Artist’s House and Studio

How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?

 

We are both the architect and the builder, so the built project is usually as designed.  When we do make changes during construction, they are done in the same spirit as the original design. 

How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?

 

This particular house uses more of the traditional vernacular house forms than most of work, but is very similar to many of our other projects in our careful attention to view, solar access and other site macro and micro issues. Additionally, the plan strategies we employ are essentially modern, open, and flexible.

How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?

 

This project is in line with current trends for sustainability and efficiency, but not because of the trends. We have always worked to site our projects to take advantage of the sun. Quality glazing and properly sized overhangs control seasonal solar gain. We have always tried to reduce waste (we built this project, start to finish, without filling one 15-cubic-meter waste bin). Perhaps the most "sustainable" aspect is that it is located on an infill lot, in an already established neighborhood located in the center of town. It demands no new infrastructure, instead replacing a missing piece of the existing fabric. 

Are there any new/upcoming projects in your office that this building’s design and construction has influenced?

 

Each project is designed with the knowledge gained from the experience preceding it.

How would you describe the architecture of Arkansas, and how does the building relate to it? 

 

This project is in the NW corner of Arkansas, in the Ozarks. This is a region currently undergoing rapid growth; agrarian landscapes and small towns are giving way to large-scale development. Some of that is characterized by increasing density in urban areas, and other as urban sprawl. At the macro level, we believe that this project demonstrates the more responsible option, urban infill. At the building scale, the project alludes to the vernacular forms of the past, without copying them. 

Email interview conducted by John Hill.