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News & ArtsTuesday, November 15, 2011
Architecture House of the Week
Posted by Charles Mudede on Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 8:57 AM
Autumn in Columbia City...
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Like them or not, those houses were likely designed by architects who have an inate artistic ability (though in this case, that can be debated) along with a strong ability in mathematics and science.
Too bad your son sucks at art. Guess he won't be designing your dream house for you.
Too bad your son sucks at art. Guess he won't be designing your dream house for you.
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@2, Yeah, the overheads really suck. But the $20k* it would've cost to trench accross a city street was probably one the owner's elected to forgo.
*educated guess (I don't have facts to back this up).
*educated guess (I don't have facts to back this up).
5
total crap. ugly. an insult to aesthetics and the neighborhood. Unlivable.
These shoeboxes look like they were extruded from the big HOMEEXTRUDER (TM) that is a smaller version of the one extruding all the crappy six story buildings in seattle that have facades of ugly concrete and corrugated metal, oddly placed and inhumane asymmetcial windows. It's the Fish Cannery Shed Movement I guess, or the Homage to the Rectangle. It's a fad that will soon die out. You will never, ever have a city that has 200,000 homes like these the way Seattle has some 200,000 craftsman or other better looking homes than these assaults on quality.
These shoeboxes look like they were extruded from the big HOMEEXTRUDER (TM) that is a smaller version of the one extruding all the crappy six story buildings in seattle that have facades of ugly concrete and corrugated metal, oddly placed and inhumane asymmetcial windows. It's the Fish Cannery Shed Movement I guess, or the Homage to the Rectangle. It's a fad that will soon die out. You will never, ever have a city that has 200,000 homes like these the way Seattle has some 200,000 craftsman or other better looking homes than these assaults on quality.
6
Columbia is appropriately named.
Looking at those houses, I imagine them to be occupied by Government technocrats...and turn the lens 180...there would be a shanty of plywood and corrugated aluminum.
Looking at those houses, I imagine them to be occupied by Government technocrats...and turn the lens 180...there would be a shanty of plywood and corrugated aluminum.
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Beautiful. This is what the good life looks like.
@5 Actually, livable neighborhoods in lots of cities around the world are dominated by houses like this. It's only in the US that we're stuck in the past and think it's not a house unless it looks like Sleepy Hollow. Seattle's actually much better as that goes than a lot of older cities.
@5 Actually, livable neighborhoods in lots of cities around the world are dominated by houses like this. It's only in the US that we're stuck in the past and think it's not a house unless it looks like Sleepy Hollow. Seattle's actually much better as that goes than a lot of older cities.
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I'm just curious about the layout of the interior, having never been in one of these before. Are there no windows on that first floor except the ones facing the street?
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@4: i would concur with your educated guess. if only we could train townsend's moles to tunnel for SCL...
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charles, check out the new book 'bird on fire' about phoenix, "the most unsustainable city". i wish we could read it together and chat over drinks at the rosebud.
oddly, the more i learn the more im attracted to the original early 20th century vision of suburbs as 'garden communities'. if only they kept cars out and encouraged green building and landscaping, not paving, suburbs would be wonderful.
oddly, the more i learn the more im attracted to the original early 20th century vision of suburbs as 'garden communities'. if only they kept cars out and encouraged green building and landscaping, not paving, suburbs would be wonderful.
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I like modernist stuff, althought I think flat rooves in a rainy climate are stupid. However, those are UGLY. The concrete looks horrid. Bleh.
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Houses are alright, but Jesus, painting that concrete would make them look 1000% less dull. I will never understand why unfinished concrete in a residential setting appeals to people. And I work with architects who love that shit.
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Homes that looks like offices are bad enough, but these look like the backs of offices, where the loading dock is. And it's a waste of space anyway; the cars are still sitting out front instead of in the garages that are so conveniently placed for them. The concept just doesn't make sense to me -- the design of a condominium without the benefits of the condensed use of space. That gap between the houses is just depressing.
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@16, 17... wow. Painted concrete is an abomination of use of material. Retarted. Not having a taste for concrete finishing is another matter, debatable sure. But I personally love concrete buildings and think it is such a beautiful aesthetic in this rainy climate. Let moss and ivy and whatever grow all over it. Concrete is so expressive, or in this case minimal. The concrete in these actually give them a natural feel, even though the cars are unfriendly.
