Ideas for Dwelling LDa Architecture & Interiors WITH Anna Kasabian
Ideas for Dwelling
Ideas for Dwelling LDa Architecture & Interiors WITH Anna Kasabian
LDa Architecture & Interiors 222 Third Street Suite 3212 Cambridge, MA 02142 www.LDa-Architects.com First Edition, Second Printing Self Published, Copyright Š2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior consent of the publisher.
Foreword In structuring this book, LDa’s principals identify the key aspects of the design process in a way that they hope will reveal the inspiration, expertise and philosophy that defines their work. The book begins with a discussion of home in the first chapter titled, “Reward of Comfort,” exploring what contributes to making a family home, the designer’s role and how this partnership can succeed. In “Capturing Light,” the impact of natural light is examined. It is a design aspect that is often taken for granted, but sorely missed when absent. Included in this chapter are many examples that show how light can be used as a powerful tool to complement design themes. “Reading the Land” and “History of Place” focus on the considerations that come with choosing a “place” to live, relating to its history and how it can be honored in both the architecture and interior design.
“Art of Craft,” “See, Touch, Feel,” and the “Delight of the Unexpected” chapters focus on the design details that infuse the soul of a home. These chapters are meant to remind us of all the different ways everyday functional objects can be elevated to art forms and contribute to a home that feels uniquely ours. The last chapter, “Embrace Your Lifestyle,” emphasizes the great opportunity that designing one’s home affords...a personal expression of what home means to you! As you read these pages, the firm hopes you may better understand the depth and richness of thought and process that these projects represent.
Introduction It wasn’t long ago that we decided the time was right to bring our body of work together in book form—under one hard cover roof, if you will. We hope first and foremost that you are inspired by this New Englandrooted collection of residential designs and architectural details. Over the past 20 years we have had the pleasure and privilege of working on hundreds of projects, large and small. Each has followed a distinct road of creative discovery explored together with our clients. We have learned that as designers and dwellers, we are not just creating functional spaces, we are contributing to the history of a family, a neighborhood, a town or city, and a region. It is our hope too, that the projects we have chosen to highlight demonstrate that a collaborative, thoughtful design process is indeed worth the effort. Deciding to embark on this design journey calls upon our clients to think at a new, deeper level about the way they live. Our goal, as interpreters of their vision, is to create homes that reflect their lifestyles and values.
As you turn these pages, know that these designs followed much thought and dialogue. Preferences for materials, colors, and forms came to light in a myriad of site walks, showroom visits and meetings. For us, the choice of a cabinet pull or profile of a handrail is as important as the layout of the floor plan, the penetration of natural light and the intimacy of a bedroom; the placement of a series of windows as critical as the way a home sits on the land. Success comes when each of the design choices fit our clients as much as the place. Thoughtful, beautiful design makes life in the home a pleasure. All decisions are made considering the present and the future, including the way a home fits the land in scale and materials. We strive to make a home that is in dialogue with its place and is a positive addition to the community. We look forward to the contributions we will make in the next 20 years, exploring and accommodating the new ways people live, and discovering and utilizing the new, interesting ideas for dwelling that come our way. ~ Douglas Dick & Treffle LaFleche
Reward of Comfort
1
Capturing Light
15
Reading the Land
31
Thresholds 45
History of Place
61
Art of Craft
75
See, Touch, Feel
Delight of the Unexpected
89
103
Embrace Your Lifestyle
117
Contents Reward of Comfort..................................................................................1
Appendix
Capturing Light......................................................................................15
Project Index.........................................................................................190
Reading the Land................................................................................... 31
Project Data..........................................................................................192
Thresholds...............................................................................................45
Photography Credits............................................................................195
History of Place......................................................................................61
Featured Collaborators.......................................................................196
Art of Craft.............................................................................................75
The LDa Team......................................................................................198
See, Touch, Feel......................................................................................89
About the Author.................................................................................201
Delight of the Unexpected..................................................................103 Embrace Your Lifestyle....................................................................... 117 Project Stories City.........................................................................................................133 Town......................................................................................................143 Coast......................................................................................................155 Country.................................................................................................165 Interior...................................................................................................177
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1 Reward of Comfort
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For anyone beginning this journey of designing or building, it is important to have a definition of home, descriptors that on their own and together summarize what this structure signifies to you. This provides a foundational guide for all decisions that follow.
For most, the home is defined as a precious place where one can retreat to for privacy, peace, a sense of safety, and physical and mental rejuvenation. Isn’t it interesting, that despite all of the technology that seems to run daily life, we still use a small brass key to open a simple wooden door to leave the day and the worries of the world behind? That the key has survived in modern life is nostalgic and comforting. When the front door swings open, there are no superfluous expectations. Instead, the predictability of what is ahead grounds us. The fact that there are places to retreat to for privacy gives us a sense of safety and security. Whether ancestral man retreated to a canopy of trees or the more protective cave, the concept of home has served the same fundamental purpose for thousands of years.
Our homes are the one place where each of us is unencumbered by the rules or expectations of others; we are free to express ourselves and create a space that reflects our lifestyle. Success comes when the architect and designer truly understand the client and inspires them with imaginative and exciting design possibilities. This team not only serves as translators of a personal vision, but as artists who push the creative envelope and create something never before imagined. The process takes design concepts and personalizes them into the tiniest of details, running in parallel with a journey of self-discovery. Taking on a building or remodeling project is the one time each of us gets to explore the look and feel of everything we live with, whether it’s a handrail that is touched by the same hand each day, or the flooring our bare feet will patter across each morning. And, like any good relationship, the design process takes a commitment of time and moves forward with collaboration and trust. When the final construction walk-through comes, the reward is the confirmation that this home truly represents those who dwell within.
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“The home isn’t drafty where it wants to feel warm, and the furnishings, materials, and color palette are comfortable intellectually and physically.”
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“We determine with our clients how expansive or intimate the space should be; what kind of light is appropriate; what is the mood—is it secluded or outward looking?”
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“If we have done a good job then our client feels, as they swing open the front door, like they are slipping into their favorite sweater.�
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As we completed our 20th year as a firm we felt it would be meaningful to look back at the depth and breadth of our portfolio and reflect on the creativity and craftsmanship of the projects we have embarked on with our clients. This book is intended as a record of our contributions to the New England architectural fabric, but also as our way of sharing what we’ve learned—our “ideas for dwelling.”
Ideas for Dwelling
1992 - 2013