MIES - Nobis House

Recently, the Huffington Post came out with a list of the top ten architect houses. Stonehouse, which has become all the rage, is easily the most noticeable of all the designs. But I really, really found Suzanne Nobis' German Lake House to be the crown jewel. Two shed-style houses, placed side-to-side, with lighting under a raised foundation... all of these little details make this design quite revolutionary.

It's the little things that make the house. Not the corners, not the edges, not the surfaces. A house is the sum of its parts; it is not one part of the sum. This remains true for all forms of art, and it's refreshing to see Nobis understand this all-too-easily forgotten postulate of design.

A lit slice where the ridge beam typically would be. But still quite structurally sound.

Drywall becomes a part of the construction, and not just one gigantic chore. Good design can make building the house a fun occasion. For contractors, subcontractors, inhabitants and others.

MIES - Structural Integrity in Upstate New York

This design, in upstate New York, by Stanev Potts Architects, positioned against the slope of rolling farmland, hints at a subtle return to vernacular architecture for contemporary architecture. The L-shaped configuration of the house, along with the gorgeous massively pitched roofs, hugs the surrounding valley gracefully. The timber on the interior and use of field stone at the supports for the structure also are well-spaced and positioned so as to allow the light to come into the house rather than shield against it.

Also of note are the sustainability techniques the houses utilizes, including: solar orientation, natural ventilation, and use of local, renewable materials. Building construction was achieved by the use of SIP construction, radiant heating, highly efficient appliances and smartly design lighting to reduce the carbon footprint. The house achieved Level 2 Energy Star Certification and a Gold LEED rating.

Structural configuration of the house: note the simplicity of the bay spacing. The scissor trusses are easily achieved using this fundamental structural pattern.

The plans of the house: first floor and second floor (loft space).

The living room. Sleek, elegant, and simple.

The loft space, which is accentuated, and not hindered by, the use of the scissor truss. (The scissor truss as a design allows space to be built underneath. As a structural design, it is perfect for loft or attic spaces).