Houses to get smaller and greener

by Jeff on March 23, 2011

We will see a trend in Reno and nationwide that residential design will be smaller and more efficient. As an architect here in Reno I applaud the end of the “McMansion.” More is not always better, it is just more. More cost, more space, more materials, more energy. If “less is more” then residential architects are in for a treat. No longer can we just “add another room.” We will actually have to push our designs to multi-task. Clients want more sustainable “green” features. It is about time. Architects have been taught sustainability in design schools for years, now it becomes mainstream, soon required by code.

Clients here in Reno and Sparks area will demand from architects designs that are more energy conscious, concise yet still creative and unique. The NAHB reports that the average size of a house will be reduced by 10% down to about 2,150 square feet by 2015. Interesting, the house I grew up in Carson City was only 1,100 square feet; yet house I live in know is close to 4,500 square feet, but there is the same number of people. So, how do I cut my house in half?

People define “being green” as reducing the cost of heating and cooling their house. They want higher efficiency furnaces, water heaters, and plumbing fixtures. But “being green” is much more; why can’t we master plan communities where the houses are oriented for maximum solar exposure? Especially here in northern nevada where we have 300 days of sunlight; today is one of the other 65.

One great trend in residential design is the incorporation of a great room. By combining the house’s main living and entertaining space, incorporating a workspace, along with the kitchen and dining areas you get a multi use space, reducing your overall spatial need. Hopefully, the formal living and family room will vanish completely; only one set of furniture required. See, less is more$.

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Hey (one in particular) local government, use Nevada architects!

by Jeff on March 23, 2011

Recently a local municipal government here in Northern Nevada sent out a request to architects to submit their qualifications for the design of a new building. Now before I go any further, I am not talking about the cities of Reno or Sparks. Nor am I talking about the State of Nevada. All of which have a GREAT history of supporting local architects and engineers. However, there is one local government, a city that gets very busy for 120 days every other year, that has decided to ignore local architects and interview out of state companies.

In this economy, shouldn’t we protect our own? Our own local, TAX-PAYING, businesses? Yes, Architects and Engineers, based in northern Nevada.: Reno, Sparks, Carson City; we were recently ignored, not even offered an opportunity to be interviewed for a local project. A dog pound no less! Seriously, come on! Of the 14 architectural firms that submitted, two out of state were chosen to be interviewed. Make no mistake, the two firms were well qualified. When I called my consultant, I informed him who was being interviewed (not us) and he told me that those two firms are very capable. Ok, but how does a taxpayer funded, department (bobble) head justify not using well qualified local architects? The decision was not based on a fee proposal, it wasn’t based on price. The decision was supposed to be based on qualifications. We all had specialized dog pound design consultants; mine is on the national board of the SPCA (didn’t make the cut). These out of state businesses are going to be “one and done.” They will blow into town, design the project and out they go. They have no vested interest in our community, didn’t even bother to associate with a local company. They will take their fee, funded by our tax dollars and head out of town.

Shame on our capital city.

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