Searching for architectural enlightment for my dream house

[arthernan_22]

I am an engineer, and also a handy-man. And recently I decided to embark myself into designing my own house. Now that I stated my very ambitous general objective. I will try to downplay it. The house I would like to have would be 1200 to 1400 square feet, hopefully it's small size will reduce the complexity. I am also looking at this as a learning opportunity, and at least on the learning end of it I do intend to spend a lot of time and do a lot of reading. That way even if I end up buying my first house I would still have gotten something positive from the process.

Now about my likes and dislikes.

I prefer spatious living areas and high ceilings, I do spend a great deal of time in the kitchen, and I would like to incorporate it into the main living area. I would say I like modern style houses and lofts but I do not like the modern decoration. I do think that there might be some modern furniture I might like, just not everywhere. Minimalist aproaches are also not my taste. I would like to have different elevations in more than one room.

The good thing is that I am proficient in using CAD programs.

Are there any general architecture books that anyone could recommend? Maybe some web links?

Comments and advice are more than welcome.

[++]

Hire an architect and then build it yourself. A decent architect will sit down with you and design according to your desires, pointing out things that might conflict with familiar felicity and the like. For example, a kitchen in a great room or living room brings smell and clean up issues to your relaxation space..

[arthernan_22]

For 1200 to 1400 square feet I do not know if I can afford an architect. I was hoping to pay anywhere from 150K to 190K.

I am a person that really likes to explore all options and take time to do it. Seems cheaper for me to learn a bit of architecture than for an architect to get to know me.

One thing I am considering is to plan 2 diferent furniture layouts for the main living space, one for entretaining, and the other for everyday living. That would allow me to reuse space, but it would involve moving furniture every now and then. Where I am going to find an architect willing to discuss these options with me? And if he was, how much would I need to pay him?

[Michael Bulatovich]

The two are not related.

Ka-ching!

Most people over estimate the value of this, and underestimate the value of thought.

Being an engineer, I'd guess that that the kinds of insights in Christopher Alexander "A Pattern Language" would be helpful. You have to know how far to take his stuff, but there's gold in that book for the novice designer, IMHO.

I charge more than that to *design* a house ; )

Good luck with learning a "bit of architecture" in time for your project. You might be right, but you might also pay for your mistakes in a variety of ways. It depends on what you choose to include in you calculations, and how well you do.

The first guy I worked for as an intern demanded that every residential plan I showed him had two viable furniture layouts to go with it. If I couldn't come up with two good ones, I needed a good excuse as to why it couldn't be done. I still continue this practice 20 years later. I see ridiculous plans in the real estate section every weekend... poor suckers.

How much an architect charges varies with locale, experience, skill, the market, his current work load and celebrity. Did I leave anything out?

[++]

Square foot cost depends on your locale. And one person's dream won't fit another person's minimum living requirement.

Well, there are four year degrees and five year degrees with different professional requirements. With your engineering degree, depending on what kind of engineering, you might be able to take a few undergraduate courses THEN get into a graduate professional program......There are few shortcuts to learning what a licensed architect knows.

You can build flexibility into your designs.

Depends on the locale how much it would cost for an architect to meet with you on an hourly basis to just discuss. There are liability issues involved in design it yourself projects.

[arthernan_22]

As far as costs, the 150K to 190K came from nuber crunching and a square foot cost guide at the custom hose one story level. It did have a texas multiplier on it. It's not completely accurate but good for the stage I am in.

Out of the blue I think 80$ to 100$ an hour. And I would not work without some kind of retainer. Of course an architect can design a multistory 100,000 sf building. I would not even dare to consider it.

I also read that in the UK 10% of all houses built are self-built. Which does not mean self-designed. But still encouraging.

Having said that, I am only at the exploratory phase and I may just end up hiring an architect. Learning about architecture now should give me more apreciation for what an architect will do for me. I actually grew up in Mexico, and there was a ton architecture in the buildings and homes of Mexico city. And I really appreciated that.

I got that reference from "Christopher Alexander 'A Pattern Language' " thank you very much Michael. I am still thirsty for more.

[++]

There are tons of books on architecture and Alexander is not a bad start.

There's something nice about putting a pen or pencil to paper to solidify ideas.... If you want to conceptualize through minimalist drafting, consider the books of Francis Ching. You'll start to think in plan and section as well, which will help you think about the qaulity of whatever an architect does for you if you go that way:

[Michael Bulatovich]

Meaning you have the book?

[Michael Bulatovich]

Then there's always what the site tells you, too. Approach. Views. Orientation. Weather. Climate. Topography. Transitions. Context. Entourage. Zoning. Codes. Any architect worth his salt would deal with all of the above. Design exercises without a specific site generally leave me cold. So much of what's right or wrong about a building comes from it's site.