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So I am guessing everyone bashing these houses lives in the following: an old, inefficient craftsman that requires four times the amount of energy to heat, light, takes up the same amount of space as two or three dewllings, etc. But you all probably drive hybrids so that is ok, then. The craftsman look is totally worth it.
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@20 You know, some kind of green screen like you're describing would actually be very beautiful, and I've seen it done in a couple spots around the Central District. I totally spaced on that option when writing my original comment. To be clear, I'm not a huge fan of painted concrete either, I just have no taste for unfinished concrete on a single family residential dwelling. On a larger scale, in larger structures, is where I think it does look good.
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Thanks to you who have given it nice comments. I am the owner of one of the houses. It is very energy conscious. I rarely have to turn on a light during the daytime in winter vs when i lived in my 1940s cozy fuzzy oldey timey nostalgee wet moldy house. I had heating and light bills that could feed all of seattle's homeless. I don't need expensive light or psychiatric therapy. The houses are on a skinny lot (and the design restrictions are partly the city's (american vs european) zoning restrictions. The craftsmanship is pretty awful-yes. The roof looks flat but it is not-the rain water drains just fine. There is a garden up there that fed my family for the entire summer and fall. I happen to know that the owner of the other house fell in love with it and bought it without looking at another house.
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@23 Thank you for illustrating the irony that is Seattle: pro-environment, anti-any house that makes environmental sense. Good on you and, for the record, your house looks great.
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24/AMH, I don't see the criticism as being "anti-any house that makes environmental sense." I see it as criticism of the appearance of the houses. Being environmentally-sensible doesn't mean having to be boring, or hideous.
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22/Hernandez: I just have no taste for unfinished concrete on a single family residential dwelling.
Likewise.
Likewise.
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@23, thanks for popping by!
ok, so i think we've determined to make everyone happy, you need to get some of that ~4x4 grid metal trellis, secure ~6" from concrete wall approx 3/4 up, plant evergreen clematis, passionflower, or similar climber. see cap hill public library as large example.
:)
ok, so i think we've determined to make everyone happy, you need to get some of that ~4x4 grid metal trellis, secure ~6" from concrete wall approx 3/4 up, plant evergreen clematis, passionflower, or similar climber. see cap hill public library as large example.
:)
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passiflora already there on the concrete wall on the yellow house. i'm guessing the photographer liked how the landscaping and the house looked on a fall morning-and it does look nice-the light, the colors of houses and the fall foliage. it's not the best photo, though. These things can't be captured well in a photo. It was also built at $150/sf in 2005 (before the economy tanked) and that is why its sort of low cost modern- the self- taught builder did his best - but ultimately had to give up alot of things - even some windows, but there's amazing natural light in here. enjoying the comments, though.
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@23 - Thanks for dropping in. I'm very glad to hear the roof does not collect water but instead has a roof garden! That is excellent. Glad also that the house is super energy conscious, I would be appalled if any new house built today wasn't.. talk about waste of resources! Now about that exposed and drab concrete front....
One more note: Are the awnings over the front doors as small and useless as they appear in the photo?
@20 - I'm actually supportive of exposed concrete... if done right. These two houses look like the architectural equivalent of shirtcocking.
One more note: Are the awnings over the front doors as small and useless as they appear in the photo?
@20 - I'm actually supportive of exposed concrete... if done right. These two houses look like the architectural equivalent of shirtcocking.
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@21- I live in the basement of a brick house. I have to keep a lot of lights on but I hardly ever have to turn on the heat, the oil furnace in the laundry room (which heats the upstairs) keeps the place warm and dry. It's nice and cool in the summer too.
I have no problem with eco friendly building. I do have a problem with walking down the street and looking at a loading dock with some Ikea colored ticky-tacky on top.
@23- I'm happy for you. But I'm not happy with you.
I have no problem with eco friendly building. I do have a problem with walking down the street and looking at a loading dock with some Ikea colored ticky-tacky on top.
@23- I'm happy for you. But I'm not happy with you.
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