My kitchen designer is getting ready to purchase a new condo in one of several high-end buildings going up in Rosslyn/Arlington. He wants the builder not to install the appliances, etc. because he's going to redo the whole place to his liking. Should be interesting.

 

I'm not aware of a reason that precast concrete houses would provide large open spaces OR lots of windows. Precast is usually associated with tilt-up walls (with small windows) for warehouse

You might want to look at post-and-beam timber houses, which often have lots of windows and open 'great rooms'. A house supported by steel columns could also provide 'open flexible' houses in a comtemporary vein. In order to have big window areas, it's best to NOT have load-bearing walls (conventional wood or steel studs, log structure, concrete).

 

[QUOTE=paS2K,Feb 26 2007, 08:07 PM]I'm not aware of a reason that precast concrete houses would provide large open spaces OR lots of windows.

 

Let me know what you find out, Ken.....

 

This report sounds like the easy-going S1997

Just wondering....was there any discussion of the errors and related costs? Architects should have professional liability insurance to cover 'errors and omissions'....or else they are stupid. They are providing a service and it should meet the normal 'standard of care' for the profession (not perfection but you should be able to rely on their documentation). At the very least, there should have been an offer of some $$ contribution.

I was never sued while I had my own business for 12 years, but did make a couple mistakes. We paid a few hundred dollars for one and a few thousand for the other. It was money well spent in retaining a satisfied client.

 

That's not exactly true. I have personally seen some precast designs that have very open spaces. With the floors being precast hollowcore that is prestressed and can span long distances and is load bearing. If it were used for a main floor for example there would be no need for any load beating posts in the basement. Most newer condos and hotels are built this way. Some have walls of windows. Although I haven't seen many houses built in NA yet with precast, we mostly build with Timber here.

I will look into the other construction methods though. Any good places for me to look?

 

Precast flooring systems are not generally used for single family residential construction. 'Load bearing' is a term applied to walls....not floors. I'm not sure why you would pay extra $$ for a column-free basement (?).

Yes, precast flooring systems are the system of choice for hotels and condos. In that large scale scenario, the system is economical; good sound insulation between units; and low floor-to-floor height (height=$$).

I HAVE seen contemporary houses build with cast-in-place concrete walls and floor slabs...usually flat roofs. The bearing walls would usually be parallel, which could then provide large openings (glass) on the perpendicular exterior walls.

There are scads of books on house design. Check on amazon.com or check out a local Barnes & Nobel; or other large book store.

 

[QUOTE=paS2K,Feb 26 2007, 09:47 PM] This report sounds like the easy-going S1997

 

Jim, funny thing.....architecture used to be a Gentlemen's profession.....with the architect respected as a master builder. Just compare the houses built in 1900-1930 with the quasi-colonial MacMansions built in 1980-present.....see the difference. The number of houses built w/o direct architect involvement in the USA is probably 95%....whereby that probaby the 95% of houses in Europe are probably built WITH architect involvement.

Unfortunately, the architects have often ceded the lead role to the contractors and others. A lot of clients at my current firm (mostly office buildings and related work) are real estate developers, REITs, etc. While they make a healthy profit on the projects, they sometimes squeeze the architects and engineers unmercifully on their fees for the same project. In response, the architect cuts his level of service.....thus starts the downward spiral

 

Panama, I might a consultation soon.