http://aamodtplumb.com Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX Wed, 05 Oct 2016 12:52:20 +0000 http://aamodtplumb.com en http://aamodtplumb.com/Panelized-Prefab-Scores-Trifecta-on-Time-Cost-and-Quality http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/Panelized-Prefab-Scores-Trifecta-on-Time-Cost-and-Quality Wed, 05 Oct 2016 12:52:20 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 12033747 <img src="//payload486.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/12033747/ABX-Panelized-Prefab-Flyer_670.jpg" width="670" height="867" width_o="2550" height_o="3300" src_o="//payload486.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/12033747/ABX-Panelized-Prefab-Flyer_2550.jpg" data-mid="64533553" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 867"data-hi-res="//payload486.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/12033747/ABX-Panelized-Prefab-Flyer_1340_c.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Aamodt / Plumb Architects , Bensonwood & Risinger Homes presents:<br /> <br /> Panelized Prefab Scores Trifecta on Time, Cost and Quality<br /> <br /> ArchitectureBoston Expo<br /> <br /> Seminar A43: Tuesday Nov 15, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM<br /> <br /> This is a case study of a modern custom home designed for a fixed timeline and budget using off-site fabricated panels. By preconceiving the construction delivery process the team was able to optimize the triple constraints of time, cost, and quality. The old adage of “pick two” no longer applies. In addition to be on time and on budget, the house received an AIA design award and achieved near Passivhaus standards in energy efficiency. Find out exactly how this was done and the huge potential positive impact on the home building industry.<br /> <br /> Speakers:<br /> <br /> Mette Aamodt AIA, Aamodt / Plumb Architects<br /> Andrew Plumb AIA, Aamodt / Plumb Architects<br /> Danny Veerkamp LEED AP, Bensonwood Homes<br /> Matt Risinger, Risinger Homes<br /> <br /> ***<br /> <br /> About Aamodt / Plumb Architects - Cambridge MA and Austin TX<br /> An award-winning architecture and interior design studio that specializes in custom modern homes for design-savvy clients all over the US. They use simple forms and natural materials, backed up by a deep knowledge of building science and technology, to create beautiful living spaces that support and enhance people’s lives.<br /> <br /> About Bensonwood - Walpole NH<br /> A custom home and timber frame company since 1973 Bensonwood is known for their sustainable building practices, high-performance, high-quality and long-lasting wall and roof panel systems. Beauty, health, comfort, energy efficiency and durability are the pillars upon which they build.<br /> <br /> About Matt Risinger & Risinger Homes - Austin TX<br /> Matt Risinger is a custom home builder and maven of building science and fine craftsmanship. He publishes a weekly video show called Build with Matt Risinger about building technology on YouTube that now has over 30,000 subscribers. His company, Risinger Homes, exclusively builds architect-designed homes in Austin, TX.<br /> <br /> ***<br /> <br /> ArchitectureBoston Expo<br /> November 15–17, 2016<br /> Boston Convention & Exhibition Center | Hall C<br /> <br /> ArchitectureBoston Expo (ABX) is the largest building industry event in the Northeast. From November 15 to 17 at the BCEC, attendees will explore the showroom floor at ABX and enjoy over 400 exhibitors, new products, live demonstrations, and installations. <br /> <br /> The ABX conference program is the most comprehensive educational event around, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and possibilities. The diverse range of topics and ideas attracts the full spectrum of building-industry professionals, including architects, engineers, builders/contractors and owner/clients. <br /> <br /> Register for the seminar and expo here: http://abexpo.com/register <br /> <br /> <br /> Aamodt / Plumb Architects , Bensonwood & Risinger Homes presents: Panelized Prefab Scores Trifecta on Time, Cost and Quality ArchitectureBoston Expo Seminar... http://aamodtplumb.com/Our-Story http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/Our-Story Thu, 28 Jul 2016 10:15:55 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11797112 Andrew and Mette are partners in life and work. <br /> <br /> Mette was introduced to architecture at a young age spending time in her father’s architecture office after school, accompanying him to job sites and touring cathedrals on trips to Europe. Andrew found architecture on his own. As a freshman at MIT, he chose to live in a curvy brick dormitory because it just felt good to him to be there. That building it turned out had been designed by Alvar Aalto - the great Finnish architect and one of the giants of 20th century modern design. <br /> <br /> By the time they were first introduced, Mette had travelled widely, had lived and worked abroad and was fluent in three languages. Andrew’s international travels had consisted of a one way flight from Panama (where his parents lived when he was born) to Miami and he had managed to learn exactly one language.