Oct
26
Architect Julia Morgan Broke Barriers, Built Enduring Legacy
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
Kadence Buchanan asked:
Among the pioneers and luminaries named to the California Hall of Fame in 2008 is a woman whose vision and skill make her a giant of architectural genius, though she stood but five feet tall. Julia Morgan’s work adorns California from the Bay area and far beyond, crowned by her most famous work, the design and construction of Hearst Castle that hovers over San Simeon Bay.
An Architect by Birth
Morgan was born in 1872 in San Francisco and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1894 equipped with a degree in civil engineering. This was likely not the first indication that Julia Morgan was destined to become a groundbreaker for women in a male dominated profession, but it was the springboard for an illustrious career that blazed a path in architectural innovation.
Her skills were finely honed at one of the world’s most prestigious architectural schools, Ecole des Beaux- Artes in Paris. There, pushing the limits of convention, she was twice denied admission. According to Morgan, her rejection was based solely on gender. Finally admitted after placing 13th out of a field of 376 applicants to take the rigorous entrance exam, she became the first woman to graduate with an architectural degree from the world famous school.
A Career Begins
Julia Morgan had a singular focus - architecture suited to the environment that surrounded the building. She was able to successfully blend the strictly classical training she received in Paris with her home-grown love of the California landscape in its many natural variations. . In 1904, she again exerted her individuality and started her own architectural firm in San Francisco. She began to receive commissions and build a reputation. One of her first assignments was a home in Grass Valley, in the foothills of the Sierra, where she built the North Star House in the Arts and Crafts style.
The widespread devastation of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake caused an interesting side effect as the acute need for rebuilding mitigated prejudice against a female architect. Her own office, on Montgomery Street, was among the hundreds to crumble into ruins. From those years of intense design and reconstruction, Julia Morgan was never at a loss for work and her reputation grew as steadily as did her body of work.
Assertive and Individual
Certainly, one of the hallmarks of Morgan’s hundreds of homes, buildings and public edifices is eclecticism. Armed with her classical education, she was never caught up in a particular trend, design or architectural paradigm. Morgan designed her buildings with consideration for the site, use and the surrounding environment. Her work ranged from extraordinarily ornate and opulent, to simple and functional. She was comfortable working in many architectural styles and considered each commission a newly stretched canvas upon which she’d create a site-specific masterpiece.
The range of Julia Morgan’s work is equally extensive. She built for billionaire magnates such as William Randolph Hearst, but attacked more modest projects with the same dedicated focus. Among her public buildings are YWCA’s, the Riverside Art Museum and the Los Angeles Examiner Building. She also worked extensively on college campuses in Northern California and designed the Mills College Bell Tower as well as buildings for churches and private homes.
From Bavaria to Wyntoon
Less well known, but nonetheless breathtaking is the Bavarian Village at Wyntoon, built in the 1930s. This was Hearst’s 50,000 acre getaway that lies in the shadow of Mount Shasta in Northern California. At this heavily wooded site, Julia Morgan felt the pull of Bavaria and Austria, with timbered building sheltered by tall pines and crisp clean air filled with the scent of pine.
To make Hearst’s many distinguished guests comfortable, Morgan designed three guest houses, each three stories tall. There were four to eight bedrooms in each timbered house along with sitting rooms. All looked out to a grassy expanse and backed up to the rushing sound of the McCloud River that meanders through the estate.
True to her love and connection to the natural environment, Morgan used local stone and wood in the construction of the Bavarian Village. The effect remains timeless as steep roofs jut skyward with many gables and faceted windows framed by massive timbers. It is, indeed, as if a small piece of Bavaria was lifted up and gently eased into the California landscape. But, upon closer examination Julia Morgan’s touch of genius took the traditional architecture to new heights. The many artistic touches and unusual conventions that Morgan brought to the Village are entirely unique.
In preparation for building the Village, Morgan and her sister, Anna, traveled with Hearst to Bavaria in 1931. Some experts speculate this visit furthered Morgan and Hearst’s resolve to carry forth the Bavarian theme because they sensed the rise of Adolf ****** might threaten the survival of Austrian and Bavarian architectural treasures.
The Wyntoon Bavarian Village guest houses were named for fairy tale characters - Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty among others. A noted muralist from New York added his artistry to the outside walls of two of the buildings, painting fanciful scenes of tales from the Brothers Grimm. Among the most embellished was Hearst’s personal home on the property - the Bear House. There, the muralist painted scenes from Snow White and Rose Red over the entire stucco exterior.
As with many of Julia Morgan’s major projects, select artisans - men and women - traveled with her to ply their craft on her projects. Although she never married, Morgan attracted a rich following of friends and colleagues in whom she had confidence and respect for their work. Wyntoon is a prime example of the kind of team work that characterized Julia Morgan’s long and successful career.
An Isolated End
After hundreds of notable projects and widespread recognition of her considerable talent and leadership, Julia Morgan’s last years were spent in self-imposed isolation. With many of her friends and family gone, including Hearst who died in 1951, Morgan felt herself failing. No longer able to work, to express the passion that had fueled her life, she chose to become reclusive. She died on February 7, 1957, leaving behind endowments for aspiring architects, scholarships and an unparalleled body of work.
She also left behind a road - one that started out a rough and cobbled path to be maneuvered by only the most bold and brave of young women. Today, that road is paved and many women architects stand on the mighty reputation of Julia Morgan, a California original.
JOSE
Among the pioneers and luminaries named to the California Hall of Fame in 2008 is a woman whose vision and skill make her a giant of architectural genius, though she stood but five feet tall. Julia Morgan’s work adorns California from the Bay area and far beyond, crowned by her most famous work, the design and construction of Hearst Castle that hovers over San Simeon Bay.
An Architect by Birth
Morgan was born in 1872 in San Francisco and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1894 equipped with a degree in civil engineering. This was likely not the first indication that Julia Morgan was destined to become a groundbreaker for women in a male dominated profession, but it was the springboard for an illustrious career that blazed a path in architectural innovation.
Her skills were finely honed at one of the world’s most prestigious architectural schools, Ecole des Beaux- Artes in Paris. There, pushing the limits of convention, she was twice denied admission. According to Morgan, her rejection was based solely on gender. Finally admitted after placing 13th out of a field of 376 applicants to take the rigorous entrance exam, she became the first woman to graduate with an architectural degree from the world famous school.
A Career Begins
Julia Morgan had a singular focus - architecture suited to the environment that surrounded the building. She was able to successfully blend the strictly classical training she received in Paris with her home-grown love of the California landscape in its many natural variations. . In 1904, she again exerted her individuality and started her own architectural firm in San Francisco. She began to receive commissions and build a reputation. One of her first assignments was a home in Grass Valley, in the foothills of the Sierra, where she built the North Star House in the Arts and Crafts style.
The widespread devastation of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake caused an interesting side effect as the acute need for rebuilding mitigated prejudice against a female architect. Her own office, on Montgomery Street, was among the hundreds to crumble into ruins. From those years of intense design and reconstruction, Julia Morgan was never at a loss for work and her reputation grew as steadily as did her body of work.
Assertive and Individual
Certainly, one of the hallmarks of Morgan’s hundreds of homes, buildings and public edifices is eclecticism. Armed with her classical education, she was never caught up in a particular trend, design or architectural paradigm. Morgan designed her buildings with consideration for the site, use and the surrounding environment. Her work ranged from extraordinarily ornate and opulent, to simple and functional. She was comfortable working in many architectural styles and considered each commission a newly stretched canvas upon which she’d create a site-specific masterpiece.
