OBSERVATIONS
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WILL USING AN ARCHITECT SAVE MONEY? Everyone who has ever considered using an architect for a small project asks this question. The answer is not simple; there are projects where an architect may, in fact, represent an unnecessary expense. An architect can help you get a better result for the money that you spend, but will not necessarily save you money out of pocket. After all, an architect is an additional cost; additional costs do not usually save money, at least initially. An architect will, however, help you produce a finished product that looks better, works better, and meets your needs and desires more closely. Particularly when it comes to rehabilitating and extending old buildings, the time and knowledge required to investigate and understand what already exists, and to design and specify changes that respect the building while adapting it to its owner's program will not be inexpensive, but at the same time may save money that would otherwise be wasted on unnecessary work and inappropriate solutions. A colleague uses an analogy with men's suits. For one price you can buy a suit off the rack that will look respectable and fit its average-build wearer reasonably well. If, however, you are hard to fit, or if you want an unusual style or material, an off-the-rack suit will not suffice; custom tailoring is essential. A similar situation applies to buildings: if the functional, esthetic, and technical needs are simple and routine, and the building is small, an architect may not add sufficient value to the finished product to justify the expense. On the other hand, if the situation is more complex or unusual, money spent for a sensitive and knowledgeable architect's "custom tailoring" may make the difference between a winning project and an also-ran. Back to the top Several years ago we enlarged a house nearby, nearly doubling its size. I recently visited it with a friend, who commented on how well she thought the new space went with the old. Her remark pointed up a critical concern in designing or adding to any building: Scale. Scale is the relation among the parts of some larger entity. A well-scaled thing, whether large or small, presents a sense of rightness and harmony, while one that is not is--subtly or sometimes grossly--off balance and unpleasant. Scale has much to do with proportion and relative size, and almost nothing to do with absolute size or elaborateness. Appropriate and harmonious scale is therefore as attainable and important in a tiny cottage as in a mansion. An important part of extending a building rather than merely adding to it is getting the scale of the new space right, so that the enlarged structure will be one thing, rather than two objects in collision. The house I just mentioned was very small. The three principal rooms in each story, however, were in scale with each other and with the house, which had a warm and cozy charm. The challenge came when the owners wanted to double its size with an addition that would have one principal room per story--rooms more than twice the size of the existing ones. Our job was to integrate those new rooms into the house in such a way that they neither appeared unduly large for the rest of the house nor made the original rooms seem cramped and nasty by comparison. In a rush of bombast, someone once referred to architecture as "frozen music." Behind that silly language lies an important idea: Harmonious proportion and scale are an integral part of good building. This is true whether the building inquestion is large and lavish or small and sparse. We take this matter of proportion very seriously in our design work. Back to the top ARCHITECTURE AS A THOUGHTFUL DISCIPLINE A university seeking a new faculty member recently placed an advertisement calling for an architect who had been engaged in "the practice of architecture as a thoughtful discipline." What an apt characterization of what professional practice ideally ought to be! Especially when old and antique buildings are involved, thoughtfulness--taking the time to consider what the building is, how it is significant, and how its owner's needs can be met in the least stressful way--is critical to a successful project. Perhaps when erecting a speculative office building designed to last no longer than the mortgage, architecture need not be a thoughtful discipline (although if it were, perhaps new buildings would be more pleasant to see and use), but when a building has been around for one hundred years, or two, or three, there's not much question that thoughtful discipline is essential to keeping it around and useful for another hundred. A prospective client once asked a museum director for whom we had worked about how we practiced preservation architecture. His response nicely summarized the way we try to operate: "If you are looking to get your project done 'quick and dirty,' run, don't walk, in the other direction! If you want to have it done thoroughly, thoughtfully, and skillfully, though, use him." I try very hard to live up to that recommendation. Back to the top Many problems involving old and antique buildings can benefit from professional help, but don't call for full architectural services. In situations like these, a brief consultation with an expert may be the answer. We enjoy doing such consultations; they are an important part of our practice. In the past months we've dealt with matters like these:
Consultations usually take from two to three hours. Although they are intended to be complete in themselves, we are always happy to provide further assistance. Fees, which are agreed to in advance, are modest lump sums for the basic visit. Additional time is compensated at an hourly rate. Reasonable telephone access after the visit is always included. The effect of a consultation on your old-building project can be as dramatic as putting your thumb over the end of a garden hose. When you put your thumb where the water first comes out of the hose, you can direct the flow all over the yard. A short consultation can have a similarly extensive effect on the course of your project. |
Copyright 1991-2008 Allen C. Hill