<br /> <br /> Mette and Andrew’s paths first crossed at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design in 1998 where they both studied architecture. It turns out they had many of the same down-to-earth values, based in part, on their shared Scandinavian heritage. Mette was born in Norway and her father is Norwegian and Andrew’s family has its roots in Finland and Sweden. <br /> <br /> In school, they collaborated and helped each other on many projects. Then suddenly, one week before Mette’s thesis review, she went blind in her right eye. Andrew helped her finish her final project and just after graduation she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This was a terrible blow to both of them as they were just starting their careers, particularly in a profession notorious for its long hours and demanding work culture.<br /> <br /> In order for Mette to be healthy they had to find and maintain balance in their lives, with ample time given to rest. This has become one of their most important projects - designing their lives for long term health and happiness. Based on a mantra of “do less, enjoy more” they developed a lifestyle that values the quality of their time and the effective use of their energy. <br /> <br /> In 2007 Mette and Andrew founded Aamodt / Plumb Architects based on that experience, believing that beauty and grace can be part of everyday life and that architecture can enable people to flourish in the lives they lead. They design spaces that feel good, like the Aalto dorm at MIT, and support people to live healthy and happy lives. There is no place where this is more important than in one’s home. Andrew and Mette are partners in life and work. Mette was introduced to architecture at a young age spending time in her father’s architecture office after s... http://aamodtplumb.com/First-Step http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/First-Step Sun, 17 Jul 2016 21:30:57 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11761087 The first step of any complex project is to analyze the problem. <br /> <br /> Einstein famously said, "If I had one hour to save the world, I would spend fifty-five minutes defining the problem and five minutes finding the solution." <br /> <br /> <br /> Just as a doctor will diagnose before they prescribe, we will diagnose before we design. <br /> <br /> <br /> We created this brief brief training video to explain the first step you should take when starting a project. It teaches you how to avoid making a costly mistake and will also help you understand how to get your project on time and on budget and avoid having to settle for a design you don't want. After you watch the video I will tell you about our process for analysis and diagnosis. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Our process for diagnosis is the Needs Analysis. This initial consultation is designed to precisely understand your requirements, then to give you findings and recommendations and a plan to move forward with a timeline and budget.<br /> <br /> <br /> Here is what your Needs Analysis will include: <br /> <br /> <br /> • Outline of ideas and potential solutions in narrative form <br /> • Brief detailing rooms, sizes, and orientation<br /> • Outline of the requirements for building codes and zoning<br /> • Outline construction budget<br /> • Preliminary schedule<br /> <br /> <br /> If for some reason during this process we discover that we are not the ideal fit for you and your project then you are free to take this report to another architect for them to continue the design.<br /> <br /> <br /> The price of the Needs Analysis starts at $2,500 up to 1% of the cost of construction depending on the size of the project. We are currently only able to offer this service in the US. <br /> <br /> <br /> "The needs analysis was a time efficient way to review some cost estimates and regulations that we should think about in advance of the design phase. Projects can seem overwhelming as a whole but the needs analysis brings good structure to defining the problem and identifying up front priorities and goals and which choices will need to be made. It's a great way to stage the investment to manage risk and be confident that the team you're working with has the right expertise, has the right vision to match yours, and can help you better estimate the potential costs and timelines of the project." - Mike Green, Homeowner<br /> <br /> <br /> The first step of any complex project is to analyze the problem. Einstein famously said, "If I had one hour to save the world, I would spend fifty-five minutes... http://aamodtplumb.com/Boston-Sunday-Globe-2016 http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/Boston-Sunday-Globe-2016 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 09:59:04 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11601553 ROOM TO LOVE: KITCHEN<br /> "A toasty touch, fireplace warms Newton kitchen" <br /> by Marni Elyse Katz, Boston Globe, April 24, 2016<br /> <br /> Link to Project<br /> <br /> <img src="//payload465.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11601553/IMG_4425_670.JPG" width="670" height="670" width_o="1512" height_o="1512" src_o="//payload465.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11601553/IMG_4425_1512.JPG" data-mid="62216382" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 670"data-hi-res="//payload465.