http://www.contemporist.com/2009/04/13/port-townsend-residence-by-lawrence-architecture/ Contemporary Modern Architecture Furniture Lighting Interior Design Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:15:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 http://www.contemporist.com/2009/04/13/port-townsend-residence-by-lawrence-architecture/#comment-293694 hZ! Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:45:30 +0000 http://www.contemporist.com/?p=3775#comment-293694 Oh no!! the view out of the window while you lie in bed is blocked by a massive inverted stepped pyramid that looms menacingly, like a slab-blow to the imagination, directly contradicting the expansive slope of the ceiling. How disappointing to be so stymied. Meanwhile, at the head end, you have no security; your back is to the door. Not a comfortable room at all, with a psychic gale tearing through behind you that has had the full length of that very long corridor to accelerate in. It seems there is a failure of courage here on the part of the designer, to embrace the riches the environment has to offer. The living areas are good, relatively warm and generous (although the galley is a little dark- you need light to cook!). It would be lovely to be in these spaces on a spring morning or a winter evening. Very peaceful and reliable and comfortable. But think what this house could have been, the brief attacked with more gumption and inspiration. A client who may be tired, and who may emphasise the value of stability, solidity and continuity now, may, once settled, feel adventurous again, so why not design for that possibility and incorporate a little uncertainty or question or potential for exploration into the design? Perhaps the back-tilted openness of the roof pitch does that, and it is enough... Oh no!! the view out of the window while you lie in bed is blocked by a massive inverted stepped pyramid that looms menacingly, like a slab-blow to the imagination, directly contradicting the expansive slope of the ceiling. How disappointing to be so stymied. Meanwhile, at the head end, you have no security; your back is to the door. Not a comfortable room at all, with a psychic gale tearing through behind you that has had the full length of that very long corridor to accelerate in.
It seems there is a failure of courage here on the part of the designer, to embrace the riches the environment has to offer.
The living areas are good, relatively warm and generous (although the galley is a little dark- you need light to cook!). It would be lovely to be in these spaces on a spring morning or a winter evening. Very peaceful and reliable and comfortable. But think what this house could have been, the brief attacked with more gumption and inspiration. A client who may be tired, and who may emphasise the value of stability, solidity and continuity now, may, once settled, feel adventurous again, so why not design for that possibility and incorporate a little uncertainty or question or potential for exploration into the design?
Perhaps the back-tilted openness of the roof pitch does that, and it is enough…

]]> http://www.contemporist.com/2009/04/13/port-townsend-residence-by-lawrence-architecture/#comment-169888 Rosie Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:15:12 +0000 http://www.contemporist.com/?p=3775#comment-169888 Now that is homely. I love it. Now that is homely. I love it.

]]> http://www.contemporist.com/2009/04/13/port-townsend-residence-by-lawrence-architecture/#comment-169276 Cleo Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:15:46 +0000 http://www.contemporist.com/?p=3775#comment-169276 how in the world do they sleep with all that light pouring in? how in the world do they sleep with all that light pouring in?

]]> http://www.contemporist.com/2009/04/13/port-townsend-residence-by-lawrence-architecture/#comment-168290 Ely B. Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:05:23 +0000 http://www.contemporist.com/?p=3775#comment-168290 No blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.? No blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.?

]]> http://www.contemporist.com/2009/04/13/port-townsend-residence-by-lawrence-architecture/#comment-168038 Bree Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:48:53 +0000 http://www.contemporist.com/?p=3775#comment-168038 The kitchen seating is so wonderfully reminiscent of galley seating on a sailboat. Well done. The kitchen seating is so wonderfully reminiscent of galley seating on a sailboat. Well done.

]]> http://www.contemporist.com/2009/04/13/port-townsend-residence-by-lawrence-architecture/#comment-166961 Alima Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:59:06 +0000 http://www.contemporist.com/?p=3775#comment-166961 very woodsy and warm. i like it. very woodsy and warm. i like it.

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