Special Lots Need a Superb Architect
Special Lots Need a Superb Architect
DEAR TIM: I purchased a killer river view lot and will build a dream home there as soon as I can get the house to fit on the lot. My current architect is having trouble orienting the house without having to build expensive retaining walls. I am confused as the flat area where I can build seems huge. Do you have an ideas as to what is wrong? Do I have the right person for the job? John K., Cincinnati, OH
DEAR JOHN: You may not have the right architect for this unique opportunity. Special building lots demand architects who are not only talented but also can prove to you they have successfully designed homes that sit upon special pieces of land. Perhaps my best advice to you at this time is to slow down and take your time. You have one and only one chance to get this home right. Do not make a panic decision and hope all will be well once you move in.
Why won't you floor plan fit on a new site?
Your current dilemma may be a simple issue of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. If you are attempting to place a floor plan you really like onto this building site, it may not work for any number of reasons. The zoning restrictions may cause problems with respect to front, rear and side yard setbacks. The actual shape of the current plan may not be suited to take advantage of the vistas from the lot. There can be a host of other reasons why your current architect is having problems.
I have had the good fortune of working on land that has spectacular views. What's more, I have been extremely lucky to visit any number of houses that have been built on special lots that offer river, lake, mountain and valley views.
One thing most of these homes had in common was the extensive use of glass on the sides of the home that offered the panoramic views. In years past, you may have paid a price for this since glass used to be an energy glutton. But advancements in technology have given us coated insulated glass that helps keep heating and cooling costs low. Be sure your architect specifies the best glass you can afford.
How do you orientate the house for the best view?
I often see some architects struggle with orienting view houses so the visual site line is at a 90 degree angle to the wall that faces the view. Perhaps your architect is trying to deal with this demon. It is not always necessary to look directly out of a window to enjoy a view. Be aware that your body naturally adjusts to the view much like a tank turret rotates on the tank body to align the cannon for a shot. If you have to rotate your head or body up to 30 degrees to see the view, you will probably discover this is not uncomfortable. You can actually test this on the vacant land now by standing in a spot and rotate your head to see the actual view.
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If you decide that your current architect is not up to the task, it is fairly simple to find one who is. As crazy as this sounds, you can sometimes do detective work to discover who drew plans for existing recently-built homes in your area that appear to work well on other view lots. The plans for these homes are often in the archives at your local building department.
Simply knocking on the doors of these homes with sincere compliments will often work. Introduce yourself to the homeowner and immediately tell this person the purpose of your quest. Many people are proud of their homes and if they had a great experience with their architect, they will openly share information and frequently allow you to see the inside of the home.
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Once you have found several candidates for the job, you need to meet with them preferably at the lot. Go back to their office or some other place where they can show you blueprints and actual photos of homes they have designed on similar lots. If they can't do this, it is a danger signal. You do not want to be a lab rat in an experiment. You need an architect who can prove to you he or she can extract the most from your special piece of the rock.
Are you getting ready to build a new home? If you want to make sure you are using the best builder, I suggest that he fills out my New Home Checklist. This one-of-a-kind document will flush out all of the losers in the bidding process. I offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee.
I would also strongly urge you to communicate critical room sizes you must have. You know which rooms work and don't work in your current home. I would also budget money so you can host a small design competition. Ask each architect what it might cost to sketch out a quick floor plan that will work on the lot. Ask for some very rough exterior elevations so you know what the final house might look like.
Hiring an architect is an important task.
Any of the architects who are technologically savvy should be able to take photos of your view and include them in a software program that allows you to look through the windows of the plan and actually see what you will see once the home is built. The winner of this small contest just might be the right person for the job.
Hiring an architect is an important task. You need to find a person who is both creative yet will listen to what you want. Sometimes your ideas may not be practical. One method is to talk with past clients who have used the architect you are thinking of working with. Ask if there were any bumps in the road. Ask if they would use them again.
Most importantly, ask the clients what they would do differently. Were there small pesky mistakes in the plan or house they wish they could redo. You will be surprised at what you will learn if you just ask simple questions.