Building back better after a fire

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1698269165\/jb7cktbtezpwbww7ejo6.jpg","id":"6683512"}],"caption":"Adding height brought the home up to road level, boosting curb appeal and improving access. Three walls of glass help usher in natural light and frame views of the valley and trees beyond, creating a pleasant workspace."}],["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1698269252\/buptgomj9ctxtsfxa6ry.jpg","id":"6683513"}],"caption":"The dining room ends in a glass wall created by a three-panel Andersen Folding Outswing Door that seamlessly unites indoors and outdoors. The kitchen is around the corner from the dining room, making it easy to go between it and the outdoor dining area. "}],["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1698269343\/eykvnrvrtjpzcq7s0cnh.jpg","id":"6683515"}],"caption":"Rather than \u201cfighting the angles\u201d that were integral to the house, Maxwell chose \u201cto embrace them.\u201d He created a constructivist style design whose geometric sharpness is softened by the warmth of its wood accents and an exterior color that helps it blend in with its verdant surroundings. "}]],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.andersenwindows.com\/windows-and-doors\/series\/e-series\/","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.andersenwindows.com\/windows-and-doors\/doors\/big-doors\/folding-outswing-door\/","target","_blank"]],["em"],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.andersenwindows.com\/for-professionals\/","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.andersenwindows.com\/for-professionals\/"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.andersenwindows.com\/for-professionals\/architect\/architectural-tools\/","target","_blank"]]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"When an architect and his wife got the chance to redesign their home, a combination of creativity and pragmatism helped them overcome the barriers and turn constraints into inspiration. AIA partner Andersen recaps the project."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Gavin Maxwell, Int\u2019l Assoc AIA, got to fulfill every architect\u2019s dream: Building his own home. The catch? A fire forced him into the project. Nevertheless, he took on the challenge (and challenge is the right word). He stretched the limited funds afforded by an insurance payout by prioritizing a few flaws he\u2019d become familiar with after 10 years of living in the home and by getting creative about reusing some of the elements left intact after the fire. Here\u2019s how he pulled off his redesign."]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[],0,"Letting in the light and leaning into outdoor living"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The home is built into a hill surrounded by a grove of towering redwoods and densely built houses. These circumstances led to a few flaws in design and function of the original home, including a too-small entryway that was difficult to access, weak outdoor connections, and a dark interior. One of the keys to addressing these challenges was adding 600 square feet of space at road level. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"To do this, Maxwell\u2019s design called for adding height to the home, so it now includes a new level where formerly only a carport hinted at the home below. Not only does this new level, which integrates with the rebuilt carport, greatly improve curb appeal, it also allows the couple to enter their home without being exposed to the elements, improves flows, and, crucially, makes the most of the limited direct sunlight available. Glass lines three walls on this new level, and an Andersen E-Series Hinged Patio Door with trapezoidal transom above leads out to a newly built deck with a garden and seating area. Light wells on either side of the space help brighten up the main floor below."]]],[1,"p",[]],[10,0],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Down on the main level, Maxwell opened up the floor plan and brought in light with high ceilings and a succession of "],[0,[0],1,"Andersen E-Series windows"],[0,[],0," along the western wall, which is shared by the living and dining rooms. These rooms culminate in an expansive deck that juts out beyond the deck above to avoid shading. A three-panel "],[0,[1],1,"Andersen Folding Outswing Door"],[0,[],0," connects indoors and outdoors and can be tucked aside for easy flow between the kitchen and the outdoor dining space."]]],[1,"p",[]],[10,1],[1,"h3",[[0,[],0,"Creatively salvaging what remained"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Some of the original home\u2019s design flaws stemmed from the fact that it began as a cabin whose foundation wasn\u2019t quite square. The 1930s cabin was later remodeled into a 1980s home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. These iterations resulted in a style that Maxwell described as \u201cill defined\u201d with some functional issues as well \u2014 a gutter system that needed constant maintenance and a main entrance that could only be accessed by an outdoor stair that was shaded, often wet, and slippery. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Still, reusing what remained after the fire was key to making the most of a limited budget, and the original foundation with its unusual trapezoidal shape was one of the few things that remained. Maxwell decided to embrace \u201call the angles.\u201d He leaned into a constructivist design style with \u201cgeometric shapes that crash and merge into each other.\u201d To bring the home square to the road and connect the main house and carport roofs, he created a vertical volume he calls \u201cThe Wedge.\u201d It unites the two roofs, which are both 2:12 monopitch but have differing lengths and are slightly offset. This innovation solved for some of the functional issues at the entrance, simplified the roof system (with easily cleanable gutters included), and set a certain style tone \u2014 wedge shapes are repeated throughout the house."]]],[1,"p",[]],[10,2],[1,"h3",[[0,[],0,"Designing for the future"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In addition to reusing the original foundation and salvaging some of the framing and appliances, Maxwell\u2019s pragmatism included a few future-proofing features. The home is designed for aging in place, with improved accessibility at the entrance, a curbless shower in the primary suite, and an elevator shaft that runs between the three levels of the home. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"While he would have liked to invest in state-of-the art sustainable materials, building through the inflated prices of the pandemic and the subsequent supply chain woes meant this level of investment wasn\u2019t possible. Still, he took steps to make the home ignition resistant, using the materials available at the time. By making the shear plywood also the exterior sheathing and by using closed cell spray foam insulation throughout, the wall system does double duty. The insulation bonds with the plywood, creating an airtight, fire-resistant, shear strong monolithic wall system. A metal roof, gutter guards, and intumescent roof vents also minimize the chances of embers igniting the roof system."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Turning constraints into creative inputs is what allowed Maxwell to overcome the many obstacles to rebuilding, and the result is a one-of-a-kind home that\u2019s beautiful, comfortable, and clear-eyed about the future."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[2],0,"Love this home? Find more inspiration like this on "],[0,[3],1,"Andersen\u2019s Pro Views Blog"],[0,[4],1,","],[0,[],0," or access resources that\u2019ll streamline your next project in our "],[0,[5],1,"architectural tool library"],[0,[],1,"."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[2],1,"AIA does not sponsor or endorse any enterprise, whether \npublic or private, operated for profit. Further, no AIA officer, \ndirector, committee member, or employee, or any of its component \norganizations in his or her official capacity, is permitted to approve, \nsponsor, endorse, or do anything that may be deemed or construed to be \nan approval, sponsorship, or endorsement of any material of construction\n or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in\n any material or product."]]],[1,"p",[]]]}