Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Front porches, builders, banks

[Shedrick Coleman (shedarch]

In message Mon, 31 Jul 1995 13:14:56 -0500, Mmariner [at] aol.com  writes:


> So, John, where do the builders and bankers get their plans - for typical
> suburbs with porchless developments?  Is it that builders don't use
> architects, or that they modify the architect's work to accommodate profit
> margin bankability?
>

John is correct in his position regarding the use of architects by the home
building community.  Many of the residential plans utilized by builders are
generated by residential designers, not archtiects.  This is mainly because
the codes usually do not require plans with an archtitect's seal.  Any
person who is capable of selling his ability to "design" housing can do so,
and quite simply, it is the norm.  I speak of this by experience, for I
spent 5 years of my early career working for a builder and developer and met
many builders from across the nation during that time.  The plan were
obtained from a local residential designer or from one of the numerous plan
agencies which look only to sell, sell, sell. In many ways, either directly
or indirectly, architects may have much to do with the current state of
housing design simply by their view that it is usually a nonprofitable
enterprise.  This has left the majority of housing design to talented and
not so talented designers.

This is not to say that there are no good designers performing these
services or that all archtiects are gifted with terrific design insight.
Far from it, however, the mass market does not include architect designed
homes as a norm and to suggest such is not true by any means.  Anyway,
what's the point of pointing the finger at any party?  What needs to be done
is to use forums such as this to discuss the problems and seek solutions to
arrive at the preferred design, if such a thing truly exists.

Take the porch issue as an example,  simply the existence of the porch
itself is not the answer.  The entire relationship of the past dwelling
location to the street and sidewalk played a big part in equation.  A porch
30 feet away from the sidewalk is to far to speak casually to the occupants
during a evening stroll.  It is the intimancy of these older designs coupled
with a trusting atmosphere which contributed.  Today everyone seems to want
a fortress, I'm suprised we don't see battlements at the property lines in
most developments. :).

My current neighborhood follows this norm and I hate it!  I grew up knowing
my neighbors, but after seven years here, I can count those I know on one
hand in a neighdorhood of over 70 families.

W. Shedrick Coleman, AIA
Architect
Savannah, GA