Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Harmonious infill
I've been watching one triangular lot in this neighborhood that was vacant since the area was platted in 1910. The owner has tried several different tactics to get it sold and built. First he subdivided it into three little lots. Didn't work. Then he cleared about half of the dense stand of pines to make it more attractive. Didn't work. Two weeks later, Nature cleared the rest of the trees with a gustnado. Finally worked. In October a foundation was poured, and now the house is pretty much finished.
It's nicely proportioned but plain. Sort of L-shaped with the garage dominant. No modern nonsense; no pseudo-Palladian arches, no parody retro. It's not trying to be anything but pleasant and livable. Reminds me of something....
On this morning's walk I put on my 'architecture glasses' and examined the nearby houses objectively. Aha! The new house matches about 80% of the late-50s houses on its block. They're L-shaped with garage dominant, nicely proportioned but plain. The only real difference is in the windows. This new house has smaller windows with heavier frames, implying better security and insulation.
Good work!
UK Telegraph discusses a current British controversy on this subject, with modern genocidal Satanic architects asserting their untrammeled "right" to sicken people or roast people or crush people. Normal humans and even some writers are starting to fight back.
Harmony is crucial. Even if you don't objectively understand why a house is right, you know when it's right.
Labels: infill
¶ 7:30 AM
