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What is wrong with home designs?

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TIQM

Regarding the house in the posted image:  the quoins are there not because they are structurally necessary, but because they provide an allegory of structure.  They tell a story about how the forces of gravity are transmitted to the ground.  Mies van der Rohe, good classicist that he was, did the same thing by putting non-functional wide flange columns on the outside of the Seagram.

Feb 28, 16 12:18 pm  · 
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curtkram

they tell a story about the structure of a stick framed stucco house?

mies's use of steel told a story about steel.

Feb 28, 16 1:42 pm  · 
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TIQM

You don't really know how the walls of that house are made.  

Stories can be literally true, or they can be fiction designed to convey a deeper message.

Feb 28, 16 1:54 pm  · 
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TIQM

They do tell a story about structure of a stick-framed house.  Note that the corners othe house are solid, and are not de-materialized as you might find in a modernist house.  The quoins are there to highlight that fact.  They say, "observe how the forces of gravity are transmitted down to the ground, through these solid, pier-like corners.."  They aren't literally there.  They are linguistic devices.  They reinforce an allegory of structure.

Feb 28, 16 2:14 pm  · 
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You can apply whatever symbolism you want, but Styrofoam quoins are simply the illusion of masonry structure. The story - or more accurately the lie - is the appearance of expensive historical construction.

It's the recreation of a Disneyland fantasy world in Dryvit. It's aimed at a very particular market for which it is designed to scream BUY ME. That's the deeper message.

Feb 28, 16 2:56 pm  · 
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curtkram

i guess the message is 'fuck context' then?

Feb 28, 16 4:24 pm  · 
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Does it have to be such stark polarized point of view?

How about a balance of such point of views. If something is new built, can it be built using a language that fits into place? Material language for example.

Wood? Brick? Stone?

Can we employ them in a manner including also scale and to some extent some form based language that can make a place fit into in a manner of belonging?

Feb 28, 16 4:35 pm  · 
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Thayer-D

Instead of asking "What is wrong with home designs today?" which is as simplistic as questions get, why not identify when "home designs where right" and analyze it from that perspective.  I'm going to guess that the author of this question can't answer it as simply as he/she asked their question. 

Feb 29, 16 9:08 am  · 
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wurdan freo

Here's the real question... would you design build the op's monstrosity if you could walk away with 200k....? Cause that's what's happening in Denver right now.

Feb 29, 16 11:35 am  · 
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gual

Doesn't it seems a little senseless to be bashing these homes without looking at their floorplans?

Jul 28, 16 10:02 am  · 
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Non Sequitur

^ Nope.

The floor plan is irrelevant. 

Jul 28, 16 10:53 am  · 
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awaiting_deletion

USA USA USA

Jul 28, 16 9:39 pm  · 
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awaiting_deletion

damn wrong thread...hahaha

Jul 28, 16 9:52 pm  · 
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Alexi889

It's partly the fault of the realtors and partly the people. People want their homes to look magnificent large but don't have enough dough. The architects are only designing for the people's need. 

Aug 3, 16 5:22 am  · 
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debbie777

Hope it's ok to post this here - any suggestions/advice on how to bring (bog) standard residential design into the 21st century?

Looking to renovate this house and give it a contemporary face lift. Considering single top swung windows/fixed pane picture windows in dark grey throughout as well as replacing the slider with a more modern front door.

Any examples of houses which have been renovated/improved for inspiration or any suggestions on how this house could be improved?

 

 

Aug 6, 16 4:21 pm  · 
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