much needed quiet zone from the rest of the house for reading or watching television. So once again, it’s all about the balance - the balance between the old and the new, with a reverence for the past and a vision for the future.
Posted By Pat Gaylor
Posted: 12/8/2009 12:00:00 AM by
Scott Donnelly | with 0 comments
‘Why is it always so exciting to start demolition? The sound of hammers and crowbars ripping apart the exterior of the house really gets you going. I guess it’s because that terrific noise is proof positive that things are really underway. And indeed they are.
I made a site visit to the house last week and met up with the contractor, Lance Gonzales. We did a walk -through of the house and reviewed many, many details, and pondered the changes. I always like this process. After reviewing the blueprints and getting familiar with the existing house on paper, it’s always fun to actually see what the REAL truth is, blueprints aside. For example, the new laundry closet had an unexpected support beam running through the center, so we had to make some on- the- spot adjustments. But this is par for the course, and only makes the job that much more interesting.
I’m in the process of selecting all of the flooring options for the house from Mohawk, one of our sponsors. I visited their booth at Greenbuild last week, and was shown some gorgeous engineered hardwood floors. Engineered flooring, as it is called, is actually real hardwood flooring that’s bonded to plywood, making it easier and faster to install, and very stable. If anyone has installed a hardwood floor in a humid climate, you know what I’m talking about. The natural tendency of the floor to expand and contract is kept to a minimum by already being bonded to a substrate. The plywood Mohawk uses is called “Purebond” because this it’s made with wood that has no added urea formaldehyde, which is found in ‘regular’ plywood. That makes for excellent indoor air quality, especially in homes with children.
As you know, Mohawk is a leading carpet manufacturer, and has two great product lines, one called “SmartStrand” and the other called “EverStrand”. Smartstrand carpet contains fibers made from corn sugars, rather than petroleum. This fiber requires 30% less energy to manufacture than an equal amount of nylon. EverStrand carpet fibers are made from 100 % recycled plastic bottles. One in four of every bottles that are recycled in North America are used to make Mohawk EverStrand carpet! That’s a great statistic, and I’m amazed at how soft and luxurious it feels. I call that a real win-win.
Posted By Pat Gaylor
Posted: 11/21/2009 3:38:37 PM by
Scott Donnelly | with 0 comments