The range of Julia Morgan’s work is equally extensive. She built for billionaire magnates such as William Randolph Hearst, but attacked more modest projects with the same dedicated focus. Among her public buildings are YWCA’s, the Riverside Art Museum and the Los Angeles Examiner Building. She also worked extensively on college campuses in Northern California and designed the Mills College Bell Tower as well as buildings for churches and private homes.
_______________________________________________________________________
From Bavaria to Wyntoon
Less well known, but nonetheless breathtaking is the Bavarian Village at Wyntoon, built in the 1930s. This was Hearst’s 50,000 acre getaway that lies in the shadow of Mount Shasta in Northern California. At this heavily wooded site, Julia Morgan felt the pull of Bavaria and Austria, with timbered building sheltered by tall pines and crisp clean air filled with the scent of pine.
To make Hearst’s many distinguished guests comfortable, Morgan designed three guest houses, each three stories tall. There were four to eight bedrooms in each timbered house along with sitting rooms. All looked out to a grassy expanse and backed up to the rushing sound of the McCloud River that meanders through the estate.
True to her love and connection to the natural environment, Morgan used local stone and wood in the construction of the Bavarian Village. The effect remains timeless as steep roofs jut skyward with many gables and faceted windows framed by massive timbers. It is, indeed, as if a small piece of Bavaria was lifted up and gently eased into the California landscape. But, upon closer examination Julia Morgan’s touch of genius took the traditional architecture to new heights. The many artistic touches and unusual conventions that Morgan brought to the Village are entirely unique.
In preparation for building the Village, Morgan and her sister, Anna, traveled with Hearst to Bavaria in 1931. Some experts speculate this visit furthered Morgan and Hearst’s resolve to carry forth the Bavarian theme because they sensed the rise of Adolf ****** might threaten the survival of Austrian and Bavarian architectural treasures.
The Wyntoon Bavarian Village guest houses were named for fairy tale characters - Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty among others. A noted muralist from New York added his artistry to the outside walls of two of the buildings, painting fanciful scenes of tales from the Brothers Grimm. Among the most embellished was Hearst’s personal home on the property - the Bear House. There, the muralist painted scenes from Snow White and Rose Red over the entire stucco exterior.
As with many of Julia Morgan’s major projects, select artisans - men and women - traveled with her to ply their craft on her projects. Although she never married, Morgan attracted a rich following of friends and colleagues in whom she had confidence and respect for their work. Wyntoon is a prime example of the kind of team work that characterized Julia Morgan’s long and successful career.
An Isolated End
After hundreds of notable projects and widespread recognition of her considerable talent and leadership, Julia Morgan’s last years were spent in self-imposed isolation. With many of her friends and family gone, including Hearst who died in 1951, Morgan felt herself failing. No longer able to work, to express the passion that had fueled her life, she chose to become reclusive. She died on February 7, 1957, leaving behind endowments for aspiring architects, scholarships and an unparalleled body of work.
She also left behind a road - one that started out a rough and cobbled path to be maneuvered by only the most bold and brave of young women. Today, that road is paved and many women architects stand on the mighty reputation of Julia Morgan, a California original.
JOSE
Oct
26
U.s. Gov’t, Architects of Hedge Funds Cause Collapse of America’s Real Estate Economy
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
Robert Hand asked:
U.S. Gov’t, Architects of Hedge Funds Cause Collapse of America’s Real Estate Economy
By: Robert W. Hand
Designated Broker/Owner
Equity Alliance Properties
www.equityallianceproperties.com
Subprime Crisis? Heavens no, this is a complete collapse of the national real estate business sector of the U.S. economy, with the mortgage companies and the federal government right at the heart of the matter. The effects of the national real estate business enterprise breakdown with the subprime debacle well underway can be felt throughout every economic sector, including Wall Street.
Of course, there are still those on Wall Street profiteering on the broken back of the real estate business economy. These investors originated, and still draw huge amounts of interest on “interest only” loans, and are the beneficiaries of the federal government’s deliberately slow actions to remedy this fundamentally simple matter.
I released an article last month (http://paradisevalleyblog.com/2007/11/crisis-or-opportunity-truth-about.html)portraying the number of incidences of loans in default as a small fraction of the number of loans overall, a number which is steadily climbing. Nevertheless, keeping those numbers in perspective, that still leaves, by some estimates, 1.1 million Americans losing their residential properties over the next 6 years.
Yes, this is a simple matter and it can be fixed with cash money, go figure. Let’s put the numbers of dollars to fix this problem into perspective in a fashion to which we’ve all grown accustomed; comparing it to the money we spend on the occupation of Iraq. To continue our
military occupation in Iraq the U.S. Taxpayers pay: $270 million every day; $8.4 billion per month; a total of $600 billion spent and approved War-spending; another $200 billion requested for 2008 which would bring the cumulative total to $800 billion. There have been $10 billion mismanaged and wasted in Iraq per Feb 2007 hearings. There have been $1.4 billion Halliburton overcharges classified by the Pentagon as “unreasonable and unsupported”. 20 billion was paid to former Halliburton division, KBR for food, fuel, housing, and other items. Pentagon auditors deem that $3.2 billion of that is “questionable and unsupportable”. Some figures predict the cost of the Iraq war topping out at
over $2 trillion.
Just a small fraction of the capital Halliburton defrauded U.S. taxpayers out of alone would fix our mortgage crisis, would mend the broken real estate business sector of our economy, and would have a positive effect on the overall economy that would far exceed any amount of money we put back into fixing the system. So how much money are we talking about? Congressional Democrats led by Charles Schumer (D-NY) advocate spending just hundreds of millions (less than 1 billion) of dollars into nonprofits to help homeowners and the overall economy. A spokesman for the senator explains he
is not suggesting the government pay off borrower’s loans in full, but believes a mixture of counseling and restructuring of the loans would bring down the costs of the program dramatically. Even if we paid all the loans in full it would be a pittance in contrast to the overall federal budget, let alone the Iraq war budget (if you can call Washington’s fiscal policies budgeting). Further, we can spread the cash outlay to fix the problem over a period of 6
years, according to the rate schedules of the remaining loans in question.
Such a partial bailout is estimated to cost no more than a few hundred million dollars. Compare that to the $8.4 billion we spend every month bringing “Democracy” to Iraq with combat airplanes, helicopters, missiles, tanks, and troops. Even if we bail out everyone with a bad loan, what are we talking about in U.S. dollars…a month or two of what we spend rebuilding the Iraq we so surgically blew up? The top runners of the presidential race spill that much in a single weekend at their white tablecloth fundraisers! Appropriation of a relatively small amount of funds would pull our economy out of the tailspin we currently find ourselves in! But who’s suffering…lower middle
class, not the rich. The Bush Whitehouse neoconservatives were just this week exposed in lies and manipulation of intelligence data regarding Iran as a nuclear threat. This exposure shamelessly still has not thwarted Bush’s rhetoric to invade Iran and threats of World War III as he continues to terrorize citizens abroad and here in America. We had better just save our hard earned tax dollars to fight another war on terror in Iran and forget allocating any funds
to fix the U.S. economy which is, after all, only hurting the peasants. The war profiteers belong to the class of the super rich. George Bush should be impeached while he and his closest advisors, including **** Cheney, should all be formally brought up on charges of international war crimes.
We have seen any number of articles written voicing the opinion, “Why should we pay our tax dollars to bail out some idiot that was just too stupid to know what he was signing,” or invoking such profound truths as, “It’s just a bunch of greedy investors anyway, they knew what they were
doing.” Perhaps those are fair characterizations in some instances, but who pays? We all do. Worse yet, this type of reaction is exactly what the profiteers of this debacle want to continue to hear, so the process remains
stalled by the indecision and lack of common platform by constituents. Profiteers continue to earn big returns on the money already loaned that is not yet in default. This has all been calculated to a “T” and has been executed as planned. Everyone at the top, the architects of the hedge funds, knew this was not designed to last! These were all interest only loans,
which by design, were never intended to be paid back, as nothing is paid to principal.
Most folks who have fallen prey were not stupid at all, but were just trying to secure their family’s future in real estate holdings. Mortgage brokers promised consumers that they could re-finance out of their nasty little adjustable rate 2nds or HELOCs in 6 months to 2 years depending on the loan program, pre-payment penalties, etc. No layperson could predict the market falling so far so fast. Refinancing out of these undesirable loan conditions quickly became a lost option as so many homes declined in value to far less than originally loaned on them. This has caught far too many people off guard, including seasoned investors and real estate
brokers, to write this off as some folks being careless or stupid. It is a more sophisticated problem than that. There are folks that not only predicted this, but calculated exactly what has transpired and are the beneficiaries thus: the major interests in and architects of the hedge funds that back these securities and continue to prosper from grotesque interest rates on “interest only” loans. Understand that they don’t want legislation passed that keeps them
from being able to charge insane amounts of interest as these “interest only” loans mature and reset.
You, the average homeowner pay the price, as do innocent individuals and families just trying to honestly buy their own ‘piece of the rock’. We are ALL losing equity in our homes, (whether you have a mortgage or not), at an alarming rate as property values across the nation continue to decline due to the huge surplus of homes for sale. Some markets are declining much faster than others and we’re talking about significant amounts of depreciation from every homeowner in some metropolitan areas in Arizona, Nevada, California, and Florida, to name a few. As more and more loans go into default, more and more properties go on the market in the form of short sales and foreclosures at well under market value. Increasing numbers of properties hit the market, putting ever more pressure on existing inventories, and dragging prices down further. We are getting to where we have so many short sales and foreclosures on the market that “under market” is the new norm. Our conventional methods for determining current market value and sales price now take into the effective average the
rising numbers of homes with prices slashed. Buyers, seeing the declining market values don’t want to catch a falling knife. Folks who want to buy are waiting until they see evidence of the “bottom” of the market. They won’t perceive any indication of the “bottom” as meaningful unless they see property values hold steady then raise again. This will not happen as long as more defaults, resulting in short sales and foreclosures, continue to flood the
market day after day, week after week, and month after month. Consumers keep asking, as do REALTORs®, “when are we going to see the bottom of this market?” The answer is so simple even a cave man can do it; WHEN WE STOP THE CYCLE!!!
Why then, if it is such a simple fix, are we not already on our way to enjoying the recovery as a result of taking these simple steps. The answer: Greed, and the power of lobbying money on capital hill have the process locked up and bogged down in red tape. Interest is earned over time, and with interest rates already in place for those making money from these “interest only” loans, they want more time to keep lining their pockets. This expresses one of the most frequently used relations in Algebra: Principal x Rate x Time = Interest Earned. Time is on their side; the super rich who invested in the hedge funds that back the mortgage securities we know as subprime loans. They are getting the time they want because this Republican Whitehouse favors big business, big money, and big campaign lobbyist
contributors, well represented in this group. Government is dragging their feet in spending the money to fix the problem at the pleasure of these predators.
So, folks, protect your equity, protect your interest in your own real estate holdings, protect your children’s chances of profitable
real estate holdings in America, and contact the congresspersons and senators whom preside over your districts. Give a positive voice to the budget to fix this problem. It will pay back huge dividends to our economy as a whole as we recover and stop the downward fall of the equity in our own homes.
This type of government subsidized economic recovery would not be without precedent. Consider the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980’s, where the government bailed out S&L’s to the tune of 150 billion 1980’s dollars. We can fix our subprime crisis today for a fraction of that amount.
Currently on the hill, there is proposed legislation to impose new limits on the adjustable rate mortgages scheduled to reset.
Congress has been, and is trying to pass legislation to put a freeze on interest rates. These are band-aids for a bullet wound. Let your voice be heard. Put some pressure on politicians to get this subprime debacle resolved with swift and certain action! It is a simple matter, and the beneficiaries of this thing dragging out are the very entities who caused it in the first place. Together let’s end it, now!
Do you want to play hardball? All right, then let’s consider that the federal government does not want the average American to gain dramatically in personal wealth. Why would that be? Glad you asked. Since the years of Reaganomics and theories of a “trickle down” economy, (always reminds me of being pissed on), and deregulation, our country has moved ever more from the worlds’ shining example of Democracy to a text book example of a Republic aristocracy with the Center of Power no longer held by the masses, the common man. The Power Center is now with the elite, the upper class, the super rich, the multi-billion dollar corporate entities, the Texas based oil brokerage firms that ultimately determine tax code, foreign policy, federal budget allocations, and the decision to go to war, with whom and when, and whom have the power and influence to throw elections.
It does not serve the rich constituents of this elitist government entity strangling America to allow its citizens to amass wealth. No, my friends, that would pull too much of the Power back towards the center. Think Washington doesn’t give any thought to that dynamic? Of course they do. Washington is so paranoid of the power of its citizens that they are breaking constitutional laws or re-writing the constitution as they see fit to ensure “CONTROL”, threatening our basic civil liberties in the process. That’s right, even firefighters, (who can regularly in the course of their duties gain access into people’s homes without a search warrant), are now being trained to look for any signs that a citizen might not agree somehow with government policies and might thus be considered a threat to the government or even a terrorist. What a lot of bullocks. I’m a veteran of the U.S. Navy, whose job was gathering and disseminating intelligence, and have stood for protecting and honoring our nation. Now, it’s obvious I don’t agree with government policies. They would now view me as a threat! Sounds more like a Republic regime than a
Democracy. Sounds a lot like World War II Germany doesn’t it? Well, that’s America today, as we know it. Are you more comfortable with your head in the sand? That’s ok, go back to sleep, this article is about over. Germany went from a Nation of knowing to a nation of believing. Are we following in their footsteps as foolhardy, good-willed, ignorant patriots? Too often, we blindly
believe the lies told by the President and his government instead of challenging others and ourselves with the truth. I remember as a child learning of the atrocities in Germany under ****** and asking, “How could all those people let this happen?” and “how could all those people have been fooled by their government?” In the words of Bob Dylan; “Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail; steal a lot and they make you king.” This country has been preying on the good will of its unsuspecting citizens and it will be our undoing if we don’t wake up.
Many Americans were making big money during the real estate boom, in large part due to the ease with which funds were available to acquire primary and investment real estate. So many of us bought in to it, and for most, it has only benefited the lending institutions. Once the real estate investment game became profitable for the common citizen, it would self-destruct right before our eyes. The timing was calculated, planned, and the program executed by millions of exuberant homeowners and first-time real estate investors, not suspecting the falling axe. But those in the know, the architects of the hedge funds, knew exactly what would transpire. They didn’t bet their billions on a hunch! Oh no, they calculated every phase of the process and watched it deliver dividends.
Let me offer this challenge to other Real Estate Brokerage firms, Mortgage Brokerage Firms, Banks, and Title Companies: Equity Alliance Properties will pledge $1,000,000 of every $4,000,000 it brings in net revenue towards any program signed into law organizing such private funding. Let’s take back control of the real estate business sector for
the greater good of the American homeowner!
SANTOS
U.S. Gov’t, Architects of Hedge Funds Cause Collapse of America’s Real Estate Economy
By: Robert W. Hand
Designated Broker/Owner
Equity Alliance Properties
www.equityallianceproperties.com
Subprime Crisis? Heavens no, this is a complete collapse of the national real estate business sector of the U.S. economy, with the mortgage companies and the federal government right at the heart of the matter. The effects of the national real estate business enterprise breakdown with the subprime debacle well underway can be felt throughout every economic sector, including Wall Street.
Of course, there are still those on Wall Street profiteering on the broken back of the real estate business economy. These investors originated, and still draw huge amounts of interest on “interest only” loans, and are the beneficiaries of the federal government’s deliberately slow actions to remedy this fundamentally simple matter.
_______________________________________________________________________
I released an article last month (http://paradisevalleyblog.com/2007/11/crisis-or-opportunity-truth-about.html)portraying the number of incidences of loans in default as a small fraction of the number of loans overall, a number which is steadily climbing. Nevertheless, keeping those numbers in perspective, that still leaves, by some estimates, 1.1 million Americans losing their residential properties over the next 6 years.
Yes, this is a simple matter and it can be fixed with cash money, go figure. Let’s put the numbers of dollars to fix this problem into perspective in a fashion to which we’ve all grown accustomed; comparing it to the money we spend on the occupation of Iraq. To continue our
military occupation in Iraq the U.S. Taxpayers pay: $270 million every day; $8.4 billion per month; a total of $600 billion spent and approved War-spending; another $200 billion requested for 2008 which would bring the cumulative total to $800 billion. There have been $10 billion mismanaged and wasted in Iraq per Feb 2007 hearings. There have been $1.4 billion Halliburton overcharges classified by the Pentagon as “unreasonable and unsupported”. 20 billion was paid to former Halliburton division, KBR for food, fuel, housing, and other items. Pentagon auditors deem that $3.2 billion of that is “questionable and unsupportable”. Some figures predict the cost of the Iraq war topping out at
over $2 trillion.
Just a small fraction of the capital Halliburton defrauded U.S. taxpayers out of alone would fix our mortgage crisis, would mend the broken real estate business sector of our economy, and would have a positive effect on the overall economy that would far exceed any amount of money we put back into fixing the system. So how much money are we talking about? Congressional Democrats led by Charles Schumer (D-NY) advocate spending just hundreds of millions (less than 1 billion) of dollars into nonprofits to help homeowners and the overall economy. A spokesman for the senator explains he
is not suggesting the government pay off borrower’s loans in full, but believes a mixture of counseling and restructuring of the loans would bring down the costs of the program dramatically. Even if we paid all the loans in full it would be a pittance in contrast to the overall federal budget, let alone the Iraq war budget (if you can call Washington’s fiscal policies budgeting). Further, we can spread the cash outlay to fix the problem over a period of 6
years, according to the rate schedules of the remaining loans in question.
Such a partial bailout is estimated to cost no more than a few hundred million dollars. Compare that to the $8.4 billion we spend every month bringing “Democracy” to Iraq with combat airplanes, helicopters, missiles, tanks, and troops. Even if we bail out everyone with a bad loan, what are we talking about in U.S. dollars…a month or two of what we spend rebuilding the Iraq we so surgically blew up? The top runners of the presidential race spill that much in a single weekend at their white tablecloth fundraisers! Appropriation of a relatively small amount of funds would pull our economy out of the tailspin we currently find ourselves in! But who’s suffering…lower middle
class, not the rich. The Bush Whitehouse neoconservatives were just this week exposed in lies and manipulation of intelligence data regarding Iran as a nuclear threat. This exposure shamelessly still has not thwarted Bush’s rhetoric to invade Iran and threats of World War III as he continues to terrorize citizens abroad and here in America. We had better just save our hard earned tax dollars to fight another war on terror in Iran and forget allocating any funds
to fix the U.S. economy which is, after all, only hurting the peasants. The war profiteers belong to the class of the super rich. George Bush should be impeached while he and his closest advisors, including **** Cheney, should all be formally brought up on charges of international war crimes.
We have seen any number of articles written voicing the opinion, “Why should we pay our tax dollars to bail out some idiot that was just too stupid to know what he was signing,” or invoking such profound truths as, “It’s just a bunch of greedy investors anyway, they knew what they were
doing.” Perhaps those are fair characterizations in some instances, but who pays? We all do. Worse yet, this type of reaction is exactly what the profiteers of this debacle want to continue to hear, so the process remains
stalled by the indecision and lack of common platform by constituents. Profiteers continue to earn big returns on the money already loaned that is not yet in default. This has all been calculated to a “T” and has been executed as planned. Everyone at the top, the architects of the hedge funds, knew this was not designed to last! These were all interest only loans,
which by design, were never intended to be paid back, as nothing is paid to principal.
Most folks who have fallen prey were not stupid at all, but were just trying to secure their family’s future in real estate holdings. Mortgage brokers promised consumers that they could re-finance out of their nasty little adjustable rate 2nds or HELOCs in 6 months to 2 years depending on the loan program, pre-payment penalties, etc. No layperson could predict the market falling so far so fast. Refinancing out of these undesirable loan conditions quickly became a lost option as so many homes declined in value to far less than originally loaned on them. This has caught far too many people off guard, including seasoned investors and real estate
brokers, to write this off as some folks being careless or stupid. It is a more sophisticated problem than that. There are folks that not only predicted this, but calculated exactly what has transpired and are the beneficiaries thus: the major interests in and architects of the hedge funds that back these securities and continue to prosper from grotesque interest rates on “interest only” loans. Understand that they don’t want legislation passed that keeps them
from being able to charge insane amounts of interest as these “interest only” loans mature and reset.
You, the average homeowner pay the price, as do innocent individuals and families just trying to honestly buy their own ‘piece of the rock’. We are ALL losing equity in our homes, (whether you have a mortgage or not), at an alarming rate as property values across the nation continue to decline due to the huge surplus of homes for sale. Some markets are declining much faster than others and we’re talking about significant amounts of depreciation from every homeowner in some metropolitan areas in Arizona, Nevada, California, and Florida, to name a few. As more and more loans go into default, more and more properties go on the market in the form of short sales and foreclosures at well under market value. Increasing numbers of properties hit the market, putting ever more pressure on existing inventories, and dragging prices down further. We are getting to where we have so many short sales and foreclosures on the market that “under market” is the new norm. Our conventional methods for determining current market value and sales price now take into the effective average the
rising numbers of homes with prices slashed. Buyers, seeing the declining market values don’t want to catch a falling knife. Folks who want to buy are waiting until they see evidence of the “bottom” of the market. They won’t perceive any indication of the “bottom” as meaningful unless they see property values hold steady then raise again. This will not happen as long as more defaults, resulting in short sales and foreclosures, continue to flood the
market day after day, week after week, and month after month. Consumers keep asking, as do REALTORs®, “when are we going to see the bottom of this market?” The answer is so simple even a cave man can do it; WHEN WE STOP THE CYCLE!!!
Why then, if it is such a simple fix, are we not already on our way to enjoying the recovery as a result of taking these simple steps. The answer: Greed, and the power of lobbying money on capital hill have the process locked up and bogged down in red tape. Interest is earned over time, and with interest rates already in place for those making money from these “interest only” loans, they want more time to keep lining their pockets. This expresses one of the most frequently used relations in Algebra: Principal x Rate x Time = Interest Earned. Time is on their side; the super rich who invested in the hedge funds that back the mortgage securities we know as subprime loans. They are getting the time they want because this Republican Whitehouse favors big business, big money, and big campaign lobbyist
contributors, well represented in this group. Government is dragging their feet in spending the money to fix the problem at the pleasure of these predators.
