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Across the Fence:  architecture  |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 13 2005 : 5:05:02 PM
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in this day of high tech building .. and 'mcMansions' .. i ran across this thought and wanted to share it ... (and you may not agree with this viewpoint .. and that's surely o.k. .. but i thought it was something to 'ponder':
"I believe that buildings and mountains still speak to us because they represent who we are and where we are .. but when I look to the left and right of the highway, I become distrubed by a perception that so much of our recent building seems to litter, rather than to ennoble the world." (Kent Bloomer .. Faculty of Architecture, Yale University)
and from 'frannie': i find such a charm to the older homes, barns and other structures built in pioneer times. and while, there are certainly some magnificent modern buildings .. they just tend to feel 'cold' to me.
what are your favorite types of homes? log cabins, olde farmhouses, vintage cottages, victorian mansions .. and why? |
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Debs
True Blue Farmgirl
100 Posts
Debs
Wellington
New Zealand
100 Posts |
Posted - Nov 14 2005 : 11:31:00 AM
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I love older style buildings, traditional architecture fanatic here!
I love Swiss chalets, Japanese temples, African Zulu huts, and English tudor style farmhouses! I love the style of the pioneer houses built by the settlers of the "new" world, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They just have a simplicity and charm that most modern houses lack.
I like modern-style buildings but ONLY if sustainable, ie. Earthships, cob, papercrete, log cabins from sustainable timber, passive solar, recycled materials etc etc. The building has a connection to its environment, rather than a house or apartment in a modern development built with no consideration apart from how much money they can sell it for! |
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Whimsy_girl
True Blue Farmgirl
576 Posts
USA
576 Posts |
Posted - Dec 16 2005 : 11:23:23 PM
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I have been researching cob and earth sheltered homes this evening. I guess cob is pretty easy to do on your own which is neat.. Hal is applying for jobs in Montana and if he gets something we will be selling off the house and our little acre here and with what we get we'll be buying some land over there.. as an alternative to getting a mobile home out on our empty treeless dry scrubby land (you can tell I'm not thrilled about giving up my apple trees and the green-ness of Washington) I was thinking about building a little cob home instead... I don't know that much about it really and I'm unsure if Hal would even go for it (he thinks I'm weird hippy chick every time I mention these kinds of things) but if anyone has any experience or tips in undertaking such a thing I would be glad to hear it!
you can be oh so smart, or you can be oh so positive. I wasted a lot of time being smart I prefer being positive. |
Edited by - Whimsy_girl on Dec 16 2005 11:24:24 PM |
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verbina
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
randi
n.j
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2005 : 07:04:43 AM
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| hi all, what is cob? i live in a newer log cabin. but i miss my old farm house. i have land lots of woods add privacy. BUT i miss my old farm house. hope to find another in a year or two. getting tougher to keep up with jersey prices. randi |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2005 : 08:42:21 AM
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I love older homes and buildings. My favorite houses are the Craftman bungalows or two story farmhouses -- anything with a big front porch. I love old barns too. The modern stuff is ok but old architecture has such character.
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
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Rebekka Mae
True Blue Farmgirl
965 Posts
Rebekka
Moscow
ID
USA
965 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2005 : 09:01:52 AM
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Hey there girls!
I have helped to build a cob bench with master cobbers in Portland OR and I loved it- basically you just stomp on a pile moist mud, clay and straw until it is well mixed and set it into place packing it down hard.
There is a little more to it than that but I have read that you can build a cob house using mainly dirt from your building site for five to ten thousand dollars- not bad, especially since you can avoid supporting the mortgage and lumber industries . I would rather build with cob and buy reclaimed lumber and fixtures from locals (who are so often farmgirl sisters!). Someday I hope to build a cob home and a studio where I can have a womens center- the decorative possibilities are endless. Cob is also easy to mix with strawbale and the R rating is so high (important here with those driving Palouse winds in Winter. Try a cob bench at first and see what you think and next time you are in Portland stop by Peoples Co-op off 20th and Powell in SE to show your hubby how amazing cob can be it not just for hippies anymore(though it turns out they were and are right on)- there are many books at Aunties about cob, I love The Natural Home! |
Edited by - Rebekka Mae on Dec 17 2005 09:04:25 AM |
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marisa
Farmgirl in Training
15 Posts
marisa
fort worth
texas
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2006 : 07:20:22 AM
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We live in a 1914 bungalow - doesn't have much original character left, but we did find a 1920's local newspaper underneath the cabinets we pulled out (they were badly damaged). We are doing an eco-friendly remodel.
I like all kinds of old houses, including 'modern'- midcentury modern, that is! |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2006 : 08:36:59 AM
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When we started looking for our house we knew that we could not afford a new house built they way we wanted so we opted for an older home, but we were specific - something built before 1950, with a large lot, porch,etc. We knew that a house built before then, would be built well, with old growth timber, wood frame windows, etc. What we bought was a 1912 townhouse/farmhouse. It is tall and narrow, going back pretty far into the lot. The main part of the house is built with old growth timber - it's like steel. We have high ceilings, a big front porch and some unique character. The house was negleted for many years, so we are slowly remodeling/restoring. Still have a long way to go, but when we do change things we keep in mind the flow and character of the house. We save and restore our old solid wood doors. If we can't save molding we match it or have new cut. It is a lot of work and has been painstakingly slow, but I love our house and I have high hopes that in 5 to 10 years we will have it completed. When we look at the new houses being built today, our house is still better even with all of it's flaws.
Anne
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2006 : 10:12:40 AM
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My eyes are always attracted to older structures. I enjoy driving country roads and seeing the old barns and houses. Many of my friends live in new construction with 14 foot ceilings, white walls, white carpet, etc.... They are beautiful homes but don't have any warm fuzzy feeling. I love every crack and flaw in our home....it speaks to the past and it adds character.
I'd go a little modern if I could live off the grid.....I would probably incorporate modern solar energy stuff.
Frannie's quote from Kent Bloomer made comment to the side street eye litter. I live near Houston and the closer you get to the city the signs on the sides of the roads are everywhere! It is very much eye litter and distracting.
Blessings
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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Across the Fence: architecture |
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architecture