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11601553/IMG_4425_1340_c.JPG" /><br /> <br /> THE SEATING<br /> <br /> Wife and husband duo Mette Aamodt and Andrew Plumb of Cambridge-based Aamodt/Plumb Architects combined the kitchen and formal dining room in this Newton Tudor to create one big living space because, Aamodt said, “life happens in the kitchen.” A Tillary sectional sofa in bone faux suede and a Box Frame coffee table with a whitewashed-wood top, both from West Elm, outfit the seating area.<br /> <br /> THE CABINETRY<br /> <br /> The lower cabinets are semi-custom from Brookhaven with a whitewashed face of wood-grain laminate. To customize the look, they added contrasting bleached-ash supports between each pair of cabinets to match the wood-panel hood enclosures, the cabinets above, and the floor.<br /> <br /> THE BACKSPLASH<br /> <br /> Aamodt chose a honed black stone material called Basaltina for the backsplash, shelf, and fireplace surround to contrast with the cabinets. Its asymmetric composition — the stone steps down as it moves away from the work area of the kitchen — adds a bit of quirkiness to the soothing aesthetic.<br /> <br /> THE FIREPLACE<br /> <br /> The ethanol-burning appliance by EcoSmart is a cozy focal point of the living area. “It’s basically like an oil lamp. You just fill up a reservoir with bioethanol fuel and light it,” Aamodt said. ROOM TO LOVE: KITCHEN "A toasty touch, fireplace warms Newton kitchen" by Marni Elyse Katz, Boston Globe, April 24, 2016 Link to Project THE SEATING Wife and... http://aamodtplumb.com/Builder-2016 http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/Builder-2016 Wed, 11 May 2016 15:55:07 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11508330 "Hill Country Contemporary Originated in the Factory," by Leah Demirjian, Builder Magazine, February 2016<br /> <br /> Link to Project<br /> <br /> <img src="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/0216a_BD_Cover_670.jpg" width="670" height="818" width_o="2700" height_o="3300" src_o="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/0216a_BD_Cover_2700.jpg" data-mid="61717589" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 818"data-hi-res="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/0216a_BD_Cover_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-1_670.jpg" width="670" height="781" width_o="2700" height_o="3150" src_o="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-1_2700.jpg" data-mid="61717381" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 781"data-hi-res="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-1_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-2_670.jpg" width="670" height="781" width_o="2700" height_o="3150" src_o="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-2_2700.jpg" data-mid="61717382" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 781"data-hi-res="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-2_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-3_670.jpg" width="670" height="781" width_o="2700" height_o="3150" src_o="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-3_2700.jpg" data-mid="61717384" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 781"data-hi-res="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-3_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-4_670.jpg" width="670" height="781" width_o="2700" height_o="3150" src_o="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-4_2700.jpg" data-mid="61717385" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 781"data-hi-res="//payload460.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11508330/BD-4_1340_c.jpg" /><br /> <br /> "When designing a custom home, the details are paramount. And it’s the details—such as an exterior clad in locally-foraged charred Shou-Sugi-Ban cypress, and utilitarian fixtures outfitted with unique, industrial hardware—that make this lakeside residence designed by Boston-based Aamodt / Plumb Architects undeniably custom. What isn’t as obvious is that the 6,000-square-foot house also happens to be prefabricated.<br /> <br /> With roots in Cambridge, Mass., and a branch in Austin, Aamodt / Plumb was commissioned to design and construct the New York–based clients’ home-away-from-home in a mere 12 months. A custom house of this scale usually demands two to three years, so partners Mette Aamodt and Andrew Plumb looked to other industries in search of tactics they could “borrow” that would allow them to accelerate the process.<br /> <br /> Their solution came from information technology in the form of parallel processing, which divides a task between multiple processors to run a program faster—much like the panelized, prefabricated building system that ultimately allowed the firm to frame the foundation and envelope of this house in just two weeks.<br /> <br /> In collaboration with Bensonwood, a company that specializes in sustainable timber, as well as local high-performance builder Matt Risinger, Aamodt / Plumb built an airtight, Passive House–compliant envelope in the time it would have taken to complete the foundation work on a traditionally-constructed house. While Risinger prepared the site and poured the concrete, Bensonwood manufactured and shipped the timber frame and panelized sections from their factory in New Hampshire.<br /> <br /> “Traditional custom building is a sequential process,” Aamodt says. “We were interested in prefab because it could allow us to perform some of those processes in parallel.”