So, folks, protect your equity, protect your interest in your own real estate holdings, protect your children’s chances of profitable
real estate holdings in America, and contact the congresspersons and senators whom preside over your districts. Give a positive voice to the budget to fix this problem. It will pay back huge dividends to our economy as a whole as we recover and stop the downward fall of the equity in our own homes.
This type of government subsidized economic recovery would not be without precedent. Consider the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980’s, where the government bailed out S&L’s to the tune of 150 billion 1980’s dollars. We can fix our subprime crisis today for a fraction of that amount.
Currently on the hill, there is proposed legislation to impose new limits on the adjustable rate mortgages scheduled to reset.
Congress has been, and is trying to pass legislation to put a freeze on interest rates. These are band-aids for a bullet wound. Let your voice be heard. Put some pressure on politicians to get this subprime debacle resolved with swift and certain action! It is a simple matter, and the beneficiaries of this thing dragging out are the very entities who caused it in the first place. Together let’s end it, now!
Do you want to play hardball? All right, then let’s consider that the federal government does not want the average American to gain dramatically in personal wealth. Why would that be? Glad you asked. Since the years of Reaganomics and theories of a “trickle down” economy, (always reminds me of being pissed on), and deregulation, our country has moved ever more from the worlds’ shining example of Democracy to a text book example of a Republic aristocracy with the Center of Power no longer held by the masses, the common man. The Power Center is now with the elite, the upper class, the super rich, the multi-billion dollar corporate entities, the Texas based oil brokerage firms that ultimately determine tax code, foreign policy, federal budget allocations, and the decision to go to war, with whom and when, and whom have the power and influence to throw elections.
It does not serve the rich constituents of this elitist government entity strangling America to allow its citizens to amass wealth. No, my friends, that would pull too much of the Power back towards the center. Think Washington doesn’t give any thought to that dynamic? Of course they do. Washington is so paranoid of the power of its citizens that they are breaking constitutional laws or re-writing the constitution as they see fit to ensure “CONTROL”, threatening our basic civil liberties in the process. That’s right, even firefighters, (who can regularly in the course of their duties gain access into people’s homes without a search warrant), are now being trained to look for any signs that a citizen might not agree somehow with government policies and might thus be considered a threat to the government or even a terrorist. What a lot of bullocks. I’m a veteran of the U.S. Navy, whose job was gathering and disseminating intelligence, and have stood for protecting and honoring our nation. Now, it’s obvious I don’t agree with government policies. They would now view me as a threat! Sounds more like a Republic regime than a
Democracy. Sounds a lot like World War II Germany doesn’t it? Well, that’s America today, as we know it. Are you more comfortable with your head in the sand? That’s ok, go back to sleep, this article is about over. Germany went from a Nation of knowing to a nation of believing. Are we following in their footsteps as foolhardy, good-willed, ignorant patriots? Too often, we blindly
believe the lies told by the President and his government instead of challenging others and ourselves with the truth. I remember as a child learning of the atrocities in Germany under ****** and asking, “How could all those people let this happen?” and “how could all those people have been fooled by their government?” In the words of Bob Dylan; “Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail; steal a lot and they make you king.” This country has been preying on the good will of its unsuspecting citizens and it will be our undoing if we don’t wake up.
Many Americans were making big money during the real estate boom, in large part due to the ease with which funds were available to acquire primary and investment real estate. So many of us bought in to it, and for most, it has only benefited the lending institutions. Once the real estate investment game became profitable for the common citizen, it would self-destruct right before our eyes. The timing was calculated, planned, and the program executed by millions of exuberant homeowners and first-time real estate investors, not suspecting the falling axe. But those in the know, the architects of the hedge funds, knew exactly what would transpire. They didn’t bet their billions on a hunch! Oh no, they calculated every phase of the process and watched it deliver dividends.
Let me offer this challenge to other Real Estate Brokerage firms, Mortgage Brokerage Firms, Banks, and Title Companies: Equity Alliance Properties will pledge $1,000,000 of every $4,000,000 it brings in net revenue towards any program signed into law organizing such private funding. Let’s take back control of the real estate business sector for
the greater good of the American homeowner!
SANTOS
Oct
18
Architects and Building Trades Open Source Computer Assisted Design Software
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
Kerry A. Francis asked:
Architects and drawing your home, office or even high end cottage. Not so long in the distant past a well equipped professional architect might well have had on hand as part of his craft: a T board square or parallel rules , a couple of plastic drawing triangles , perhaps some templates for drawing circles and the like , door swings and lastly a full container loaded with a collection of mechanical pencils.
On top of that computerized drafting and architectural CAD programs have become open source. Open source means that the base computer software code is made available to any software developer to work on. These aficionados can change and add to the software in any manner they wish - modifying, tailoring and improving the software as they wish or desire. It’s as if a million inventive minds are able to work on and update the software as they wish for their own specific purposes. Hence a great amount of tailoring and sophistication to the software can be done. Any changes that are made to the base software programs has to be made available and shared “freely”. Open source programs do not have to be free or no charge. The deal is that they have to be shared - even if it’s a commercial operation that has done the mods to their relatively proprietary efforts. The final product is usually free of charge to the user, although not necessarily. In most cases a donation is requested, for the purposes of the developer covering their costs and allowing for future software development efforts. In this day and age payment for the donation or “beggarware” is often accomplished via Paypal. The point is the tools that might be of prohibitive costs to an architectural firm starting out or even a simple individual wishing to start off or dabble in the field are available at virtually no cost or charge.
For the actual user employing such a Computer Assisted Design CAD program in their projects its all clean, quick and simple. Take for example erasing. Erasing is now done simply and quickly only by tapping the delete or Del key. Its as if the drafting skills of a bygone era that were so seriously drilled into those who trained as architects has been reduced to one simple task that even a relatively untrained technician can do. On top of that the beauty is that final results are quick. Changes can be made in a flash and as well can be shared with others working on the project - whether it be for a simple home or giant office complex. These changes can be shared in a snap instant regardless of whether the other building professionals are next door or half way around the world up there in the Canadian north. The speed of changes or any improvements to any building projects is thus quick and enhanced. It used to be the practical logistics of actually sitting on people’s desks, being forwarded and then mail delivery was a major limiting factor - stretching out the practical length of time that any changes could be made in. Not now with CAD and computer aided drafting techniques being used in the industry any changes made are accomplished in one single snap of time.
In the end these sophisticated yet readily available computer software programs have allowed for the simple timely advance and advances in the architectural fields and building trades.
JOHNIE
Architects and drawing your home, office or even high end cottage. Not so long in the distant past a well equipped professional architect might well have had on hand as part of his craft: a T board square or parallel rules , a couple of plastic drawing triangles , perhaps some templates for drawing circles and the like , door swings and lastly a full container loaded with a collection of mechanical pencils.
