Summer Residence

Location| Narragansett, RI
Type| additions and alterations
Area| 2,800 sf
Association| SPM Design

Status| unbuilt

s20The location of this project is within a stone’s throw from Scarborough Beach in the southern most part of Narragansett. The client’s family has enjoyed this summer beach house for a number of years as a departure from their homestead in New Jersey. The home recently was water damaged during the winter months by a broken pipe that flooded the crawlspace below. The client is now looking to add more living functionality to the house and prepare accommodations for future decades of guests.

Currently the house is 970sf of inhabitable area, containing 3 small bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen and living room. A new second floor will be added with 2 more bedrooms, a bath, and a family room overlooking the ocean. A third story viewing room is proposed to take advantage of the location and view.

The design of the house is based on simple modern forms that make reference to ocean movements and generate interior volumetric spaces, much like the void formed by a surfer’s pipeline wave. Exterior materials will be selected to compliment the concept and window placement will be designed to picture frame the views of the ocean and horizon. Being a seasonal summer home, emphasis is placed on a passive wind design that will cool the home during the summer months. This will be achieved utilizing a centrally located stair as a vertical exhaust mechanism.

preliminary design images: 10/30/09

2-4-6-8 Luxury Residences [concept]

Location| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Dubai, UAE
Type| multi-unit residential
Size| 690 feet, 42 stories, 168 units (2,400 sf)

Status| concept

scene_4Recently in conversation a few colleagues of mine were discussing modular construction and how it was only attributed to small-medium residential applications. Well I took the conversation topic to heart and started to look at a residential tower concept where most pieces are to be pre-fab and lifted into place. At the moment several other experts are looking at the design and determining what components could indeed be pre-fab. The design is also looking into sustainability and energy conservation. Structurally a concrete and steel frame with pre-cast concrete, metal panel exterior cladding would be used. This is a design concept and not a realized project; however the design is targeted at a warmer climate such a Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo area.

UPDATE: Please review the second part of this series > 4×10 Luxury Lofts

All images and content are the property of rui duarte DESIGN and may only be used with written consent. Copyright 2009, All Rights Reserved

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road trip 8/09: Toronto

DSC_2538 (Custom)On our annual “visit a new city tour”, Tracey and I drove up to Toronto Canada to explore a relatively new city of only 175 years. Our trip started early on Aug 15 with a departure from Providence taking us about 12 hours to reach our destination (including stops, traffic and a dinner caused be a severe traffic jam on the QEW in Ontario). We arrived late at our hotel in downtown Toronto and sat down to a few pints of Canadian ale. Our Sunday walking effort was challenged by record high heat and humidity, nevertheless we navigated through the city and found our way while drinking plenty of water. The heat continued on Monday as we found ourselves back in the car to explore west and east suburbs of the city and get a sense of living styles in the surrounding area. Tuesday night we walked 2 blocks from our hotel to Rogers Centre to watch the Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays 10-9. We were impressed by the stadium and it’s amenities, grand concourse and retractable roof all of which made the game more spectator friendly. Also noted by our new friend Saba (a long time Jays fan) that it is an “old stadium and not to be confused with a ballpark like Fenway”. Toronto is loaded with new architecture by Will Alsop, Gehry, Morphosis, Libeskind, Mies, Calatrava and many others. Some of the building noted in the photographs include:

The Sharp Centre for Design, Ontario College of Art and Design, Alsop Architects, 2004
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Gehry Partners, 2008
University of Toronto Graduate Housing, Morphosis Architects, 2000
BCE Place Allen Lambert Galleria, Santiago Calatrava, 1992
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Studio Daniel Libeskind, 2007
Toronto Dominion Centre (TD Centre), Mies Van Der Rohe, 1967

Wednesday we left Toronto and made a stop to visit our friend Doug who recently moved to Niagara Falls and visit the Falls (my first time). Needless to say the Falls are breathtaking and a very unique natural wonder that can not be fully captured with photographs, so I also shoot some HD video to get a better representation of the sites and sounds of the Falls. As a five day trip we covered many miles and saw many interesting things, enjoyed great food, friendly people, and became acquainted with a new city. We haven’t determined our destination for next year but I’m certain Toronto will remain on our top 5 city list for a long time to come. I hope you enjoy the photographs which can be seen as a full screen slide show and please leave your comments!

Marzocchi Residence

Location| Scituate, RI
Type| additions and alterations
Area| 1,000 sf
Association| SPM Design

Status| unbuilt

07_marzochiiThis project is about adding functionality to an existing post war gambrel roof two story dutch colonial. The owners are requesting various upgrades primarily focused on a new kitchen, master bedroom suite and piano room. The house is in good sound condition and has not been upgraded since its construction.

One objective is to transform the appearance of the house due to the solidity of the gambrel roof form. By adding a new front porch and upper story dormers the house begins to look more rural and appropriate for its 3 acre site. The kitchen was originally built as a bonus room on the left side of the house, ideally the owner would like to connect the kitchen to the garage for direct interior access and add a mudroom. The new kitchen area will also include a dining area, butler’s pantry and outdoor area under the new porch. A new addition will be added to the right side of the house in the form of a unique eight sided piano room with windows on each side, creating a pavilion like setting with the outdoors. A third addition is at the back of the house for the master bedroom suite.

The project is currently in a very initial feasibility phase in order to set a construction budget and determine the project scope. The owners are interested in maximizing off-grid energy sources and are considering alternative GREEN technologies.

UPDATE: The Owner has changed their mind and is now looking to sell the property on account of construction cost vs. property value.

design review

1672 South County Trail

Location| East Greenwich, RI
Type| new construction
Area| 30,000 sf
Association| SPM Design

Status| near completion

 

15_EGThis new building for the Owner, Pathmark Design Services, was designed to fit a growing economic location at the southern part of Route 2 in order to meet demand for leasable medical office space in the area.

The building is situated on a sloped site running east to west, providing a 2 story street elevation and a 3 story entrance on the lower side where most visitors will park and enter the building. The design of the project incorporates a pre-manufactured structural building system which is engineered and fabricated by Murox of Quebec, Canada. The collaboration with Murox fostered a true “design-build” relationship that established efficiency, cost reduction, an abbreviated construction schedule and accuracy. Once Murox erected the exterior panels, floor and roof systems (2-6 weeks), the building was ready for exterior masonry and roof installation.

 

The design features a main open stair naturally lit by skylights connecting the second and third floors, exterior brick and cmu masonry, energy efficient windows and storefront systems. All three levels are designed to be easily accessible by the public and maintain tenant spaces ranging from 2,000-9,000 SF.

 

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