<br /> <br /> The interior of the house is simply finished with wood floors, white walls, and exposed wood beams. A relatively open plan allows the owners flexibility in how they use the space.<br /> <br /> Thoughtfully sited to preserve the site’s existing oak trees, the structure combines a rustic, ranch-style vernacular with modern details. Two individual volumes—in contrasting shades and heights—connect at a glass-paneled, light-filled mudroom and entrance foyer. Offset by a white steel roof, the charred wood and white stucco exterior gives way to modern interiors that feature reclaimed timber, local limestone, and raw steel. Full-length windows meet mesquite flooring to invite sunlight deep into the home and provide expansive views.<br /> <br /> “We wanted the interiors to be very simple—white walls and white ceilings. We used the reclaimed wood in very specific instances to add richness and texture,” Aamodt says.<br /> <br /> Hill Country-inspired décor hand-picked by New York interior designer Bella Mancini finishes the look, creating an embodiment of the downtown Austin charm that’s just beyond the front door." "Hill Country Contemporary Originated in the Factory," by Leah Demirjian, Builder Magazine, February 2016 Link to Project "When designing a custom home, the... http://aamodtplumb.com/NewCanaanMCM http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/NewCanaanMCM Mon, 02 May 2016 15:40:57 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11191781 This semester we were invited to teach a graduate level architecture studio at Roger Williams University. We decided to focus the studio on the design of the home, a seemingly simple yet complex design problem with an enormous impact on people’s lives. <br /> <br /> Rather than just starting with style or form or even program (that’s archi-speak for “list of rooms”) we asked the students to start with an experience. To help them get started we assigned three midcentury modern homes in New Canaan, CT that they were to study, document and analyze. We asked them to imagine the sensual experience of the space – the sounds, smells, textures and temperature. Then we took them to see and experience the homes in person. <br /> <br /> We had a big agenda planned for our trip and we had to drive through a snow storm to get there. We arrived at the first house – the Noyes House (1955) by Eliot Noyes (learn more in Iconic House of the Month) – which was covered under a blanket of fresh white snow. The caretaker had started a fire in the stone hearth and invited us to come in and sit down on the low slung chairs with cracked leather upholstery. We didn’t have to take our shoes off he said, the house was made for living and the thick slate slabs continued uninterrupted from outside to inside. There was pizza waiting for us on the dining table. (We had to cancel our lunch at Grace Farms, a contemporary retreat by Japanese firm SANAA.) <br /> <br /> This was no museum; there were photos and newspaper clippings on the wall and rust on the refrigerator. We ate our pizza, relaxed by the fire and tried to clue our senses in to the sounds, smells and textures. To get from the living areas to the bedrooms we had to walk outside under a covered walkway. It is only 12 steps, not far enough to get cold but enough to feel the temperature shift, smell the pine trees and hear the muffled quiet of the snow. This was the perfect setting to study the sensual experience of home.<br /> <br /> Curbed reporter Jenny Xie came along with us on the tour and created the hashtag #NewCanaanMCM. She also published this post about our day.<br /> <br /> <img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house-courtyard_670.jpg" width="670" height="670" width_o="3024" height_o="3024" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house-courtyard_3024.jpg" data-mid="60080286" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 670"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house-courtyard_1340_c.jpg" /><br /> <img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house-stone-walls_670.jpg" width="670" height="670" width_o="3024" height_o="3024" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house-stone-walls_3024.jpg" data-mid="60080288" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 670"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house-stone-walls_1340_c.jpg" /><br /> <img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house_670.jpg" width="670" height="670" width_o="2160" height_o="2160" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house_2160.jpg" data-mid="60080375" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 670"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11191781/noyes-house_1340_c.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Image List (top to bottom): Noyes House courtyard, Noyes House stone wall, Noyes House student model (with Mette inside) This semester we were invited to teach a graduate level architecture studio at Roger Williams University. We decided to focus the studio on the design of the home,... http://aamodtplumb.com/A-New-Approach-to-Custom-Home-Building http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/A-New-Approach-to-Custom-Home-Building Mon, 02 May 2016 15:26:36 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11469032 Building a home from the ground up means you can have everything exactly how you want it. It can be the home you have always imagined, that you have day dreamed about while flipping through books and magazines. The home can be designed to your exact specifications and it can be built on just the right site that you selected yourself. So why don’t more people do it?