_______________________________________________________________________
On top of that computerized drafting and architectural CAD programs have become open source. Open source means that the base computer software code is made available to any software developer to work on. These aficionados can change and add to the software in any manner they wish - modifying, tailoring and improving the software as they wish or desire. It’s as if a million inventive minds are able to work on and update the software as they wish for their own specific purposes. Hence a great amount of tailoring and sophistication to the software can be done. Any changes that are made to the base software programs has to be made available and shared “freely”. Open source programs do not have to be free or no charge. The deal is that they have to be shared - even if it’s a commercial operation that has done the mods to their relatively proprietary efforts. The final product is usually free of charge to the user, although not necessarily. In most cases a donation is requested, for the purposes of the developer covering their costs and allowing for future software development efforts. In this day and age payment for the donation or “beggarware” is often accomplished via Paypal. The point is the tools that might be of prohibitive costs to an architectural firm starting out or even a simple individual wishing to start off or dabble in the field are available at virtually no cost or charge.
For the actual user employing such a Computer Assisted Design CAD program in their projects its all clean, quick and simple. Take for example erasing. Erasing is now done simply and quickly only by tapping the delete or Del key. Its as if the drafting skills of a bygone era that were so seriously drilled into those who trained as architects has been reduced to one simple task that even a relatively untrained technician can do. On top of that the beauty is that final results are quick. Changes can be made in a flash and as well can be shared with others working on the project - whether it be for a simple home or giant office complex. These changes can be shared in a snap instant regardless of whether the other building professionals are next door or half way around the world up there in the Canadian north. The speed of changes or any improvements to any building projects is thus quick and enhanced. It used to be the practical logistics of actually sitting on people’s desks, being forwarded and then mail delivery was a major limiting factor - stretching out the practical length of time that any changes could be made in. Not now with CAD and computer aided drafting techniques being used in the industry any changes made are accomplished in one single snap of time.
In the end these sophisticated yet readily available computer software programs have allowed for the simple timely advance and advances in the architectural fields and building trades.
JOHNIE
Sep
14
Get Rid of Confusions between Custom Home Architects or Residential Architects
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
lazy submit asked:
every architect has its own way of working and presenting models for their work. Each and every person is unique in defining and designing their models whether it is for the home or residential or for the commercial modeling of its design. It is very important that you choose the right architect for your home design. While you need to be very clear on your mind what kind of work you want from your architectural design company for your project. Before making any decisions related to your project just make sure that how many space is needed for building a home, which activities will perform in which space, what is your budget for the project, how will it be financed and so on. Once you are done with the questionnaire or once you got all your answers then you can easily start the process of choosing the architectural services for your project. After having a broad idea of your design then you must start looking for the architects who can fulfill your requirements according to your budget. Get the quotations from the entire local architect. And if you are looking for the particular residential design rather than commercial building or office design then search specifically for residential architects. Take an advice from seniors, local chamber of commerce, yellow pages, from the internet, speak to your friends, relatives, and also contact the American Institute of Architects. These sources are great way to find good architectural services for your project. After having a list of the potential architect from your area then start interviewing each of them as per your requirement. If they are able to answer all your questions then they are the right for your project otherwise they are not. And if they can’t answer your questions then you need to look for other options. It is very important to have a good chemistry between you and your potential architect; if you have a good understanding then they are able to develop your home or the place as per your choice and they minimize all your doubts. It is also very important to differentiate between the custom as well as the residential architects. All custom home architects are residential architects’ whereas all residential architects are not custom homes architects.
DAREN
every architect has its own way of working and presenting models for their work. Each and every person is unique in defining and designing their models whether it is for the home or residential or for the commercial modeling of its design. It is very important that you choose the right architect for your home design. While you need to be very clear on your mind what kind of work you want from your architectural design company for your project. Before making any decisions related to your project just make sure that how many space is needed for building a home, which activities will perform in which space, what is your budget for the project, how will it be financed and so on. Once you are done with the questionnaire or once you got all your answers then you can easily start the process of choosing the architectural services for your project. After having a broad idea of your design then you must start looking for the architects who can fulfill your requirements according to your budget. Get the quotations from the entire local architect. And if you are looking for the particular residential design rather than commercial building or office design then search specifically for residential architects. Take an advice from seniors, local chamber of commerce, yellow pages, from the internet, speak to your friends, relatives, and also contact the American Institute of Architects. These sources are great way to find good architectural services for your project. After having a list of the potential architect from your area then start interviewing each of them as per your requirement. If they are able to answer all your questions then they are the right for your project otherwise they are not. And if they can’t answer your questions then you need to look for other options. It is very important to have a good chemistry between you and your potential architect; if you have a good understanding then they are able to develop your home or the place as per your choice and they minimize all your doubts. It is also very important to differentiate between the custom as well as the residential architects. All custom home architects are residential architects’ whereas all residential architects are not custom homes architects.
DAREN
Aug
25
“Archi-Planners” - Where Architect Meets Urban Planner
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
Buddy Blake asked:
At one time, it was the job of the urban planner to develop streets and city infrastructure, and then the architect would step in and take over design of the buildings. Now, well-known architects are coming forward with a more holistic approach and taking over the entire project. Compare these new neighborhoods to professionally designed homes; the streets, building designs, and walkways would all be part of a master design of urban artwork.
The architect affixes his designer label to the city, just as one would a pair of jeans, and suddenly this design becomes a marketable product. This brand becomes a useful tool when it comes to getting approval for projects, and goes a long way to spark interest in potential investors.
One example of this can be found in Kartal, an abandoned industrial area in Istanbul. The region is in dire need of a facelift, which it will get shortly as part of the Kartal Urban City Project. Soon, Kartal will feel the effects of designer/architect Zaha Hadid, when the bulldozers begin to mold a 555-hectare urban wasteland into a contemporary infrastructure that includes skyscrapers, thoroughfares, and shopping and entertainment venues for over 100,000 residents and visitors.
Hadid is known for her work on the master plan for One-North in Singapore. This 200-hectare residential and science campus had similar lines and flow as her other creations. The distinctive look of her projects, along with her reputation, has become her branding.
Off the coast of Dubai, Rem Koolhaas is designing a waterfront city on a 172-hectare artificial island that will feature a huge mirrored sphere and spiraling tower amongst a series of New York-style skyscrapers. It will take decades to complete, but will eventually house 1.5 million people.
Designer/architect Daniel Libeskind is re-shaping the five-kilometer urban area of Orestad, south of Copenhagen. Once completed, this downtown area will include two 18-story towers (visible from the center of Copenhagen), and several low-rise buildings with landscaped roofs. This is a similar approach Libeskind used in his design at Fiera Milano, where he is redeveloping 43 hectares of Milan’s old fairgrounds.
Since the fall of communism and the changes in Middle Eastern economies, Asia is faced with booming cities in need of rebuilding. This holistic design approach changes the entire face of a particular region, as opposed to the addition of just one or two modern buildings. In addition, the exclusivity associated with having a “Zaha” or a “Rem” city design helps to bolster their international standing as an emerging, contemporary city.
It would be nice to see more of this in our own cities.
MORTON
At one time, it was the job of the urban planner to develop streets and city infrastructure, and then the architect would step in and take over design of the buildings. Now, well-known architects are coming forward with a more holistic approach and taking over the entire project. Compare these new neighborhoods to professionally designed homes; the streets, building designs, and walkways would all be part of a master design of urban artwork.
The architect affixes his designer label to the city, just as one would a pair of jeans, and suddenly this design becomes a marketable product. This brand becomes a useful tool when it comes to getting approval for projects, and goes a long way to spark interest in potential investors.
One example of this can be found in Kartal, an abandoned industrial area in Istanbul. The region is in dire need of a facelift, which it will get shortly as part of the Kartal Urban City Project. Soon, Kartal will feel the effects of designer/architect Zaha Hadid, when the bulldozers begin to mold a 555-hectare urban wasteland into a contemporary infrastructure that includes skyscrapers, thoroughfares, and shopping and entertainment venues for over 100,000 residents and visitors.
