We had our first dinner party in the large house today, and we all enjoyed the house and the view tremendously.
I found the location and did the basic design – the layout, organization, sizes, and so on, and an excellent local architect did the final design and the construction drawings and oversaw the building process along with my wife.
We designed with the climate, sun, and wind. (I used design software with sun ray tracking to test the design at different times of day and different seasons.) We used traditional building techniques (rammed earth and wood) and local materials. It’s durable and easy to repair. Houses built with the same techniques have been standing for centuries. We will install solar panels and batteries. We are collecting rainwater. We are using a form of composting toilet so no resources are wasted. We are planting around the house to provide shade, beauty, and food, and to keep the views open. For me, that’s all part of good design.
Another aspect of good design is that it feels good. It feels good to be in and around the buildings and to live there.
Yet another is beauty and fascination. It should have some fascinating features, materials, and contrasts.
And yet another, which I was reminded of today, is that it’s invisible. After the initial exploration and fascination and as you live your life, it becomes invisible. It works. It’s functional and convenient. There is little to no friction. It’s easy to move between the spaces.
None of this is new, of course. It’s about delight, function, and viscerally feeling good in the space.
I should mention that I studied architecture in the Master’s program at the University of Oregon, I grew up with an architect father so I lived and breathed architecture growing up (he shared a lot with me about how he went about it), and I spent years learning about designing with the elements, using traditional techniques and natural materials, and different forms of vernacular and modern eco-sound architecture.
Above are a few photos from the construction process.