Boulder, CO___T-Squared Architecture announces relocation to Boulder, Colorado.  Duncan Todd, A.I.A., the firm’s principal, previously had offices in the Reno/Lake Tahoe and San Francisco Bay Areas.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, Todd specializes in custom residential and light commercial projects. “We look forward to living and working in the Boulder/Denver area,” Todd stated.  “We feel that the community, the culture and the business climate here offer opportunities to grow and contribute.”

T-Squared Architecture can be reached at 720 583 1886, 877 832 6898, info@tsquaredarchitecture.com or via www.tsquaredarchitecture.com.

This new modern home sits atop property overlooking a valley to the south with three distinct axes, creating the basis of overlapping grids that generate the home’s organic form. In addition, a northern orientation had to resolve itself within the southern axial grids.

The design maximizes the spatial relationship between the home and the outdoor living area, natural site beauty and vistas. The exterior makes extensive use of natural stone and stucco. Central to the design is a clean, uncluttered interior with rectilinear spaces, non-formal rooms, generous windows and interior glass doors.

Energy considerations weighed heavily throughout the homes design. Shadow studies developed solutions to minimize sunlight penetration into the building envelope. Windows are protected by 6′ overhangs dominating the roof line. Awning windows and a 72′ long vented clerestory central spine promote natural ventilation. The house utilizes hydronic floor heating while photovoltaic energy cells produce much of the home’s electricity.

Located in Los Altos, CA, this home achieves a remarkable 5,300 sq.ft. in its three levels.

Originally from the East Coast, the owners wished to integrate their vision of California Craftsman design with elements of the Cape Cod region of their youth. A South African branch of the family influenced the interior design motif.

The design vernacular is of traditional elements and materials. High ceilings, wide corridors, generous windows and glass doors are central to the design concept, while preserving outdoor space was a high priority.

This beautiful remodeled and expanded home, located in Monte Sereno, CA was completed in 1995.

It comprises 4,703 square feet on a single level (3,708 existing + 995 new area). In 2002, the Client returned to T-Squared Architecture, Inc. for the design of a 1,600 square foot addition to the home.

The owners’ existing single story home was too small for their family, had a ‘boxy’ character and the interior spaces did not flow well. And, to top it off, finding the front door was a chore.

By adding a second floor dedicated to a new master suite and some additional first floor area, we were able to greatly improve the functional arrangement of the main floor while creating a series of wonderful new living spaces. In addition the exterior was completely transformed with its new Mediterranean character and the now unmistakable entry was created.

A licensed architect will give polish to your remodeling job. But professionalism comes at a cost, and hiring a credentialed designer may not be necessary. Here’s how to decide if an architect is right for your remodel.

What an architect does

Architects are highly trained in building design, engineering, and ergonomics. At the outset of a remodeling project, an architect will examine your house, listen to your dreams and needs, and then provide solutions and approximate building costs.

Once you’ve settled on a design, the professional can work up simple floor plans or complete blueprints, help select a contractor, work with a structural engineer for permitting, and spot check or oversee construction to ensure it’s being done according to plan.

Costs

• Per hour: $50 to $150

• Percentage of project cost: 5% to 20%

• Flat fee: $5,000 to $20,000 on a $100,000 job

Most professionals are willing to negotiate fees on remodeling projects. They might agree to a flat fee for the design and blueprints, and a per-hour fee for site inspections and design changes after construction has begun.

Advantages

The bigger the remodeling job and the more valuable the house, the more you need a professional.

“Any time you’re changing the exterior of the building, making significant alterations to the floor plan inside, or spending more than 5% of the value of the house, you want an architect,” says Stamford, Conn., construction manager William Harke.

Both architects and contractors can save you money through the creative use of space and materials. But the two professionals often solve problems differently. In a nutshell:

• Contractors typically look for an efficient and logical solution, but not necessarily the most innovative or aesthetically pleasing approach.

• Architects typically propose solutions that add visual appeal, and complement and flow into the rest of the house.

Trimming costs

If your budget is tight, and your project is simple, hire an architect who’s just starting out. His fees will be commensurate with his experience—a mixed blessing.

Or you can hire a draftsman, who can create technical drawings for half the price, but does not have the design and engineering expertise. You’ll save some money, but ultimately you’ll have to pay for an architect and a structural engineer to approve the design before your local building authority will issue a permit.

If you can spot quality construction yourself, limit your design professional to the design and blueprint phases, typically for 5% to 10% of the total project cost. If you don’t know a beam from a stud, you’re wise to pay your architect to inspect ongoing construction, called site visits.

Site visits typically are included in your design professional’s contract: He, too, has a vested interest in making sure construction reflects his design. But you don’t need an architect to check each nail or screw, running up fees. A couple of site visits—after framing is completed and during punch-up—are all that’s necessary for a typical addition or remodel.

Oliver Marks, a former carpenter and newspaper reporter, has been writing about home improvements for 16 years.

After removing an old structure from the property, we were able to locate the owner’s new 4,400 sq. ft. two- story home in such a way as to address one of their key desires: a generous back yard area. Another key desire: natural light, which floods the interior throughout the day. The comfortable new home was designed with retirement in mind, meaning easy access throughout, a lower level master suite and office and ample room for relaxing. The upstairs houses a pair of guest rooms for visiting family and friends while the downstairs music room anchors the home for this family’s enjoyment and entertaining.