31
tour homes on the
Northern New Mexico
spring 2018 parade
®®
inspiration ideas resources
one for the
architect Jon Anderson’s modern home
baths, gardens + farmers market fun VOL. 23 24 NO. 2NO. SPRING 2017 SuCasaMagazine.com VOL. 2 2Spring 2018 SuCasaMagazine.com VOL. 23NO. SPRING 2017 SuCasaMagazine.com
doing his own thing architect Jon Anderson infuses a bit of modernism into the old neighborhood
34
S U C A S A S P R I N G 2018
by Jessa Cast
photographs by Kirk Gittings
A
rchitects and custom homebuilders are notorious for designing and building a new-and-improved home for themselves every few years. The ability to design ever-better homes is certainly alluring, and of course it’s a great way to showcase one’s building chops. But it doesn’t say much about an investment in community. Renowned modernist architect Jon Anderson, FAIA, of Albuquerque-based Jon Anderson Architecture, has never been a house-flipper. In fact, Anderson recently designed and built his first and only custom personal home—practically next door to the one he lived in for 42 years.
The final design of the house, adapted to an attractive and sedate bungalow style, complements the district while holding forth a modernist soul. Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Anderson moved to Albuquerque in 1970 to attend UNM’s school of architecture. A year later he met his future wife, Laura, and they purchased their first home in 1976. Anderson was Antoine Predock’s senior associate for 13 years before he struck out on his own. For 45 years he has been racking up awards for spectacular residential and commercial projects in Albuquerque and across the country, clean-lined, glass- and steel–forward structures that were modern before (at least in New Mexico) modern was cool. He and Laura raised two children in their quiet downtown neighborhood. Rather than moving into new homes over the years, however, the Anderson family has nurtured a love of their neighborhood and community. They weren’t Left: The front entry affords an impressive sweeping view of the main floor of Jon Anderson and Laura Daby’s home, with plenty for the eye to take in: elaborate steel and walnut stairwells, iconic midcentury modern furnishings, and a honed strip of marble flooring that extends from front door to back door. SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM
35
Above: Open steel railings make the entire house feel more transparent, while the top-story catwalks naturally draw the eye upward to take in a spectacular floor-to-ceiling view. The home’s unique sectional layout earned Anderson a 2017 AIA Design Award.
Above: The glass flooring to the left of the piano was strategically placed to let light into an area that normally would see none: the basement. 36
S U C A S A S P R I N G 2018
inclined to leave the neighborhood that offered easy walkabilty to downtown eateries and entertainment, not to mention the neighborly relationships they’d carefully cultivated over many decades. “Laura and I walk everywhere, to restaurants and the movies,” says Anderson. “We go to concerts at the convention center, Launchpad, El Rey Theater, Sister Bar. We ride our bikes a lot.” He adds, “If I could never drive a car, that would be my choice. On a good week I may not drive for three days straight.” No worries about that anymore; his office, a building that dates to 1918, sits between their former home, now a rental, and their new home. No commute necessary. During the planning stages, the Landmarks & Urban Conservation Commission deemed the exterior of Anderson’s original home design too modern, to Anderson’s chagrin. It needed to blend in and be more compatible with existing homes in the neighborhood, they said. “Most of the houses in the old downtown
neighborhood are a variation on a cottage or bungalow style,” says Anderson, who reworked his original design to fit it more seamlessly with other homes on the street—on the outside, at least. The final product, adapted to an attractive and sedate bungalow style, complements the district while holding forth a modernist soul. Behind the unassuming exterior walls, however, the interiors are very modern.
“Because of our relationship, Jon and I are able to design and problem-solve on the fly. We can resolve problems instantly in the field.”—Paul Kenderdine One might think it daunting, nerve-racking even, to be the builder tasked with constructing the personal home for such an esteemed architect. But Paul Kenderdine, owner of PWKI LLC, couldn’t have been better prepped for the job. Kenderdine recently celebrated 30 years of custom construction in Albuquerque. He started as a draftsman at SMPC Architects where renowned architect George Pearl was his mentor. Two decades ago, Kenderdine bid on a custom Above: Sleek, unfussy, and neat as a pin, the kitchen is ultrafunctional with all appliances within easy reach of the central island and marble countertop prep spaces. A Poul Henningsen Artichoke Lamp offers a nice layered contrast to the sharply angled spaces and continues the midcentury modern aesthetic into the dining areas.
Left: Although the kitchen and living spaces are subtly divided, the views to the charming street are virtually unobstructed. Ample windows and glass doors bring in plenty of natural light for an open, bright look.
SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM
37
Right: Taking the idea of a catwalk literally are Sharky (on glass) and Wolfie (watching from a safe distance). The glass flooring weighs 750 pounds and was a challenge to install, hoisted into the house by hand-crank crane.
Below: In addition to housing the master suite and a media room, the top floor is a focal point for a library, Jon’s collection of model cars, a Kevin Tolman painting, and glossy prints of several of Jon’s memorable and awardwinning projects.
38
S U C A S A S P R I N G 2018
home project for Anderson and won it. The two have been working together ever since, on both residential and commercial projects. A peek at either of their portfolios shows the admirable list of projects they’ve completed together. Still, they’re not exclusive, and Kenderdine recognizes the rich pool of local building talent in the Duke City Anderson might have pulled from in building his personal residence. “We were honored that he selected us,” says Kenderdine, “but I also think it meant he was confident we could produce what he was looking for.” Through the years, Anderson and Kenderdine have developed a seamless way of collaborating, communicating, and anticipating each other’s needs. “Jon really knows how I think; I know how he thinks. I know how he wants things put together,” says Kenderdine. “Because of our relationship, we’re able to design and problem-solve on the fly. We can resolve problems instantly in the field.” When building plans were finally approved, the existing home, a rental property Anderson
Above: Despite its relatively compact 2,600 square feet, the house comfortably fits Laura’s baby grand piano. Sharky poses artfully on a Mies van der Rohe Barcelona daybed, one of many well-curated pieces of midcentury modern furniture adorning the house.
owned, was razed. Then, it took about 18 months to build the 2,600-square-foot, three-bedroom, LEED Platinum–certified home gracing the lot today. Anderson planned the layout around preserving a very tall, 100-year-old Austrian pine tree, snugging the house right up to it. A crisp row of glass doors affords a street-side view of a lofty ceiling and steel catwalks within. The top story comprises the minimalist master suite, with a bedroom, a walk-in closet, and bathroom. It also hosts a media room containing their sole television, and an outdoor patio from which they can hail passing neighbors. Indoors, the metal walkways with their open risers allow Jon and Laura to chat comfortably with each other or guests who are on the first floor below. A honed marble strip hand-finished by Kenderdine himself leads from the front door (the middle story of the house) and draws the eye across the room to the spacious, modern kitchen. The living room swanks an array of bold midcentury modern furniture and the couple’s original
Both the master bedroom (above) and its bathroom (left) are simply designed and deliberately minimalist. Eschewing big colors and elaborate tile patterns, Anderson opted to work roof angles and well-placed windows into each space’s design for a different kind of visual interest.
SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM
39
Right: Jon Anderson and Laura Daby have lived in the same neighborhood for 42 years, where they can easily walk and bike to restaurants, movie theaters, and live music venues. Even though Jon has created custom homes for many clients, this is the first one he designed for himself and Laura.
1970s stereo, which they still use (there’s also a modern, wireless sound system for these music lovers). Anderson indicates the white Eames La Chaise, the Mies van der Rohe Barcelona daybed, and other iconic pieces and admits, “I’m a bit of a collector.” Solid maple stair treads lead down to the basement, where Jon and Laura can entertain guests in the 55-degree wine cellar, or with a game of ping pong. Jon and Laura christened their new home by hosting their daughter’s wedding here last year. Today they’re well established in their new digs, enjoying a modern home that not only suits their personal taste, but that’s tucked into their familiar and much-loved old neighborhood, close to their favorite haunts and people.
Below: Above the detached three-car garage, which sits behind the main home in an alley, is a guest suite. Solar panels on the main house helped contribute to the home’s LEED Platinum rating.
40
S U C A S A S P R I N G 2018
Above: Built around existing trees and on a quiet, friendly street, the house looks like it may have been there for years. Its modern bungalow style fits right in with the other houses in the neighborhood, and yet proclaims its own subtly modernist persona.
resources Architect Jon Anderson, Jon Anderson Architecture
Front Door and Windows Dwight’s Glass
Builder/Contractor Paul Kenderdine, PWKI LLC pwki.com
Maple & Marble Flooring Select Floors
Appliances Builders Source Appliance Gallery builderssource.com Cabinetry Gordon Reeves Carrera Marble Countertops Rocky Mountain Stone rmstone.com
Metal Stairs and Railings Duran Steel Fabricators Solar Array Affordable Solar Window Coverings Motorized Sun Solutions Above: Anderson worked the design of one side of the house around a century-old, 90-foot-tall Austrian pine tree, which towers even above the roof cut-out that was prepared for it. SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM
41