After “discovering” your channel, I took a vacation to the Williamsburg / Yorktown region per your suggestion. I stayed at the Hornsby House, and while somewhat molested, the proportions inside were divine. I already booked a return trip (and bought most of the books on your list) to study and measure more old buildings that touch me. I thank you for awakening me to classic architecture!
Hi Brent, you should make a video in which you discuss the rare architectural books and catalogs you are looking for and see if people have one that they are willing to sell you, or at least photocopy and send you the information.
I love the period revival French Provincial style! I wish more architects built according to the principles you express in your work Brent. Great job bringing these issues to the architectural profession!!!
Brent, this question has been eating me for a while. Where is the line between making something that is "fake old" versus being informed by historic precedent? I'm thinking of Pottery Barn distressed furniture. Surely we don't want buildings that lie about who and what they are.
Great question. Watch my video on narrative. I think the opportunity is to create new things that are inspired by the past. Sometimes, we do copies because they are just so cool. Other times, we are inspired and create fun an interesting things. Sometimes practicing the past is copying because that technique or detail is superior. Like a pegged mortise and tenon joint. I would copy that all day. It is a careful balance.
I suspect one reason modern houses lack proportion is the walk-in closet. E.g. the classic Craftsman rectangle with two bedrooms and a bathroom between them suddenly becomes lumpy, with lots of offsets and zig zags to incorporate the L shapes you get when you add WICs to square bedrooms. Maybe you could do a show on this challenge? Ways to deal with a WIC that I can think of include (1) interlock all the L shapes and have lots of zig-zag exterior walls and multi-angular rooflines at a high cost, like today's houses, (2) interlock each WIC with another WIC to preserve a simple rectangle shape, and put the bathroom elsewhere, (3) make the bedrooms L shaped to accomodate the closets within an overall square shape, and put the bathroom between them, (4) give each of 2 bedrooms a WIC and very small bathroom between them, with the 2WIC/2bath combo taking up as much space as a bedroom, (5) making the hallway longer, to offset the extra length of the closets between each BR and the BA, at the expense of exterior proportion and wasted space, (6) make the overall house bigger (height off of grade, higher ceilings, higher roof) to cover up proportional difficulties from some of the above layout tactics. Otherwise I don't see how we can fit WICs into classic floorplans, and by extension, classic exterior proportions.
I’m starting to see inexpensive homes mimic some period revival elements. Gone are the 50s-90s influences into more classical shapes, in many cases. I do think things will improve, especially if we can move away from ever-larger houses to more denser living again.
I love watching your channel. You are absolutely brilliant. I have 53 acres in the middle of Wisconsin (very close to a military base I am stationed at that I spent my life savings on) I am building a B&B but can’t figure out a style. I want something like a plantation because of the porches but I know that wouldn’t fit. Would you give me the honor to tell me the style and time period you would go with. At least two story with a basement and porch, able to have many rooms upstairs, big dining room and kitchen to host. If you make it up this way let me know 😊 Thank you
Great job explaining how to build better. It is sad that most builders today are more concerned with building it fast and adding a few elements, usually incorrect ones, to make is 'look' attractive so they can sell it and build another one. Keep up the videos and training so that more builders become aware and want to set their work/homes apart from cookie cutter style.
This fast-and-few style is largely driven by insufficient builder capitalization. The house I want (structural brick, lath and plaster, copper gutters, slate roofed, Colonial-Federal) would cost twice the amount to build. Builders need cash flow positive contracts unless they go into it with abundant cash. Further, the corporate relo set know they won't be in any one place for long and don't want to pay for a 200 year life house.
After “discovering” your channel, I took a vacation to the Williamsburg / Yorktown region per your suggestion. I stayed at the Hornsby House, and while somewhat molested, the proportions inside were divine. I already booked a return trip (and bought most of the books on your list) to study and measure more old buildings that touch me. I thank you for awakening me to classic architecture!
Thanks for sharing. Yes, great things to learn and discover.
Thanks for educating everyone! More builders need to continuously learning so they can get it right.
Welcome!!
“Kick ass level”…Love it!
Nice. Thx.