Hadid is known for her work on the master plan for One-North in Singapore. This 200-hectare residential and science campus had similar lines and flow as her other creations. The distinctive look of her projects, along with her reputation, has become her branding.
Off the coast of Dubai, Rem Koolhaas is designing a waterfront city on a 172-hectare artificial island that will feature a huge mirrored sphere and spiraling tower amongst a series of New York-style skyscrapers. It will take decades to complete, but will eventually house 1.5 million people.
Designer/architect Daniel Libeskind is re-shaping the five-kilometer urban area of Orestad, south of Copenhagen. Once completed, this downtown area will include two 18-story towers (visible from the center of Copenhagen), and several low-rise buildings with landscaped roofs. This is a similar approach Libeskind used in his design at Fiera Milano, where he is redeveloping 43 hectares of Milan’s old fairgrounds.
Since the fall of communism and the changes in Middle Eastern economies, Asia is faced with booming cities in need of rebuilding. This holistic design approach changes the entire face of a particular region, as opposed to the addition of just one or two modern buildings. In addition, the exclusivity associated with having a “Zaha” or a “Rem” city design helps to bolster their international standing as an emerging, contemporary city.
It would be nice to see more of this in our own cities.
MORTON
Aug
20
Gold Cost Architects Specialized in Corporate Commercial and Multi-Residential Buildings
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
search rankpros asked:
Architects fulfill different needs for their clients. All clients do not demand for the same design or for the same architecture and it is not necessary they demand for the commercial building, office, residential or for the retail architectural designs. Clients’ requirement differs as per their choice and as per their requirement.
It is very important for you to choose the right architect for your design. Because an architect is not only concerned with planning, they also involved in designing of a building whether it is for commercial or for the residential purpose. There are many architects available in the Gold Coast area that is specialized in corporate commercial, multi-residential, retail and in the green architecture.
Gold Coast architects have more than 30 years of experience and they understand their clients need. They portray their clients need in the form of design in the physical form. There are various fields among architecture like building, office, park, residential, landscape, and land development. It is very difficult to specialize in all the areas of architecture. It is very rare to find that a single architecture company fulfills the requirement of their client at one place. Architects have to obtain licenses to practice architecture as their designs will ensure the safety and security of the public.
There are many geographical areas in which architects need specialization and their scope restricts to those areas. Although they may excel in architecture and the particular areas, this does not ensure that they will be able to deliver equivalent results in the area of the project’s requirement. Thus, this aspect should also be kept in mind.
Now days the concept of green architecture has come into the picture. So, you may also have to consider whether the architect provides the eco-friendly green architecture or not. Green Architecture has created buzz word in the world of design and the architecture. Green architecture basically uses the resources like water, minerals, energy while reducing the building impacts on human health and the environment.
Green Architecture is designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by –
- Architects efficiently use energy, water and other resources
- Green Architecture protects from occupational health disease and improves employee productivity.
- It reduces waste, pollution and environmental degradation.
A good architect is the key to any architectural designs. Once we built a good relationship with the established Gold Coast architects, the entire process of idea generation, conceptualization through to final construction becomes simpler and satisfying. Thus, it is absolutely necessary to choose the right architect - one who is aware, experienced and reputable.
DAMIAN
Architects fulfill different needs for their clients. All clients do not demand for the same design or for the same architecture and it is not necessary they demand for the commercial building, office, residential or for the retail architectural designs. Clients’ requirement differs as per their choice and as per their requirement.
It is very important for you to choose the right architect for your design. Because an architect is not only concerned with planning, they also involved in designing of a building whether it is for commercial or for the residential purpose. There are many architects available in the Gold Coast area that is specialized in corporate commercial, multi-residential, retail and in the green architecture.
Gold Coast architects have more than 30 years of experience and they understand their clients need. They portray their clients need in the form of design in the physical form. There are various fields among architecture like building, office, park, residential, landscape, and land development. It is very difficult to specialize in all the areas of architecture. It is very rare to find that a single architecture company fulfills the requirement of their client at one place. Architects have to obtain licenses to practice architecture as their designs will ensure the safety and security of the public.
There are many geographical areas in which architects need specialization and their scope restricts to those areas. Although they may excel in architecture and the particular areas, this does not ensure that they will be able to deliver equivalent results in the area of the project’s requirement. Thus, this aspect should also be kept in mind.
Now days the concept of green architecture has come into the picture. So, you may also have to consider whether the architect provides the eco-friendly green architecture or not. Green Architecture has created buzz word in the world of design and the architecture. Green architecture basically uses the resources like water, minerals, energy while reducing the building impacts on human health and the environment.
Green Architecture is designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by –
- Architects efficiently use energy, water and other resources
- Green Architecture protects from occupational health disease and improves employee productivity.
- It reduces waste, pollution and environmental degradation.
A good architect is the key to any architectural designs. Once we built a good relationship with the established Gold Coast architects, the entire process of idea generation, conceptualization through to final construction becomes simpler and satisfying. Thus, it is absolutely necessary to choose the right architect - one who is aware, experienced and reputable.
DAMIAN
May
18
Austin Architect Ad Stenger
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Dane asked:
Though AD Stenger wasn’t as prolific as Joseph Eichler, or as well known as Frank Lloyd Wright, he built some of Austin’s most unique homes that are now considered mid-century modern.
Arthur Dallas Stenger first began building homes in the 1940s in Austin, mostly on Arthur Lane in the Barton Hills area, which was named after his father (the first Arthur Dallas Stenger), who was also an architect. Though Stenger attended architecture school at the University of Texas after returning home from World War II, he never graduated. He did get his architecture license as an undergraduate, and began building homes for post war Austinites.
Though FHA loans had design restrictions built into them, it didn’t stop Stenger from creating unique homes that were moderately priced, even if he had to help the homeowners find loans. He also worked differently from other builders, by purchasing land (mostly in the Barton Hills and Pemberton Heights areas), finding a buyer, and building a home without making his clients sign contracts. There was no pressure for the buyer to take the house upon completion, though clients rarely backed out after seeing the home.
A Stenger home will stand out, with signature low peaked roofs, clad with concrete, wood rock and other organic materials. He also used rock and stone quarried from the home site as siding or built into the fireplace, helping the house fit easily within its surroundings. Stenger had a love for long, low slung fireplaces reminiscent of 50s lounges, so every home he built included a wood burning fireplace, though not particularly necessary in the heart of Texas.
The houses also have many of the amenities that Austin’s big modern building boom now cherish, with walls of windows and clerestory windows hanging just below the exposed roofline, and tinted concrete floors, now pricing out around 10 dollars a square foot. He also used the organic building theory of “bringing the outside in,” by running exterior stonework through the house and into its interior.
Though Barton Hills was featured as “the world’s largest air-conditioned subdivision” in the 1956 Parade of Homes, Stenger didn’t build his homes with central air. Instead, he built large windows to catch morning light, and not the hot sun light of mid afternoon, and a floor plan to allow for a breezy pass through ventilation when the windows were opened.
In 1957, when Stenger’s friend, radio host John Henry Faulk, ended up blacklisted as a communist in the McCarthy era, he built and financed a home for him, knowing his friend was swamped with legal fees. He took his other clients financial situations into account as well, helping offset furniture costs with several built ins, and pricing his houses between $18,000 and $22,000, though today they can range from $400,000 to $600,000.
