Architectural Tutorial: Craftsman Style

The Craftsman Style, otherwise known as Arts and Crafts, was based on the Arts and Crafts movement in Europe led by English architect William Morris in the early 1900s. At the time, art, furniture and residential architecture reflected the Industrial Revolution and Victorian Era, where machines introduced mass production. The Craftsman Style intended to combat this by focusing on a simpler lifestyle, centered around handcrafted elements, natural materials and straight lines, both horizontal and vertical. Built-in furniture, staircase details, stained glass windows and many other elements were constructed with the same "carved and polished wooden aesthetic" throughout the home (Walker 180).

The most famous Craftsman architects were Charles & Henry Greene out of California. They were a major influence on the Craftsman Style spreading in the West and were best known for their bungalows. They incorporated other styles from England, Japan, Scandanavia and Switzerland into the exterior and simple interior design of their creations. They took personal interest in every aspect of their projects, designing everything from the hardware and leaded windows to built-in and movable furniture.

One of Greene & Greene's most famous designs, the Gamble House in Pasadena, CA, was designed for David & Mary Gamble of Procter & Gamble Company in 1908.

[image source:

http://www.gamblehouse.org/]

The front entry door of the Gamble House displays a "Tree of Life" design, a leaded glass, handcrafted masterpiece.

[image source: http://www.gamblehouse.org/]

Another famous Greene & Greene Arts & Crafts design, the Pratt House was designed in 1909, infusing Japanese artful beauty and American practicality.

[image source: http://www.ultimatebungalow.com/]

Another Craftsman Style pioneer was Gustav Stickley, an architect of Craftsman Style residences who was famous for his Craftsman furniture designs. He also started the publication titled, The Craftsman, a magazine that "took the basic ideas behind the English Arts & Crafts philosophy and moulded them to suit an American environment" (The Textile Blog).

Stickley's illustration of a living room fireplace built-in, published in The Craftsman in 1905.

[image source: Stubblebine 142]

Here are a few of Visbeen Associates' Craftsman Style designs for your viewing pleasure...

The low-pitched rooflines, stylish overhangs and the earthy palette of the exterior blend in with it's environment and are carried in throughout the interior of this Arts & Crafts Style design called the Amblewood.

True craftsmanship and detailed woodworking are manifested in Amblewood's staircase, reminiscent of Greene & Greene details of the past. Click here to read our architectural tutorial and learn about this type of stair.

The Hampshire is one of our uniquely modern Craftsman Style designs.

The Hampshire's inglenook hearth with charming tiled fireplace is flanked by a pair of cushioned, built-in benches and pays homage to Stickley's designs. Click here to read our articles on other fetching & functional built-ins.

The Clareville is a cottage Craftsman design with an abundance of artful attention to detail.

Simplified lines, a low-pitched roof, tapered columns and exposed rafters characterize the exterior of this updated Arts & Crafts design called the Lillington.

Craftsman quality and Mission-style amenities are hallmarks of the Richmond's versatile design.

Sources:

Stubblebine, Ray. Stickley's Craftsman Homes: Plans, Drawings, Photographs. Layton: Gibbs Smith, Publisher, 2006.

Walker, Lester. American Homes: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Domestic Architecture. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 1981.

http://www.fredbecker.org/News%20Letter/HistoryCraftsman.htm

http://www.gamblehouse.org/

http://www.ultimatebungalow.com/

http://thetextileblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/gustav-stickleys-craftsman-magazine.html

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Infill Home Designs

The first question you may have is, what is infill? Infill is simply defined as, "the use of vacant land and property within a built-up area for further construction or development, especially as part of a neighborhood preservation or limited growth program."¹ In recent years, we have seen a shift from urban sprawl to downtown residential development. Metropolitan areas are once again becoming the epicenter for work and entertainment, so instead of building homes in the suburbs, people are moving closer to where the downtown action is happening. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 80% of Americans now live in metropolitan areas.² Some cities like Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington and Denver, Colorado have put into place urban infill initiatives specifically to encourage metropolitan growth and to combat urban sprawl.³ Cities like Grand Rapids, Michigan have established "tax-free" zones to advocate residency in the heart of the city.

Are you interested in living closer to your city's center? Do you own a lot in an established neighborhood that is in need of a fitting home design? You have come to the right place -Visbeen Associates has been designing infill homes for quite some time, especially in cities like East Grand Rapids, Michigan. Check out just a few examples of our infill home designs...

The Beaconsfield was designed for a newly-cleared lot in an established, traditional neighborhood.

This Queen Anne cottage won first place at the Traditional Building Design Challenge in 2008. David & Jonathan Lorenz, of Visbeen Associates, designed this narrow cottage to contextually fit on a lot in one of Chicago's historic neighborhoods in North Lawndale.

The exterior of this brick bungalow is reminiscent of home designs of days past with the amenities and open floor plan of the homes of today, balancing the look of a historic home to fit it's surroundings on the outside and meeting the needs of a growing family on the inside.

