Dreaming Design

Without a doubt, computers play a vital role in the production of architectural drawings today.  But equally vital to the design process is the role of sketching and drawing by hand.

An architect engaged in his or her world is constantly seeing, interpreting and sketching; translating back and forth between the 2nd and 3rd dimensions to understand spatial relationships and better inform the design process.  This process of discovery through sketching then better enables the communication of architectural spaces as they are being imagined.

These sketches (Bruce's "Dream Commute" above, Jodie's travel sketch below) demonstrate how much fun the communication of imagination and interpretation through the eyes of the architect can be.

Stairs as Art

I'm not going to lie: I'm mildly obsessed with stair design.  What an amazing opportunity to create a multi-dimensional piece of sculpture in a home, one which will be experienced not solely for travel, but often (as we noticed in architecture school) as a place of impromptu conversation, rest, and enjoyment.  A well designed stair is ergonomically comfortable, can create light and shadow which changes throughout the day, pull natural light between levels and even make music when in use.  Here are some of my favorite One Architects' stairs.

 

photos © Jennifer Koskinen | Merritt Design Photo

Seasons of One

one winter | one spring
(click to enlarge)

one summer (double page spread - click to enlarge)

Celebrate the seasons of Colorado and glimpse One's personalized architecture and style in this full page, seasonal ad campaign with Luxe magazine (Colorado edition).

Summer double page spread is on stands now and we are excited to share the gorgeous fall ad when it hits stands soon!

photos © Jennifer Koskinen | Merritt Design Photo

Beyond Drywall...

Several years ago, a client posed us the challenge not to use ANY drywall in his home.  This applied to the walls, the ceilings (see rusty metal ceiling in great room below), and even the garage, which ended up with washable, painted bead-board siding.

Creative use of materials is a great way to enhance the experience of a space with texture and color.  From earthy plaster textures to locally quarried stone, to rich board form concrete and galvanized metal - there is an abundance of alternatives to drywall and traditional sidings, and the opportunity to design with them can be hugely rewarding.

photos © Jennifer Koskinen | Merritt Design Photo

Traveling through Architecture | Opportunity in Corridors

The presence of a strong axis in architecture can truly define the character of a project.  What a fun design opportunity to highlight these lines and make the experience more than just a hallway, but something you feel and enjoy as you travel through them.

Every time I photograph a One Architects home, I am struck by the use of texture, material, light and scale, and how they all work together to turn the experience of getting from one place to another into a memorable and wonderful experience.

photos © Jennifer Koskinen | Merritt Design Photo

Design in the Details

In the process of architectural design, so often things can become expected.  Design details which have been executed a certain way for years are often taken for granted.  In fact, in this very tradition lies a rich opportunity for an architect to distinguish a project by making the choice to think outside the box.

One Architects has a passionate conviction that every detail and design decision is an opportunity to think about detailing anew, in context with a specific site, client and set of programmatic goals.   A custom home then becomes a more specific reflection of its owners.

These are just a few examples of such design details on recent One Architects' projects in the Telluride area.

Join us as we use this blog as a platform to explore the design process in architecture and life.
Cheers!

photos © J. Koskinen | Merritt Design Photo