We are planning to do a major renovation in Annapolis and I was wondering if we have an architect among the MINI drivers ..
We are looking to hire someone with experience in old houses and has a modern vision ...

MD STREGA2

 

You might want to wait until Katie gets back -- I think they really liked theirs and I think their house has both the charm of an older house with the new addition the "modernish vision"

She'll be back soon, I'm sure.

Hugs,
PB

 

Strangely enough I do know of one who drives a MINI. Although I think he does more industrial design and such. He used to be one of my profs at my first college. Took a Technical Animation class of his. But based on his webpage (www.hegra.org) you might not want his services.

 

Actually checking his webpage I noticed that he did interesting works in old part of DC and Baltimore, and he his involved with a condo project a few block from our place in Capitol Hill. I may give him a call. Thanks.

MD STREGA2

I will prefer to give my business to another fellow MINI driver..

 

I actually ran into him when I went in for my first service about 3 months ago. He used to have a 3-series, traded it in for a MINI. Talked to him for a bit, he was getting close to the end of his warranty so he was starting to look into modding his car. I told him about the club, but he said he was too busy with lots of other stuff to get wrapped up in a club too.

 

Well there is at least 1 (me ) but what (or who) you really want is an architect who specializes in residential design. Our firm rarely does residential work because it's usually more time consuming and less lucrative (ie we lose money )

Your best candidate will likely be a small 2-4 person or even a single person firm with a good rep for residential design. Try starting with the DC chapter of the AIA - American Institute of Architects. LINK

Don't be afraid to ask questions, interview several, and get references!!!

Another tidbit of advice... you are best off finding a general contractor that you trust, and working with him to price/bid your project on a subcontractor level. He can get prices from multiple carpenters, masons, etc. to get your construction cost where you want it. Keep your architect involved too. This is generally called 'partnering'.


Good luck, if I can help out more, PM me

 

Thank you for the tips. We have lined up meetings with 4 architects so far (all from the local AIA chapter). My husband is doing the first mtg with them showing the house and then I meet with them after reviewing their portfolio.

The pain in the butt is that I have to deal with hysterical society and some of their requests are so stupid ... Living in cities (old and somewhat historical), is becoming very hard and expensive. We hope to get done with this massive project by end of 2006.

MD STREGA2

 

I feel for you there... I've read some horrendous stories in particular about San Francisco where they just choke the life out of things in the name of preservation. I hope your DC neighbors are more sensible than that and can discern between quality design and fake history.

I lived in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia for years, and occaisionally did stuff that went before the Historic Review Board. Sometimes great quality drawings help... sometimes it's better to show almost nothing...

Again, good luck! Don't forget to show us your "mods"


oh, one more thought- the hysterical review board probably has at least one architect serving on it, usually someone established in the community with connections... you don't necessarily want to hire him, but if you find out who is on the board you can always ask them if they'll recommend some one.

At the very least you begin to send signals that you respect what they think, which builds favor....

 

Stephen M Banigan is the chief architect at Banigan Architecture - they specialize in residential architecture - they've won a lot of awards and I think they have capacity to take on new work.

 

ARCHITECT SKETCH!!!

 

I am an architect with a small private practice specializinng in residential design.
I was with Wayne Good ( a local preservationist) on West Street before starting my company. I live outside of Annapolis and grew up on the Severn.
I am in Pittsburgh working for a few days .. just checking in to NAM .. I dont check that often ... but this thread caught my eye.
If you have been to Tsunami or Lemongrass, I was involved with the later as a design consultant. The owners did all the work themselves but I assisted at the early stages to help refine their vision. My work is typically a collaborative process with appropriate style as define by the collaborative vision. I personally have a very modern vision but work with clients to help them with thier own unique visions. We all have them just waiting to be built.

I drive a BRG MCC 05 with the plate RKTECT in case you see me on Rte 50 driving by. Feel free to contact me via my website.. www.muma.org

You might also contact:
These are all resdential specialists with long project lists of award winning residential projects.

Wayne Good ( Good Architecture)
Bob Hammond ( Hammond wilson)
Scarlett Breeding (Alt Breeding Swartz)
Joe Boggs ( Boggs partners)

Hugh jacobsen ( washington DC)
Patrick Sutton ( Sutton architects-Baltimore)

look for an architect that suits your time frame, commnication stye and budget. Fees range for complete service so having the fee be a percentage of the constrcution cost is your most cost effective solution. I would also advice not to proceed with hourly services nor "time and material" construction. Have a realistic budget based on your intent and a fixed fee construction contract and all your efforts should come to fruition with relative ease.

Page Thomas