Pfeiffer writes, in Monograph 7, "The preliminary perspectives of the Griggs house show a construction of split logs, vertically placed for the exterior walls as well as for the sloped shed roof."
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Backyard Cottage Ideas?
Matt- What would Wright do? First of all, he would tell the client to move out into the country, even if she could not afford it, or want to live away from the city. ;- )
Is there an average size lot that you’re considering? A flat or sloping lot? A view to consider, as well as being considerate to not block neighbors views? Is the existing house one or two stories? A historic neighborhood of craftsman era homes, or suburban ranches? Access to the back yard and parking? Without knowing these details and dozens more, isn’t it impossible to begin to consider a type?
Do you have a specific backyard or even neighborhood in mind that you could share with us?
Is there an average size lot that you’re considering? A flat or sloping lot? A view to consider, as well as being considerate to not block neighbors views? Is the existing house one or two stories? A historic neighborhood of craftsman era homes, or suburban ranches? Access to the back yard and parking? Without knowing these details and dozens more, isn’t it impossible to begin to consider a type?
Do you have a specific backyard or even neighborhood in mind that you could share with us?
Those are the relevant questions. Three years ago I was asked to draw a little three-level one-bedroom house for a friend, to replace an existing garage at the
rear lot line of a house on Turk Street in San Francisco. The design I arrived at, quite effortlessly, places the garage and entrance doors where they were found
on the existing structure, with the latter opening onto a top-lit stairwell, with the main living level above and the bedroom on the third floor, each of these spaces
served by a terrace or deck facing the shared open space between the existing house and the new structure.
A view window on the bedroom level gives faces the downtown skyline to the east.
The south-facing street facade recalls one of a number of small carriage houses seen on alley streets like this one, as if updated for current use; the cladding is
the lapped wood siding found on hundred-year-old houses throughout the city.
rear lot line of a house on Turk Street in San Francisco. The design I arrived at, quite effortlessly, places the garage and entrance doors where they were found
on the existing structure, with the latter opening onto a top-lit stairwell, with the main living level above and the bedroom on the third floor, each of these spaces
served by a terrace or deck facing the shared open space between the existing house and the new structure.
A view window on the bedroom level gives faces the downtown skyline to the east.
The south-facing street facade recalls one of a number of small carriage houses seen on alley streets like this one, as if updated for current use; the cladding is
the lapped wood siding found on hundred-year-old houses throughout the city.
I don't have a specific lot in mind. With these DADU's now making more economic sense, some architects in Seattle are promoting stock plans. The general assumptions are these would be on 50x100 foot lots, most accessed via a driveway that normally led to a garage. Wright's work is so often a response to the land and to the view, but in these backyard cottages there is little to work with. Maybe a slight slope. No view which makes landscaping more important. Thus the challenge.
50x100 is standard in Seattle, but it varies a lot with topography. And some had alleys. There are set backs and lot coverage limits. The added sf limits would make two story structures more likely, including units over a garage. The fear is that developers will tear down the main house, build a duplex there and then a third DADU in the backyard.
Just curious, why would that be a problem? I understand some homes have historic charm, but besides them, what is the issue with tearing down standard housing that's 50-80 years old and replacing it with more efficient and denser zoning?The fear is that developers will tear down the main house, build a duplex there and then a third DADU in the backyard.
The problem is the usual lament of loss of neighborhood scale and character. There's also nothing environmental about trashing a functional home and filling up a landfill. The new architecture is reviled here: three story boxes clad in Hardy panel siding. There is no parking requirement so cars will fill up street parking when they aren't parked in traffic. And of course, the new more expensive housing forces many out of town which increases sprawl.
More supply due to more density increases sprawl? Not sure about that.And of course, the new more expensive housing forces many out of town which increases sprawl.
The city is growing on a massive scale, no way to stop that. And if housing density isn't added, then the supply becomes so short that housing prices skyrocket. Which is exactly what happened in Seattle.
Anyway, maybe I should take my gripes to a Jane Jacobs chat board instead of a Frank Lloyd Wright one.
The new housing is all expensive and most comes at the cost of older less expensive housing. So in that regard density provides some option for upper income folks, but does nothing for the lower income folks who are pushed out of town. So density really is creating sprawl. Name me a dense city that isn't also a sprawling one. And if density increased affordability then I should be able to rent an apartment in San Fran or NYC for peanuts. How we can stop regional over-population is the big question of the century.
Tying this back to FLW, though, by means of Broadacre city which was a very low-density scheme. It would have required either very restrictive land use codes, or a restriction on population.
Tying this back to FLW, though, by means of Broadacre city which was a very low-density scheme. It would have required either very restrictive land use codes, or a restriction on population.
That's really not how it works.... I agree that Seattle is pricing people out of the city, I was one of those people! But housing let's say 1.0 million mixed income people versus housing 1.2 million high income people still means that the latter creates less sprawl.So density really is creating sprawl.
I agree with your moralism, though. "Progressive" cities all across this country have created high-income zones that force the types of people who need the city infrastructure the most---low income people---out.
Re: Backyard Cottage Ideas?
I saw this ADU on Curbed the other day.....
http://www.shedbuilt.com/portfolio/alle ... lldescript
This "cottage" is stuffed between other homes...
Seems like they did a very clever job with sheltering and then expanding the sense of space.
http://www.shedbuilt.com/portfolio/alle ... lldescript
This "cottage" is stuffed between other homes...
Seems like they did a very clever job with sheltering and then expanding the sense of space.
Re: Backyard Cottage Ideas?
A very spacious 800 square feet ! (Is the loft included in that footage, or is the area calculated on the footprint of the building ?)
The "music loft" is said to be accessed by a "drop-down ladder." Looks like the permanent steep stair was substituted for a movable ladder . . .
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The "music loft" is said to be accessed by a "drop-down ladder." Looks like the permanent steep stair was substituted for a movable ladder . . .
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