Thoughts of architecture today

The Washington Post had an article today called "Potomac's un-Potomac".  Heading the article was a beautiful photo of a gorgeous home, which is part of a planned community with strict architectural guidelines---

I'd have sworn was an old Adirondacks house. 

Aren't we all surrounded these days by new homes that are a horrendous mix of architectural styles and materials?

Here's a typical McMansion..(the builder loved stone (all the way to the eves!) apparently!)

I loved that this Association's book of Architectural Guidelines contain 8 photos of "Examples of Unsuitable Design"(p.77).  All these homes are in their neighboring communities!  If you really want to understand the architectural components of what makes an esthetically pleasing home, download these guidelines!

As summarized in the Washington Post, regarding good architecture--- "no matter what the style, they use natural materials and proper scale.." 

One thing that I always remember---is that we don't have to recreate the wheel--look around to see what attracts you and then start looking at the parts that make the whole visually appealing.

A beautiful Neoclassical stone house

When planning the community, the Architectural Review Committee  looked around at homes that were considered beautiful and found that:

             "Houses built in older neighborhoods, though grand, had a more 'delicate and smaller scale'".

             "They were constructed from natural materials: slate roofs with brick, wood or stone sidings."

Most notably, and a little disturbing: "The architects who designed the old houses were better trained in scale and proportion than architects who work with large developers."
 The lesson here is if you're lucky enough to be looking to hire an architect don't make any assumptions!  Look at their designs and the homes they've built! 


It was wonderful to read about such a conscious effort to maintain high architectural standards in new construction!

Old Virginia Summer Cottage

On a recent day trip, my mother and I  trekked out of metro Washington to visit her 91-year old friend at her summer home in Lancaster Courthouse, Virginia about two hours away.

Taz, the guard dog greeted us

The property has been in her family for almost a century and is on the river.  BeeZee's cabin is deep in the Virginia woods down a dirt road, dense with hollies and mountain laurels.  It is just what you imagine the old summer places were---on a pond--complete with lifesaver ring and dock and stocked with freshwater bass.

 The house hasn't  changed.....

I love the tree growing in the middle of the wrap around porch.

The screened in porch is the main living area in the summer. 

     

Mom (in pink) and BeeZee relaxing before a lunch of Chesapeake crab salad, home grown tomatoes and cucumbers.

Stepping inside was witnessing a family history: it is obvious that the cottage evolved over many years, artifacts collected on the property mix with an eclectic collection of family furniture pieces.

The cottage has two rooms: one large room containing the kitchen, bedroom and living room, and a small bathroom.

                          Details, details, details---years of collecting can be seen throughout.