Hi Brent, you should make a video in which you discuss the rare architectural books and catalogs you are looking for and see if people have one that they are willing to sell you, or at least photocopy and send you the information.
Nice. Good idea. Thanks.
I love the period revival French Provincial style! I wish more architects built according to the principles you express in your work Brent. Great job bringing these issues to the architectural profession!!!
Thank you Cheers.
Your videos are inspiring!
Thank you. very kind.
Brent, this question has been eating me for a while. Where is the line between making something that is "fake old" versus being informed by historic precedent? I'm thinking of Pottery Barn distressed furniture. Surely we don't want buildings that lie about who and what they are.
Great question. Watch my video on narrative. I think the opportunity is to create new things that are inspired by the past. Sometimes, we do copies because they are just so cool. Other times, we are inspired and create fun an interesting things. Sometimes practicing the past is copying because that technique or detail is superior. Like a pegged mortise and tenon joint. I would copy that all day. It is a careful balance.
I suspect one reason modern houses lack proportion is the walk-in closet. E.g. the classic Craftsman rectangle with two bedrooms and a bathroom between them suddenly becomes lumpy, with lots of offsets and zig zags to incorporate the L shapes you get when you add WICs to square bedrooms. Maybe you could do a show on this challenge? Ways to deal with a WIC that I can think of include (1) interlock all the L shapes and have lots of zig-zag exterior walls and multi-angular rooflines at a high cost, like today's houses, (2) interlock each WIC with another WIC to preserve a simple rectangle shape, and put the bathroom elsewhere, (3) make the bedrooms L shaped to accomodate the closets within an overall square shape, and put the bathroom between them, (4) give each of 2 bedrooms a WIC and very small bathroom between them, with the 2WIC/2bath combo taking up as much space as a bedroom, (5) making the hallway longer, to offset the extra length of the closets between each BR and the BA, at the expense of exterior proportion and wasted space, (6) make the overall house bigger (height off of grade, higher ceilings, higher roof) to cover up proportional difficulties from some of the above layout tactics. Otherwise I don't see how we can fit WICs into classic floorplans, and by extension, classic exterior proportions.
Good point, you've clearly struggled with this. Thx.
but mr hull, how can this catch on when architects by and large are not even taught this?????
As a client, you might have to do the research yourself and describe/tell the architect exactly what you want.
Educate, Educate. There are good architects out there.
I’m starting to see inexpensive homes mimic some period revival elements. Gone are the 50s-90s influences into more classical shapes, in many cases.
I do think things will improve, especially if we can move away from ever-larger houses to more denser living again.
Yes, good point. Thx.
I love watching your channel. You are absolutely brilliant. I have 53 acres in the middle of Wisconsin (very close to a military base I am stationed at that I spent my life savings on) I am building a B&B but can’t figure out a style. I want something like a plantation because of the porches but I know that wouldn’t fit. Would you give me the honor to tell me the style and time period you would go with. At least two story with a basement and porch, able to have many rooms upstairs, big dining room and kitchen to host. If you make it up this way let me know 😊 Thank you
I think you need a 1890's Victorian house. It meets all those criteria's. I'm thinking the ground hog day house. In the movie.
Great job explaining how to build better. It is sad that most builders today are more concerned with building it fast and adding a few elements, usually incorrect ones, to make is 'look' attractive so they can sell it and build another one. Keep up the videos and training so that more builders become aware and want to set their work/homes apart from cookie cutter style.
Thank you. That is the goal.
This fast-and-few style is largely driven by insufficient builder capitalization. The house I want (structural brick, lath and plaster, copper gutters, slate roofed, Colonial-Federal) would cost twice the amount to build. Builders need cash flow positive contracts unless they go into it with abundant cash. Further, the corporate relo set know they won't be in any one place for long and don't want to pay for a 200 year life house.
Brent, how can we add to the buildings of today in a historical approach without creating ‘mini-McMansions’
It's not hard, scale is a big thing.
Why does no one ever talk about art nouveau architecture? It is unbelievably hard to find any thoughtful discussion on this style.
Its beautiful, rare and also hard to reproduce. I love it.