Design with Texture
By Marianne Cusato
Marianne Cusato wrote a marvelous book, Get your House Right that outline and illustrates many of the things builders get wrong in trying to create architecturally distinctive homes. Builders seem to have forgotten the vocabulary and rules of thumb that ensured that all of the elements worked together to create an elegant, coheren whole. in this and future articles we will excerpt some of her ideas.
Design with Texture:
Shadow and Landscape
"Why do so many new buildings appear flat and static while older buildings come alive in the texture of a brick, the shadow from a window reveal, or the softening of a creeping vine? Two buildings that look completely identical on paper can feel completely different once built, depending on the selection of materials, the detailing of the elements, and the landscaping.
A house's striking patterns of light and shade arise in part from practical requirements. Traditional load bearing walls were thick, so the jambs at an opening were deep, throwing a longer shadow. Likewise substantial eaves were used to throw water from from the walls and foundations. Among more formal elements, even a simple door surround, chimney cap, or any projection from the wall plane gives texture to a facade.
Many new buildings look bland by comparison. The most obvious difference is seen at the windows. Setting the window back even a few inches gives the house depth and makes it feel substantial.
Reprinted with permission. Design Delights. On The Level, Volume 14, Issue 4, August, 2009
Previous Articles:
