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For this issue, we've selected from HousePlans. You can find the plan at www.houseplans.com Look for plan #48-246 or click on the picture of the house to take you directly to the site! |
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Diversity in the Profession |
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Everyone knows that February is, among other things, Black History Month. So that got us to thinking about the status of minorities and women in the profession of architecture. It's no surprise, probably, that architecture has long been viewed as a profession of "white men". Much like any profession, however, that is changing, though not as rapidly as we might like. One source estimates that about 9% of licensed architects in the United States are women and only 1.5% are minorities! Indeed, architecture might just be seriously lagging in its efforts to diversify its ranks.
When was the last time an African American or woman architect garnered national or international fame? Do you know these names? Julian Frances Abele. Hilyard Robinson. Paul Williams. Marion Mahoney Griffin. Zaha Hadid. Denise Scott Brown. (Google 'em!) It took until 1992 for the American Institute of Architects to elect the first woman president (Susan Maxman, FAIA). And it wasn't until 2006 that an African American was elected as President of the AIA! (Marshall Purnell of Washington DC-based Devrouax + Purnell).
At a time when there is a greater global need for effective design, it's seems pure folly to ignore any talent pool. We need the sensibility and creativity of good design; we need to be reaching out to many perspectives and diverse voices not just to design more beautiful buildings, but to enhance our communities through design. Sustainable, walkable, human-scale places where people can live and work in community come about through thoughtful design by experts working with a community, a nation, the world.
I am mindful of the problems in Haiti, in New Orleans, in many places on our earth devastated by horrific natural disasters. Architects of all stripes are required to put things back together. It behooves the architecture industry to work hard to attract students from every walk of life, and to further their education by supporting their internships in firms that can teach the practical, nearly miraculous methods of re-creating communities.
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Quote from Norman Foster about Fortaleza Hall:
"Fortaleza Hall has given us a unique opportunity to work along side one of the finest Modern buildings in the world - The SC Johnson building - and to tell a remarkable story of adventure and discovery ... H. F. Johnson Jr.'s decision to commission Frank Lloyd Wright was an inspiring act of architectural patronage, as was the brief that we were given to design both Fortaleza Hall and its companion, The Commons. This project celebrates a family of architectural patrons, a remarkable company, a pioneering spirit and a historic journey."
- Norman Foster
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| Recipe of the Month |
Click Photo to View the Zucchini Cake Recipe! |
This month's recipe is again written by Brittany, formerly of Shannon IL and now studying at University of California-Davis, the blog is chock full of interesting recipes, beautiful photographs and good food chat. Check out this Zucchini Cake Recipe! Visit Brittany's blog at http://hestiasdisciple.blogspot.com
And if you haven't already, let us know what you think! | |
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Featured Article
Design Matters
House Plan Critique
February 2010
Prairie Illusions
While the odd perspective drawing of this house leaves something to the imagination, here's a house that would fit in nearly any neighborhood - new subdivision, infill in an old neighborhood, and maybe even best of all, on your lake property. Wherever you might place this house, be sure to site it to take advantage of the sun and the views. It looks small from its street face, but is actually quite large and boasts a very nice floor plan for family living and for entertaining.
This house has many of the features we look for in good residential design - appropriate separation of spaces, great circulation, and fantastic natural light coming in to all the rooms. Beginning with the entrance with its view into the great room and beyond to the deck, guests to this home will be naturally led back to the kitchen - where all the action is - or towards the welcoming fire in the great room. We really like the "service hallway", bathed in light from the clerestory above, that makes guests welcome with a handy closet and powder room. The office could also serve as a private library or quiet meditation room, but we'd move the entrance door so that it comes off the foyer, not the great room, for more privacy. And, as a working home office, that would be a great way to admit clients without taking them into the house proper.
The kitchen is perfectly suited for both casual family life and for friends gathering to share a pinot noir, noshing on tidbits, while the cooks prep the salad and finish the main course. We would change just one thing - we'd move the refrigerator to the other side of the wall oven to open up what's currently a dead corner, giving even more countertop work space. Having the prep sink in the island makes for a wonderful working triangle in this kitchen with cleanup taking place on the opposite counter with its view to the back garden (and maybe the lake!)
Upstairs, again, great circulation, good-sized rooms and wonderful natural light. Wouldn't change a thing - except for maybe adding linen shelving inside the master closet just for convenience. We love the private deck off of the master suite - imagine sipping a scotch or a cup of tea, watching the stars come out over the lake on a dark summer's night.
The lower level provides that extra family space that comes in particularly handy when entertaining adults on the first floor - a great place for the kids to hang out with popcorn, movies, and Wii. But if you're so inclined, it's also a great adult space - plenty of room for a pool table and electronic gadgetry and enhanced by a wet bar and wine cellar. The fourth bedroom is great for guests, teens, your live-in college student, or mum-in-law. The natural light again plays a major role here as light floods down from the clerestory two floors above and from the corner windows in the game room.
The architect's favorite things in this house? The great use of corner windows on all three floors, the beautiful use of exterior materials - stone, stucco and shingles; the horizontal lines of the house with its prairie style illusions really "ground" this home into its site, and the fabulous interior space planning. One caution is the symmetry of the windows at the front of the house - can't tell from the perspective drawing how they line up, but given the good design throughout, we trust that care extends to those windows as well. We give it a solid 3 1/2!
Above: Back Side of Home |
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Always Up to Something! 
Chris and Pat traveled to Racine, Wisconsin last weekend to be among the first to view the new Fortaleza Hall on the Johnson Company campus. It officially opened to the public on February 11, 2010. You may remember that the original Johnson Wax Company facility was designed in 1936 by none other than the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright and is to this day considered a model of modern office design with its open spaces and natural light. (a good site to see interior views of the building: http://cpd.typepad.com/photos/mke_sc_johnson_wax_1/) Building next to such an icon is daunting, to say the least, yet the graceful, light-filled Fortaleza Hall manages to bring 21st Century light and air to this quite lovely campus near Lake Michigan.
Designed by UK firm Foster + Partners (www.fosterandpartners.com), the Fortaleza's purpose is three-fold. First, it serves as new cafe/dining services, fitness area, and meeting rooms for employees - the dining area overlooking the circular center of the building seats 300. Second, it was designed to provide a brilliant space to exhibit the replica of the "Carnauba", the plane that first took H.F. Johnson to the Brazilian forests to find the sustainable Carnauba Palm and later took his son, Samuel Johnson, and grandsons on a similar excursion. It is a beautiful example of early aeronautic engineering and represents for the company and its employees the lifelong commitment to sustainable practices, environmental responsibility, and strong, inclusive business practices. Finally, the lower level showcases a mini-museum which tells the story of the multi-national Johnson Company, still a family-owned business. A truly fascinating story!
The structure itself is stunning. While photographs were not allowed during the tour, we were able to return in the evening to take shots through the one-inch thick glass that comprises the walls that surround the "Carnauba". The exterior of the serpentine walls that comprise the rest of the building, "The Commons", are clad in Pat's favorite stone, travertine, in narrow "Roman Bricks" that lend a decidedly modern air to the building. Inside the circular glass hall, visitors are treated to a lovely "living wall", tropical plants embedded in a special felt material that are both fed and watered from that surface. Beneath the plants, a shimmering, reflective black marble pool fronted by a silently showering fountain wall beneath the stairs leading to the employee area on the second floor.
Below the wings of the Carnauba, embedded in the terrazzo floor is a map that traces the plane's flights Made by Wisconsin craftsmen from 19,200 pieces of four different species of wood, it took a month to install! Fabulous. The stairway walls are graced with quotes from both H.F. and Samuel Johnson. Pat's favorite: "If you're not willing to be wrong, or to make a mistake, then you can't lead." (Samuel Johnson). The walls surrounding the plane's massive exhibit area, made of smooth pre-cast concrete, are etched with images of the Carnauba Palm.
Our next trip there will likely be a cf+a field trip with staff this summer, when we will also take in the original Frank Lloyd Wright Johnson Wax Administration Building as well as Wright's "Wingspread", the house he designed for H.F. Johnson near Racine.
Racine, Wisconsin is just a short trip and well worth your time. While there, you might also want to take in the Racine Art Museum downtown - a very fine example of how to rehab an old building for new, modern uses. Racine's downtown and lakefront have seen some excellent planning and new development in the last decade or so, which we also found interesting and inspiring.
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Side Note
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While viewing Foster's website, we noted that we've been in another of their buildings, the Stansted Airport just North and East of London, England. We were pretty awed by its natural light and beauty while there a few years back, and we both recall how easy it was to navigate - for an international airport, this is rare!
While wandering in London, we've also crossed the Millennium Bridge and lingered in (the re-designed) Trafalgar Square, both projects of Foster + Partners! |
Last Call
During this month, and every month, it is good to remind ourselves of the promise and the contributions of all people as we play our parts on this stage called "life".
While "Letter from Birmingham Jail" has nothing to do with architecture, it is such an important moment in our collective history that it seemed appropriate to give you an opportunity to read it, if, like me, you never have. Powerful words from a powerful man to a powerful country.
Christopher Fye and Associates
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