<br /> <br /> There are several reasons for this. Land in some parts of the country, like the Northeast, is hard to come by. Financing may be difficult if you don’t have enough cash for the down payment. The process may be unclear or just unknown.<br /> <br /> The number one reason people do not design and build a custom home is that it just takes too long and they do not want to wait. <br /> <br /> Planning, design and construction of a custom home takes 3-5 years. That is a long time! Finding just the right piece of land is the first step and you will want to choose wisely. Design and documentation typically take a year from start to finish. The length of the permitting and approvals process varies depending on your area. And then there is construction that usually takes between 2-3 years depending on the size and complexity of the home. <br /> <br /> I understand if you are ready to give upon this idea right now.<br /> <br /> So lets look at the alternatives. You could buy an existing home and use it the way it is or renovate it to meet your needs. You could buy a pre-designed stock home from a builder that can erect it in 6 months. There are kit homes and a few types of pre-fab homes that allow you to choose from a few models. There are pros and cons to all of these options that you can consider. <br /> <br /> Construction of a custom designed home takes so long because the work happens sequentially. The foundations must be complete before the framer comes to the site. The framing must be done before the plumber and electrician can do their work and so on. A delay at one step snowballs down the line and it is difficult to make up the time.<br /> <br /> We have developed a new approach that we call “Parallel Processes”. In IT and computing if you want a job done faster you use multiple computer processors working simultaneously to do it. Our approach works the same way.<br /> <br /> During construction while the foundation is being excavated and poured the exterior walls and roofs are being framed, sheathed and insulated in a shop. The rough plumbing and electrical is also being run in the walls. By the time the foundation is done the entire exterior envelope of the house has been delivered to the site and can be erected in a matter of weeks. Finish work then happens on site and construction is complete within the year. We have proven this method out on our Modern Texas Prefab that you can see here.<br /> <br /> This process is different from any of the alternatives mentioned above because at the end of the day you have a fully custom designed and built house that is unique and made specifically for you.<br /> <br /> Published by Mette Aamodt, May 2, 2015<br /> <br /> <img src="//payload458.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11469032/modern-texas-prefab_casey-dunn_end-wall_670.jpg" width="670" height="832" width_o="3000" height_o="3727" src_o="//payload458.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11469032/modern-texas-prefab_casey-dunn_end-wall_3000.jpg" data-mid="61512269" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 832"data-hi-res="//payload458.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11469032/modern-texas-prefab_casey-dunn_end-wall_1340_c.jpg" /> Building a home from the ground up means you can have everything exactly how you want it. It can be the home you have always imagined, that you have day dreamed... http://aamodtplumb.com/What-I-Learned-in-Japan-about-Beauty-and-Imperfection http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/What-I-Learned-in-Japan-about-Beauty-and-Imperfection Mon, 02 May 2016 14:57:40 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11468924 <img src="//payload458.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11468924/Works-by-Japanese-Ceramic-Artist-Shinobu-Hashimoto-4_620.jpg" width="620" height="465" width_o="620" height_o="465" src_o="//payload458.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11468924/Works-by-Japanese-Ceramic-Artist-Shinobu-Hashimoto-4_620.jpg" data-mid="61511178" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 (620) — 620 × 465"/><br /> <br /> At age 23 I spent a year in Japan studying, travelling and collecting tea cups.<br /> <br /> After graduating from Barnard I received a Japanese Monbusho Research Fellowship given out by their Department of Education and headed off to Japan with very little preparation.<br /> <br /> I arrived bleary-eyed after the long flight to a place where I couldn’t speak to anyone, didn’t know the customs and couldn’t read the neon billboards all around me. Did you see that movie “Lost in Translation”? That was me and I was homesick.<br /> <br /> I quickly met up with some other foreign students and started eating out with them at the ramen carts and local sukiyas. Eating was a great source of pleasure for me in Japan, not only for the tasty dishes, but also for the experience.