As a client, how can you avoid paying for design work you don’t want? Making sure you know what you're getting before you have it built helps. Today there is no better way to understand and have a feel... more »

One of the most common questions people have about their own home is, What style is it? This is not always an easy question to answer. "Style" is an elusive term, because it can be applied to many different things, and style is frequently... more »

Whether you're planning a simple addition to your house, a comprehensive remodel or a brand-new structure from scratch, the services of an architect can be a worthwhile investment in a home tailored to your specific site, taste and lifestyle. Architects... more »

On some days it seems that modern architecture has 10 times as many detractors as proponents, even though the movement has influenced a great deal of residential architecture — from open floor plans to means of construction. Some of the dislike for... more »

The floor plan, or plan, is the most common of all architectural drawings. From builders to architects, Realtors to appraisers, everyone uses a floor plan. More than likely this is because the floor plan is the one drawing that tells us the most about... more »

A while ago I took a crack at defining the differences between modern and contemporary architecture by looking at the exteriors of 10 homes. In my view modern architecture is rooted in the early- and... more »

Leonardo da Vinci once said that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Simplicity in design calms us and somehow inspires us, not only in architecture but also in other forms of design. Apple, for example, has refined its products over the years... more »

In many respects the foundation is the most important element of any building, be it a house or a high-rise. Simply put, the foundation is what everything rests on. So getting the foundation right will go a long way toward having a sound and stable... more »

One of my predictions for 2013 was "breaking up the house," by which smaller detached volumes are able to respond to unique site conditions, such as existing trees, slopes and water's edges. Smaller... more »

I was 22 years old, full of myself and sitting at a conference desk across from Charles Foreman Johnson, who had recently been named as one of the 100 best design professionals in the world by Architectural Digest. Between us, sitting proudly on... more »

The word "modern" provokes such strong reactions in the world of residential architecture. Some people might imagine wonderful homes of steel and glass with open, flowing floor plans; others might imagine sterile homes that feel like museums, complete... more »

From SIPs to straw bales, there are several alternative approaches to traditional wood-frame... more »

From the dawn of time, humankind has built various forms of shelter in all types of landscapes. Our ancestors' primary concerns were shelter and protection. Modern design concepts and the notion of building sensitively were not part of their vocabulary.... more »

A white box covered in Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric in the Netherlands. A Cor-Ten-clad volume cantilevering over a glass shop in Pittsburgh. A house in Tokyo composed solely of glass and small platforms of white steel. A raised concrete box in West... more »