Architecture

Fence post sketch exported from Sketchbook Mobile

This is the quick sketch I drew on my iPhone using Sketchbook Mobile.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to help my brother in law build a fence at his Victorian style home. When I arrived at the job site, there was a question about how best to meet the front of the house. We needed a quick answer in order to get to the home improvement store in time to keep on schedule. After discussing a few ideas and taking a closer look at the site, I came up with what I thought was a workable solution. I just needed a way to describe it. Thankfully, I had my iPhone already loaded with Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile, a great little app that comes in very handy in situations like this.

Sketchbook Mobile let me take a picture of the job site and insert it directly to a drawing layer. I then activated another layer on top of the photo, picked some contrasting colors from the color selector, and began sketching on top of the photo with my finger. Using your fingers takes a little practice, but it helps that you can easily zoom and pan using two fingers. The image above is a copy of the resulting sketch. For this blog post I simply exported it to the “camera roll” and then used WordPress Mobile to upload the image to my blog.
In case you’re wondering, the sketch was approved and we headed off to the store for supplies. The second picture shows the same location with the sketched fence structure in place.

This is a photo of the fence post I built based on the Sketchbook Mobile sketch.

Have you tried Sketchbook Mobile or Mobile Express? Do you have any questions about it? Do you use it in any of your workflows?

As an architect on ski/snowboarding vacation in northern Vermont in February, 2011, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tour HGTV’s Dream Home, which was built in the resort town of Stowe. Furthermore, as a part-time blogger, I could not pass up the opportunity to write about my visit. I don’t need to go into too much detail about the products used or construction process because you can read all about it here and here. I will, however, share my observations on the experience of visiting a Dream Home and probably throw in some philosophical thoughts along the way.

The Stowe Dream Home exterior as I saw it.

I had only been to Stowe once or twice before, and this was the first time going to the actual ski resort. For those who don’t know, historic Stowe is in the valley below the actual ski resort. The character of the town reminds me of Princeton, NJ, only without the collegiate Gothic university buildings flanking one side of main street. So to get to our tour, we drove through historic Stowe and up to the resort. It might not be readily apparent on the HGTV website, but the home site really is right in the middle of a giant ski resort complex. The actual access to the site is through one of Stowe’s Spruce Peak parking lots and up a driveway identified as “Ski Club Lane” on Google maps. Since our tour was supposed to start in Spruce Peak Lodge, we parked in the main resort parking lot on the opposite side of the Lodge.

My view of the kitchen island, dining room, and exterior beyond as seen from the mud room.

I learned a lot about construction in Architecture school, and even more in my apprenticeship and study for licensure. I have seen a lot of construction through my work in commercial design, and I even did some construction work back in high school. Unfortunately, all of that knowledge and experience doesn’t necessarily make me good or even proficient at all the tasks involved in the various renovations I tackle around the house. A big example with the shed project is the concrete slab that is required by the Township code. As I purpose to do all of my projects within the requirements of the code, I knew I needed a large concrete pad. I’ve done small masonry repairs and concrete work before, but this was big enough to give me pause. ITABWODI? I could save a little cash by setting up the forms and mixing and setting my own concrete, or I could save a lot of time and energy by contracting the work out. In this case I chose the latter, and I’m glad I did. I spent a few minutes staking out the location per my site plan drawing, and the contractors did the rest. They did much better work than I would have, and I could turn my focus to getting materials for walls and roof.

The finished concrete pad.

My stakes locating the site for the shed.

Shed design image - exterior perspective.

As you may have noticed, I haven’t been blogging much lately. It turns out that it’s difficult to find time for blogging when I’m spending most of my free time on a building project. They’re both enjoyable activities, but I have to admit that given the choice, I really prefer building things to writing. Those familiar with the commercial building industry might ask why I became an architect instead of a contractor if I enjoy building so much (for those who don’t know, architects have to write a lot – specifications, notes on drawings, reports, meeting minutes, etc., etc., etc.). That’s probably a topic for another day. Suffice it to say that I not only enjoy building, but also the challenge of designing; and the best way to get in the thick of the design process is to be an architect. So, being the designing/building enjoying person that I am, I’ve been really focused on getting the shed built, especially now that fall is starting, the days are shorter, and the weather less predictable.

ITABWODI

Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile

Touring the HGTV Dream Home in Stowe, Vermont

Concrete Decisions

Blogging vs. Building

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