This infill design, called the Haverhill, is a Georgian-style home whose symmetry, arched rooflines and stone masonry fit beautifully in the context of one of the oldest suburbs of it's county, with surrouding homes dating back to the early 1900's.⁴

sources:

¹ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/infill

² http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-P1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=US-1

³ http://www.city-data.com/forum/city-vs-city/938484-city-has-best-urban-infill-initiatives.html

⁴ http://www.eastgr.org/?t=7&c=6

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Carlton Remodel

This remodel is evidence that an ordinary home, given a few tweaks, can be turned into something extraordinary. The original floor plan of the “Carlton” was unimaginative and closed off. The new design opened things up, and improved the flow by moving the dining room from the front of the house to the newly renovated kitchen area.

Around the curving staircase sits the window-lit family room. High ceilings, which leave the area open to an upstairs loft, give a spacious feel, while custom woodwork and the large hearth maintain a homey atmosphere. A large main floor master bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet connect to a private back deck for easy outdoor living.

The pre-existing formal dining room was converted to a private office and den with passage to the kitchen through a butler’s pantry and custom wine storage space.

Kitchen - Before

Kitchen - After

Dining Room - Before

Dining Room - After

Wine Storage Space - After

Formal Dining Room - Before

Office - After

Back Entry & Kitchen - After

Family Room - Before

Family Room - After

Family Room Fireplace - Before

Family Room Fireplace - After

Formal Living Room - Before

Master Bedroom - After

Master Bathroom - After

To see more photos of this dramatic transformation, please visit our website - www.visbeen.biz > gallery > residential projects > american neighborhood > carlton remodel.

This remodel was designed by Visbeen Associates, built by Jeff Segard with interiors by Donna Cohen.

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MiBiz Article: MoDiv's Motive To Offer Downtown Retailers Options

Read this recent artcle in MiBiz on our project with Rockford Construction for the space in the Peck Building in downtown Grand Rapids, called MoDiv:

MoDiv's Motive To Offer Downtown Retailers Options

source: www.mibiz.com

By Joe Boomgaard | MiBiz | jboomgaard@mibiz.com

GRAND RAPIDS — Developers of a proposed retail incubator for downtown Grand Rapids hope to break down current barriers to retail expansion in the city’s core.

Rockford Construction Company Inc.’s plans for space in the Peck Building at the corner of Monroe Center and Division Avenue call for turning the vacant space into a vibrant retail environment ideal for startup businesses or established companies that want to give downtown retailing a try.

Rockford Construction Company, COO at Rockford Construction, said the company has owned the space for a few years. It most recently served as a hub for TEDx Grand Rapids, had been home to Site:Lab, and housed ArtPrize events, but the company didn’t find any permanent tenant in the time it owned the building.

Photo Gallery

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“What we’ve recognized is the need to take the bull by the horns and create something rather than wait for a tenant to show up,” Hassberger told MiBiz.

Hassberger said the vision for the street-level space, known as MoDiv, short for Shoppes at Monroe and Division, is to create a retail incubator with varying options for sizes and length of lease to attempt to lure tenants to the critical corner in the downtown market.

“We want to address some of the objections retailers might have. There will be no long-term leases. Tenants will not have to take a ton of space. We want to take away their objections so they’ll give it a try,” he said.

MoDiv will take up about 8,500 square feet of the Peck Building. The space currently has three entrances, and the plan is to create a physical connection between all of the internal retail spaces. The company envisions up to 12 retailers each occupying various chunks of MoDiv.

The rest of the street-level space in the Peck Building is partly occupied by two retailers, Gina’s Boutique and Lia Rose.

For the incubator, Rockford hopes to see a mix of established and startup retailers. Hassberger said the site would be perfect for a suburban retailer to try their hand at the downtown market without a huge overhead. Similarly, it might also be perfect for “pop-up” stores that might be timed around various festivals or other events.

The space also has enough room for events — perhaps a wine tasting — and it will retain its existing kitchen. Although the developers don’t think a restaurant is in the cards for the space, they said the kitchen could be useful for a catering business or for hosting events.

Developers expect the entry at the corner of Monroe and Division could be attractive for an anchor tenant, and other smaller retailers could use the space inside.

To develop the concept, Rockford enlisted Seyferth PR, which is also a tenant on an upper floor of the Peck Building, to investigate a possible use for the street-level space. Hassberger said that Seyferth came up with a retail incubator, a concept that had been tried and proven in Ann Arbor, Minneapolis and other locations.

Rockford tapped Visbeen Associates Inc. to do some conceptual designs of the retailer locations. Construction on the project should start some time in June.

“This is a pivotal point, a cultural spot,” he said. “MoDiv is the right thing to do for the space and the city. If we can establish enough retail space downtown, we can create a retail destination, something the concierges can send people to.”

One key to the project was receiving a $75,000 storefront renovation grant from the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority to improve the façade along Division Avenue, which is currently a 100-foot, solid, uninviting brick wall, Hassberger said. The current plan calls for adding windows and other elements to break up the view of the wall and help bring more people toward the building and then on to other retail shops and restaurants along Monroe Center.

