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1. Find the right area.
Context: Warrensburg, NY
The site is an empty lot for sale, a few blocks off of main street.
The single-family house would be approximately 2,000 sq.ft., and modeled after similar houses nearby.
The neighboring houses are a mix between suburban and colonial.
Knowledge: (Urbanism Rules)
In order to make reasonable decisions during the site-selection process, it helps to have general knowledge about:
2. Site the building.
Context:
The neighborhood is medium-low density, and within walking distance of everything.
The lot is 90'x140'.
I placed the house toward the front of the property to leave room for a large backyard. The siting is similar to the rest of the street. The front yard is 40'x90'.
The main house is 30'x30', and the garage is 25'x30'.
Knowledge: (Urbanism Rules)
For deciding how to site the building, it helps to know:
Form-Based Codes: how much space is needed for a house, for a driveway/garage, for a yard, for a garden, how to shape a cluster, how to position a house for sunlight
Dynamic Codes, such as privacy requirements like setbacks from the road and neighboring houses, what views tend to be important to people, rules about plants/trees
Negotiated Rights: ways to negotiate shared space with neighbors
3. Determine the building's massing and style.
Context:
The breezeway connects the two-story house with the garage. The garage has a studio apartment above it, with access from the back, because the gable end faces the street.
I considered the view from the street, and modeled the façade in more detail.
Knowledge: (Architecture Rules)
To determine the building's massing, it helps to know:
Form-Based Codes: rules about density, rules about building types
Massing Rules: rules about proportion/scale,
Style Considerations (Architecture): what elements are necessary to convey its style, its use, style compatibility, etc.
4. Lay out the interior.
Context:
The house has a four-square plan. The breezeway has a cathedral ceiling with a ceiling fan. The garage has a studio apartment above it.
FIRST FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
Knowledge: (Architecture Rules)
To lay out the house, it helps to know:
Spatial Rules like general sizes for most activities, rules about circulation, rules about privacy, maximizing sunlight and views
Programmatic Rules like important adjacencies, different user groups, what activities are prioritized given available space, how to combine uses, find equivalent uses, etc.
5. Add color, materials, and furniture.
Context:
I chose brick for the breezeway façade to match the foundations and the chimney.
The front door has sidelights to widen it and brighten the entry.
The backyard pool is far enough away from the house to avoid its shadow. The lounge chairs face the southern sun.
There is enough space next to the pool for a 30'x50' yard. I left a 10' setback for trees and plants along the property line.
Knowledge: (Architecture Rules)
It helps to know about construction methods, materials, HVAC, structural rules of thumb, furniture layouts, technology and appliances, style details, etc. Style Renders offer a quick way to visualize ideas.
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