Summer in New England is pretty special. For a short time each year us New Englanders set out in our cars/trucks/campers/boats to breathe air, sit in the sun, crash into waves, float in water, itch our bug bites, nurse our hangovers, and complain about our sunburns. In addition, our New England summers are often filled with cookouts, music, friends and family, oh and yes of course, construction [not sorry to all those neighbors].
But for all you folks who lock yourselves into your work routine with closed windows, 2x2 florescent lighting, and a lack of fresh air while hunching over your keyboard, this blog is for you. So, un-tuck your shirt, pop on those flip flops, and let the world see that remarkable sock tan line that you have been trying to hide. We are here to tell you it is not too late to take a second SUMMER!
If you were ever once young, there’s a pretty good chance you either built, climbed, or fell out of a treehouse - or, like me, all of the above. Treehouses have a unique place in the hearts of many small and big kids alike. As kids growing up the Berkshires, we got so motivated to go out and make our own place, habitat or shelter. Pillaging old boards, borrowing coffee cans filled with rusty nails, some of us put on our dad’s tool belts and ventured off for hours a day trying to figure out the best way to put something together. With no real know-how or training, what came together was always an experiment. Today we have so many more ways to learn - from books, TV shows, YouTube channels, Instagram feeds, all by really amazing designers and craftsmen creating some fantastic spaces that push some seriously awesome boundaries.
Check out some of the work by Dustin Feider of O2 Treehouses based in Oakland, CA with projects all around the country
Studio Field Trip : Storm King Art Center
If you have not already realized, here at BOTTEGA+ we love to travel and be inspired. Making your way out to the New Windsor / Cornwall area in the Hudson Valley area of New York, we promise will not only scratch your road trip travel itch, but will more than inspire you. Storm King is unapologetically massive, with landscapes that will transport you to what feels like another world. The 500 acre outdoor museum sometimes smashes nature and art into one ridiculously amazing vista. If you are looking to grab hold of a second summer, here might be what you’ve been looking for.
Ask an Architect: Why not vinyl windows?
While visiting a building supply design center recently, I overheard a sales person showing off a (brand will remain nameless) vinyl window display to potential customers. This caught my attention because as the couple began to ask about the windows, they also asked, “why do architects always say that they don’t recommend vinyl windows?”. My ears perked up and I gladly interjected into the conversation. I mentioned first off that I am an Architect and that their Architect should probably be with them if they are deciding which windows to buy for their home. I proceeded to offer them my opinion and to better help them understand why us Architects do not “like” vinyl windows.
The first and top reason I, personally, don’t recommend vinyl windows to my clients is because the properties of vinyl vary over temperature swings and with season change. The movement results in the window prematurely failing just a few years after installation, becoming drafty and uncomfortable to stand in front of. So many homes have leaky, inefficient windows, but I think many clients might consider this normal (or, at least, tolerable). This should not be the case.
Reason number two, I went on to explain, is that vinyl is not great for our environment. When your 5 year old vinyl replacement windows fail (which they will), tearing them out and tossing them in a landfill is far worse than many other window products on the market.
I continued on to reason number three: that vinyl windows don’t show their age. Some might say this is a great thing, but hear me out… As I am grabbing the ear of this customer, the sales associate interrupts and says that he has vinyl windows in his house and they look as good as the day they were installed 10 years ago. Much like vinyl siding, just because it looks the same, does not mean the product is performing the same way it did when it was installed. So, much like Botox prevents you from figuring out someone’s age, it doesn’t mean that youthful looking person is immune to aging joints and the aches and pains you might not see at first glance.
As an Architect, one of the most important duties we are tasked with each day is recommending products to our clients. It is our responsibility to educate and provide the back story that they may not know right of the bat. This is why I can not and will not recommend vinyl windows to my clients.
Demounting my soapbox…
What’s New in the Studio?
We are working on some new graphics and swag. Here is a little teaser, more to come...
Contact us to learn more.
On this Day…
Happy Birthday!
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish-American Architect and Industrial Designer noted for his neo-futuristic style. Check out some of his notable works in the reel below.
With Hugs and Kisses,