Stenger built around 100 unique homes in the Austin area, building his last for his wife Jean in 1999, a few years before he died in 2002 at the age of 82. Today’s battle lies between those seeking out Stenger houses for their originality and great use of space, and others who prefer to tear down these houses to build larger homes, since the locations are highly sought after for their land alone.
ALBERTO
Though AD Stenger wasn’t as prolific as Joseph Eichler, or as well known as Frank Lloyd Wright, he built some of Austin’s most unique homes that are now considered mid-century modern.
Arthur Dallas Stenger first began building homes in the 1940s in Austin, mostly on Arthur Lane in the Barton Hills area, which was named after his father (the first Arthur Dallas Stenger), who was also an architect. Though Stenger attended architecture school at the University of Texas after returning home from World War II, he never graduated. He did get his architecture license as an undergraduate, and began building homes for post war Austinites.
Though FHA loans had design restrictions built into them, it didn’t stop Stenger from creating unique homes that were moderately priced, even if he had to help the homeowners find loans. He also worked differently from other builders, by purchasing land (mostly in the Barton Hills and Pemberton Heights areas), finding a buyer, and building a home without making his clients sign contracts. There was no pressure for the buyer to take the house upon completion, though clients rarely backed out after seeing the home.
A Stenger home will stand out, with signature low peaked roofs, clad with concrete, wood rock and other organic materials. He also used rock and stone quarried from the home site as siding or built into the fireplace, helping the house fit easily within its surroundings. Stenger had a love for long, low slung fireplaces reminiscent of 50s lounges, so every home he built included a wood burning fireplace, though not particularly necessary in the heart of Texas.
The houses also have many of the amenities that Austin’s big modern building boom now cherish, with walls of windows and clerestory windows hanging just below the exposed roofline, and tinted concrete floors, now pricing out around 10 dollars a square foot. He also used the organic building theory of “bringing the outside in,” by running exterior stonework through the house and into its interior.
Though Barton Hills was featured as “the world’s largest air-conditioned subdivision” in the 1956 Parade of Homes, Stenger didn’t build his homes with central air. Instead, he built large windows to catch morning light, and not the hot sun light of mid afternoon, and a floor plan to allow for a breezy pass through ventilation when the windows were opened.
In 1957, when Stenger’s friend, radio host John Henry Faulk, ended up blacklisted as a communist in the McCarthy era, he built and financed a home for him, knowing his friend was swamped with legal fees. He took his other clients financial situations into account as well, helping offset furniture costs with several built ins, and pricing his houses between $18,000 and $22,000, though today they can range from $400,000 to $600,000.
Stenger built around 100 unique homes in the Austin area, building his last for his wife Jean in 1999, a few years before he died in 2002 at the age of 82. Today’s battle lies between those seeking out Stenger houses for their originality and great use of space, and others who prefer to tear down these houses to build larger homes, since the locations are highly sought after for their land alone.
ALBERTO
Dec
26
Prominent Architects in Phoenix
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
Wayne Hemrick asked:
Working with outstanding Phoenix real estate agents is one of the best ways to find the perfect Phoenix homes that will best meet you and your family’s needs. Once a Phoenix realtor understands the type of property you wish to purchase, he or she will apply that criteria when searching Phoenix AZ real estate until the best Phoenix real estate listings are found, thus saving you time and money. As you begin settling in, you will have ample opportunities to explore this beautiful city. Phoenix is home to several prominent architects whose talent is on display in remarkable buildings in Phoenix that they have designed.
Phoenix-based Gould Evans Associates, LC + Wendell Burnett Architects were honored with the 2007 American Institute Honor Awards for Architecture for their design of the Palo Verde Library/Maryvale Community Center owned by the City of Phoenix. The connection of the mind and body was used as a design theme that features two equally sized “volumes,” which are lit at the bottom and top, so you can see the activity going on inside from the outside. The library is housed in one side, and the gymnasium in the other. Care was taken to incorporate “green” building products, including floor tile made from recycled tires and cork, while walls were made from oriented strand board made from recycled wood. Formaldehyde-free insulation was also used.
The award-winning Phoenix architectural firm of richard + bauer Architecture was the design organization that created the Meinel Optical Science Research Building for the University of Arizona in Tuscon. Principals James Richard, Kelly Bauer, and Stephen Kennedy’s building features a concrete wall that is covered with red-bronze copper treatment to relate in tone to bricks used on the campus. To give the feeling of a darkroom, openings allow light into the building, and the light plays off the rooms within. For their work on this important building, richard + bauer Architecture were also awarded the 2007 American Institute of Architects Honor Award.
There still occasionally come on the Phoenix market vintage homes designed by Ralph Haver. Haver was a prominent Phoenix architect in the 1950s who made his mark in contemporary-styled single-family homes. His designs often feature window walls, clerestories, beam ceilings, carports rather than garages and a low pitch to the front facing gable roof style.
Probably the most famous architect in American history has his foundation in Scottsdale, and that is Frank Lloyd Wright. Known for organic architecture that allows the building to fit into the context that the land itself provides, Taliesin West in Scottsdale is where Wright had his home, his studio, and was the site of his architectural school. Archives of Wright’s work are housed at the Foundation as well.
So many amazing architects have been, and continue to be, inspired by what Phoenix and the surrounding countryside has to offer. Their buildings and homes reflect that splendor.
BROOKS
Working with outstanding Phoenix real estate agents is one of the best ways to find the perfect Phoenix homes that will best meet you and your family’s needs. Once a Phoenix realtor understands the type of property you wish to purchase, he or she will apply that criteria when searching Phoenix AZ real estate until the best Phoenix real estate listings are found, thus saving you time and money. As you begin settling in, you will have ample opportunities to explore this beautiful city. Phoenix is home to several prominent architects whose talent is on display in remarkable buildings in Phoenix that they have designed.
Phoenix-based Gould Evans Associates, LC + Wendell Burnett Architects were honored with the 2007 American Institute Honor Awards for Architecture for their design of the Palo Verde Library/Maryvale Community Center owned by the City of Phoenix. The connection of the mind and body was used as a design theme that features two equally sized “volumes,” which are lit at the bottom and top, so you can see the activity going on inside from the outside. The library is housed in one side, and the gymnasium in the other. Care was taken to incorporate “green” building products, including floor tile made from recycled tires and cork, while walls were made from oriented strand board made from recycled wood. Formaldehyde-free insulation was also used.
The award-winning Phoenix architectural firm of richard + bauer Architecture was the design organization that created the Meinel Optical Science Research Building for the University of Arizona in Tuscon. Principals James Richard, Kelly Bauer, and Stephen Kennedy’s building features a concrete wall that is covered with red-bronze copper treatment to relate in tone to bricks used on the campus. To give the feeling of a darkroom, openings allow light into the building, and the light plays off the rooms within. For their work on this important building, richard + bauer Architecture were also awarded the 2007 American Institute of Architects Honor Award.
There still occasionally come on the Phoenix market vintage homes designed by Ralph Haver. Haver was a prominent Phoenix architect in the 1950s who made his mark in contemporary-styled single-family homes. His designs often feature window walls, clerestories, beam ceilings, carports rather than garages and a low pitch to the front facing gable roof style.
Probably the most famous architect in American history has his foundation in Scottsdale, and that is Frank Lloyd Wright. Known for organic architecture that allows the building to fit into the context that the land itself provides, Taliesin West in Scottsdale is where Wright had his home, his studio, and was the site of his architectural school. Archives of Wright’s work are housed at the Foundation as well.
So many amazing architects have been, and continue to be, inspired by what Phoenix and the surrounding countryside has to offer. Their buildings and homes reflect that splendor.
BROOKS