Architext #1312: Residential Design. Two Options: Learn It! or Buy It!

I’m always amazed at the range of design and planning competence that goes into residential construction projects.  Recently my work (in a non-design role) has brought me into many new houses that are under construction. They vary in size and complexity with the smaller ones being around 2100 sf and the larger ones in the 4500 sf range.

Since I’m in the business, I always ask the homeowner:  Who did your design work or, where did you get your plans?  I usually pop this question after I’ve seen an odd design condition, something that just isn’t right.  I’m here to report that 4 out of 5 answer like this: We saw a house the builder was doing and made some changes or;  We started with plans that our friends used and our builder offered to redraw them just the way we wanted.  The remaining 1 out of 5 say they used a stock house plan that they bought and then modified.  Sadly, I don’t remember the last time someone answered that they had an architect design the house.

 Today I was in a 4200 sf new house under construction in Trumbull.  The builder was constructing this one for his own family.  I asked my standard question and he proudly answered that he saw a house another builder was doing, measured it up and then drew up his own set of drawings incorporating all the changes that he and his bride wanted.  In terms of the construction, he was doing a very nice job - the planning and aesthetics were another issue.  From a design point of view, it was very obvious that I was standing in a house that was designed by a novice.  The shortfall of some of the functional things will become obvious almost immediately- like the decision to use pocket doors throughout the house (their regular use quickly proves tiresome and especially difficult for kids and older users) and the decision to locate the dining room on the other side of the family room from the kitchen- Yikes!

Now, plan layout and organization, as a general rule, are not the most difficult parts of residential design. Most people can understand 2D plan views. The tough parts are the massing and vertical aspects- exterior facades and rooflines, and the details- how transitions (between spaces, surfaces and materials) are integrated to bind all the pieces into a whole.  Expertise in these areas is what separates the pro from the novice.  Just knowing how to draft or being able to run an over-the-counter CAD program does not make one a designer.  Just like buying a set of paints won’t make you an artist, or buying a barber’s set of scissors will not make one a hair stylist!  Home Depot’s slogan ‘You Can Do It, We Can Help”, while cleverly empowering, may be a bit unrealistic for some undertakings.  

When doing a new house project, if the goal is to simply get a building that is new, keeps the water out and has the right number of bedrooms then almost anyone can be the designer. (OK, unnecessary drama there!)  But if the goal is to create a home that is not only highly functional and responsive to your family’s lifestyle but is also visually pleasing inside and out while maintaining harmony with its site, then design expertise is necessary.  So here’s the take-away: You got two options: Learn it or Buy it.  The “learn” option means a whole lot of work—far more than just becoming fluent with floor plans and colors.  The “buy” option involves engaging designers.  This can range from limited design consultations to complete design and construction drawing services.  In any event, if you are doing a project, don’t ignore the value of good planning and design.  It will cost you up front, but it will pay dividends in the long run in the livability, efficiency, maintainability and salability on your house.

Hope this helps. Good Luck. DN

Dom Narducci is a practicing architect in Southbury, CT.  He provides complete architectural design and project management services (Freestone-inc.com) and offers a line of stock house plans (FreestonePlans.com). Additionally, Narducci teaches and writes on design and construction issues. Comments are welcome. If you have a question for Ask the Architect!, email Dom at: dnarducci@freestone-inc.com.