Improving the façade will become even more important in creating an inviting space once the portion of Division Avenue the space fronts will shrink from five to three lanes and parking spaces and a bike lane are added, he said.

The company decided not to participate in the DDA’s new incubator district program, designed to encourage retail ventures and support community entrepreneurs.

Rockford has a history of trying new ideas like this proposed retail incubator. The company also created MoBevy, an open office space in the Peck Building that allows various small companies to move in and use only the space and services they need. It was also behind the GRid70, a downtown design hub for several West Michigan companies, including Meijer, Amway, Steelcase,Wolverine World Wide, Pennant Health Alliance and others.

“MoBevy has done pretty well, and we hope these two will feed off each other,” Hassberger said. “It’s the same idea — you just have to do something (to address the) demand for smaller, flexible space.”

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AIBD Global Choice Award: Calling for your Votes!

We have entered one of our projects in for the American Institute of Building Design's (AIBD) Global Choice Award, so we are asking for your votes! Anyone can vote once per computer for their favorite design (Visbeen Associates' design, we hope - hint, hint). Here is how to cast your vote:

Step 1: Click HERE to view the 2011 entries & cast your vote!

Step 2: Click on the link to our entry, titled "1E -11-005" which will take you to a YouTube video of our project

Step 3: Go back to the AIBD website and click "Click to VOTE"

Step 4: Enter your name and state information (remember, you can only vote once per computer!), choose "1E-11-005" from the list and click "SUBMIT." Done!

Thank you in advance for your votes! If you want to help us win, please pass this along to everyone you know!

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Fetching & Functional Built-Ins: Part Three

In part three of our fetching and functional built-in series, we will focus on built-ins that enhance entertainment in the home. Entertaining friends and family and the preparation that goes into their visit can be a streamlined and improved experience when elements are built-in. Check out these Visbeen Associates' designed built-ins that make throwing a party a delight instead of a chore.

Let's start by looking at built-in bars, some of the most fun built-ins for us to design.

The flow of Inverness' built-in bar and lounge into the lower level family room creates an open entertaining space where partygoers can get refreshments at the bar and still mingle.

No need for party decorations in the pub area of the Blaine. The bar and built-ins surrounding it creates a relaxing entertainment area with style - notice the unexpected element of stained glass windows into the adjacent wine cellar, allowing for ample storage of libations for all tastes.

The lower level wet bar of the South Haven is built into the otherwise unused space under the stairs, keeping floorspace clear and refreshments organized.

The dark colors and rich detailing of the Wainsborough's wet bar and wine cellar add elegance to this otherwise casual entertaining area.

The unexpected pop of color, flat panel cabinetry and open, table-like built-in bar all work together to create a contemporary feel to the classically-inspired Pemberley's wet bar.

Rustic elements combined with openness to the lower level lounge area and sports court create a true man-cave feeling for Pinehurst's built-in bar, perfect for entertaining the boys.

This modern built-in bar is tucked away in the corner of the barrel-vaulted ceiling gathering room of the Rylestone, allowing for a separated prep space and refreshment center for catered parties.

Sometimes, the grill master of a party can feel like an outcast, having to leave the guests to slave over the party fare. But these built-in grilles keep the guests and cooks together with style.

Pemberley's built-in outdoor kitchen in the screened porch creates a space where guests and host can make the most of seasonal ambience, even during the food preparation.

Traverse's outdoor built-in grill brings the guests outside to join the host in enjoying the home's expansive patio and surrounding lakefront view.

The retractable screens of the Truxton's porch create an entertaining and cooking space ready for all weather.

Located just off of the kitchen, Ingleside's built-in grille is the perfect place for the griller to set up shop and still enjoy the party, allowing them to easily go between the kitchen food preparation area and outdoor entertaining space.

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Stoneybrook Remodel

How do you take a bland, 1980’s contemporary home, and turn it into the embodiment of the French country style? That was the challenge presented to Visbeen Associates with the Stoneybrook.

The ominous original exterior was transformed into a charming, inviting cottage. Double dormers were added in the sloping roof, while gray siding was exchanged for yellow, framed by cream-colored trim and a quaint stone facade.

The interior was as much changed as the outside of the home. Extreme attention to detail enabled a complete metamorphosis of the inside spaces. In addition, the home was expanded in the renovations. The back wall was bumped out to extend the kitchen and add a family room on the main level. This also allowed for an exercise room to be installed adjacent to the new home entertainment center on the lower level.

Front Facade - After

Front Facade - Before

Front Entry & Porch - After

Front Entry - Before

Rear Facade - After

Rear Facade - Before

Rear Porch - After

Kitchen - After

Kitchen - Before

Built-in Booth - After

Family Room - After

Family Room (dining room) - Before

View into Living Room from Family Room - After

Living Room - After

Living Room - Before

Office - After

Dining Room - After

To view more photos of this dramatic transformation, please visit the gallery of our website - www.visbeen.biz > gallery > residential projects > cottages > stoneybrook remodel

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