<br /> <br /> The handmade earthenware, beautiful arrangements, intimate atmosphere and the rituals of serving tea and other dishes delighted my senses and made me feel welcome. <br /> <br /> I admired the everyday objects like the tea cups and rice bowls and began to seek out the handmade ceramics at the studios of local artists. Their irregular shapes and finishes, the evidence of the hand of the maker and the natural process of kiln drying captivated me.<br /> <br /> The Japanese concept of beauty is called wabi-sabi and it centers around the notion of transience and imperfection. It is for the Japanese what the Greek orders and perfection are for the west. Wabi-sabi is simplicity, austerity, authenticity, intimacy, modesty, irregularity. It embodies a sense of melancholy and spiritual longing that comes from Buddhist teachings. But with that longing is also a sense of possibility and openness. There is not one correct answer, like the Golden Mean, but many possible outcomes and that inspires me.<br /> <br /> In every other way I was an outsider but in wabi-sabi there was room for me. The tea cups that I collected that year fill me up with their imperfect beauty because I can complete the story myself in many different ways.<br /> <br /> Posted by Mette Aamodt, Sept 7, 2015<br /> <br /> Image Source At age 23 I spent a year in Japan studying, travelling and collecting tea cups. After graduating from Barnard I received a Japanese Monbusho Research Fellowship... http://aamodtplumb.com/Harvard-Student-Services http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/Harvard-Student-Services Wed, 30 Mar 2016 15:46:18 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11190197 <img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_registrar_670.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="4500" height_o="3000" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_registrar_4500.jpg" data-mid="60072537" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 446"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_registrar_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/public-space-sketch_670.jpg" width="670" height="414" width_o="2862" height_o="1770" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/public-space-sketch_2862.jpg" data-mid="60753644" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 414"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/public-space-sketch_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_reception_670.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="4500" height_o="3000" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_reception_4500.jpg" data-mid="60072547" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 446"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_reception_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_break-rm_670.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="4500" height_o="3000" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_break-rm_4500.jpg" data-mid="60072561" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 446"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_break-rm_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_signage_670.jpg" width="670" height="837" width_o="3000" height_o="3750" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_signage_3000.jpg" data-mid="60072580" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 837"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_signage_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_detail-2_670.jpg" width="670" height="1005" width_o="3000" height_o="4500" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_detail-2_3000.jpg" data-mid="60072585" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 1005"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/harvard-student-svcs_messinger_detail-2_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/Student-Services-Diagram_670.jpg" width="670" height="670" width_o="3600" height_o="3600" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/Student-Services-Diagram_3600.jpg" data-mid="60754504" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 670"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/Student-Services-Diagram_1340_c.jpg" /><img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/4th-floor---APA-presentation_2_670.jpg" width="670" height="701" width_o="2550" height_o="2668" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/4th-floor---APA-presentation_2_2550.jpg" data-mid="60849799" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 701"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190197/4th-floor---APA-presentation_2_1340_c.jpg" /><br /> <br /> The Smith Campus Center (formerly Holyoke Center) at Harvard University is a Brutalist office complex designed by Josep Luis Sert and completed in 1966. The “grey elephant,” as it was not-so-lovingly called for its concrete facades, is now undergoing a major transformation to become the hub of student life at Harvard. With its new name already in place, London firm Hopkins Architects is working on a redesign of the public spaces that will affect the outdoor plazas and the 1st, 2nd and 10th floors. <br /> <br /> Part of this master plan was to consolidate student services in the Smith Campus Center. Aamodt / Plumb was asked to help co‐locate the Registrar and the offices of General Education, Accessible Education, Advising Programs and Additional Resources into one space on the 4th floor. These offices had previously been located in separate buildings on campus and the challenge was to design one shared space that could serve all these departments. <br /> <br /> The design strategy converted the existing double loaded corridor into a welcoming and dynamic public space connecting two reception areas, two student computer kiosks, staff break room and focus rooms. Instead of another relentless corridor we shaped the space by angling walls to subtly encourage movement from the elevator lobby to the farthest reception area. Semi-public spaces that connect to the exterior window wall are located along this public sequence to bring in natural light through wood screens. Once off the elevator, a visitor’s eye is guided from one softly lit wood screen to the next until their final destination.<br /> <br /> The project scope included providing new departmental offices and workstations within office space designed five years earlier by Anmahian Winton Architects. The new perimeter offices blend seamlessly with the existing material palette and details. And the new workstations embedded in the interior of the space are bright white with glass and light wood to minimize their visual impact on the space. <br /> <br /> We also developed the signage and wayfinding to assist students in finding their way throughout the floor. Each department has its own primary color (Sert would have been happy) and individual offices are color coded to match their department. The Smith Campus Center (formerly Holyoke Center) at Harvard University is a Brutalist office complex designed by Josep Luis Sert and completed in 1966. The “grey ... http://aamodtplumb.com/Home-Sense-and-Space http://aamodtplumb.com/following/aamodtplumb.com/Home-Sense-and-Space Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:02:02 +0000 Aamodt / Plumb Architects, Cambridge MA and Austin TX 11190457 So often we focus on what buildings and spaces look like. Sexy professional photographs grab our attention, we evaluate whether we like what we see or not and move on. But our relationship with the buildings we live in and use every day is hardly that superficial. The things that make us love certain places and spaces in our lives are so much more complex than their appearance. The things we love are the things that interact with all of our senses and bodies in countless combinations and that, in the end, amount to feelings and memories of the body and the mind.<br /> <br /> The home is unique in that it is universally familiar and yet individually distinct. It is a place where our senses and bodies are activated and used to understand and use its space. The scale of the home puts us in close proximity to the things around us allowing us to see and feel the spaces differently than in other settings. Our vision sense is altered by this scale and becomes less dominant as other senses such as sound and smell come into play. The ability to visually observe and understand the whole is replaced by sequences of partial views, peripheral vision and changing vantage points. As a result, one can only understand and know a home through a combination of movement, lived experience and memory.<br /> <br /> Aamodt / Plumb was invited to teach a graduate-level architecture studio at Roger Williams University in the Spring 2016. The studio will focus on designing the experience and atmosphere of a home. We will explore how the senses can be used as primary design mechanisms and develop physical tools and means of representation to test our ideas. A fundamental end result of the studio will be for each student to design and build an immersive device that convincingly conveys a primary experience of the design.<br /> <br /> <img src="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190457/scent-squares_670.jpg" width="670" height="670" width_o="2664" height_o="2664" src_o="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190457/scent-squares_2664.jpg" data-mid="60074825" border="0" align="left" data-title="670 — 670 × 670"data-hi-res="//payload444.cargocollective.com/1/13/433179/11190457/scent-squares_1340_c.jpg" /><br /> Image: <br /> <br /> Experiential Device by Taylor Chin, Roger Williams University MArch Program. The device represents the "scent plan" of The Evans House by James Evans, 1961, New Canaan CT. The nine square grid contains smells for each area of the house as experienced by the student. The house has an open floor plan so the device also maps where smells are singular, like the pine needles from the forest at the perimeter, and others are blended like the smoke of the fireplace and garlic cooking oil of the kitchen.<br /> <br /> * * *<br /> <br /> The following texts explore ideas about phenomenology, the senses, the home and beauty:<br /> <br /> Pallasmaa, J. (1996). The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the senses. London: Academy Editions.<br /> <br /> Bachelard, G., Jolas, M., & Stilgoe, J. R. (n.d.). The Poetics of Space.<br /> <br /> Rybczynski, W. (1986). Home: A Short History of an Idea. New York, NY, U.S.A.: Viking.<br /> <br /> Tanizaki, J. (1977). In Praise of Shadows. New Haven, CT: Leete’s Island Books.<br /> <br /> Koren, L. (n.d.). Wabi-sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, and Philosophers. So often we focus on what buildings and spaces look like. Sexy professional photographs grab our attention, we evaluate whether we like what we see or not and move...