A little inspiration from HH Richardson

There have been so many before us that have inspired the generations that follow. From leaders and revolutionaries like Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi, to artists like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo. From builders and titans like Henry Ford and Bill Gates, to scientists and thinkers like Albert Einstein and Aristotle, heroes and icons like Mother Teresa and Neil Armstrong, they all have left a lasting impact on the world.

So who inspires us in our trade here at Visbeen Associates? What architectural titans have paved the way for the design work you see us creating? We will be starting this series on our blog to give you a little glimpse into the pioneers that have inspired us to create what we do, day in and day out.

Today's inspiration? Henry Hobson Richardson.

Considered to be one of the three "recognized trinity of American Architecture," along with Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, H.H. Richardson popularized the late Victorian style of architecture named after him called Richardsonian Romanesque. He studied at Harvard College, Tulane University and École des Beaux Arts in Paris. He was only the second US citizen to attend the École's architectural division and he developed a very unique and highly personal idiom once he returned to the US, adapting in particular the Romanesque style of Southern France. He was famous for designing massive stone buildings with semicircular, wide "Roman" arches over arcades and doorways and patterned masonry arches over windows.

The first building where the Richardsonian Romanesque style was used by Richardson was the New York State Asylum for the Insane (now called the HH Richardson Complex) in Buffalo, NY (1869)

One of his most acclaimed works that solidified his national reputation - Trinity Church in Boston, MA (1872)

Austin Hall at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA (1881)

Here are a few VAI designs that were inspired by Richardson's work...

We entered a competition for designing the expansion of Woburn Public Library, originally designed by HH Richardson in 1876. David & Jonathan Lorenz in our office submitted this concept for the competition.

This retail/work/live building was a conceptual design for downtown Holland.

Some of the buildings we designed in the original master planning for the campus of Cornerstone University had Richardsonian Romanesque qualities to them.

We have designed a number of bridges with stone masonry details and arches reminiscent of the wide Roman arches used in Richardson's designs.

This concept was for the entry gatehouse at Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ.

Source & Image Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Hobson_Richardson

Architectural Tutorial: Turret

The school year is back in full swing for the kids, so it's time to start our architectural tutorials back up! Today's lesson - the turret.

definition: tur•ret

n 1. a small tower projecting from a building, usually at a corner and often merely ornamental.

(www.yourdictionary.com)

Here are homes with turrets that Visbeen Associates has designed:

Licensed in Wisconsin!

Wayne Visbeen recently received his architect's license in the state of Wisconsin! Take a look at this beautiful home Visbeen Associates designed there.

"The charm of England’s Cotswold style lives on in this impressive and inviting home. A stone and timber frame façade with a copper cupola and weathervane add to the exterior, as do two large rear fireplaces that are perfect for outdoor entertaining. Inside, an L-shaped floor plan is designed for convenience, leading from the large four-car garage into the main level. Highlights include an octagonal dining area off the kitchen, a large formal dining area and first-floor master suite. The upper level includes additional bedrooms while the lower includes guest space as well as a large recreation room and more."

Plan Revisions

I know you know Visbeen Associates is a custom residential architecture firm, but do you know that if you see a plan of ours that you nearly like, we can customize it? Yes, that's right. We can revise the facade of one floor plan to resemble that of another home. Here's just an idea, but the sky is the limit!

Take the Delavista plan...

...and modify the front facade...

...and add wings off the rear to get Seaside.

Reynard

Reynard was built by Jeff Segard, Grand Concept Homes and the photographer was Megan TerVeen. For more photos, check out our website. Here's a write up:

Designed to make the most of a waterfront site, the four-bedroom, five-bath Reynard would be at home in any setting. A large welcoming foyer leads to a spacious open living area. Two wings radiate from the living room – one with private spaces such as bedrooms and baths, the other with a large kitchen, dining room and home management center. Two decks and a hearth room make outdoor living easy. A casual lower level contains two additional bedrooms, a family room, and a cozy screen porch.

Wish Granted

Today I'm repeating part of a post from April where I featured Lily's Wish. Lily has osteosarcoma, a cancer affecting her bones, and was matched with Wayne Visbeen through theMake-A-Wish Foundation. Wayne sat with Lily back in January and designed her playhouse with her (she had a lot of ideas!) I just saw a photo of the finished house & thought you would like to see it too! Please continue to keep Lily & her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Horizon View

Check out this lovely, little cottage on Lake Michigan designed by Visbeen Associates and built by Bouwkamp Builders. And, here's the write up:

Designed to fit easily into compact spaces, Horizon View combines yesterday's cottage charm with today's open floor plan. A beadboard and gabled exterior leads into a modern interior, with a light-filled great room that encompasses the living room, kitchen and dining area. A handy master bedroom suite rounds out the first-floor offerings. Upstairs are two additional family or guest bedrooms as well as a full bath.

Maximize our website!

When you first visit www.visbeen.biz you may be mesmerized by the pretty pictures scrolling on your screen. They are pretty, but keep going! Click on Gallery and choose a category, like "Residential."

After that, choose another category, like "estates."

Once you've done that, scroll down to view all of the homes we've presented in that category. If one piques your interest, click on it (the Westchester, for example.)

And, once you're there, click on the first image (in this case a sketch) and then use the arrows at the bottom of the image to scroll thru the numerous images of that one house. Once you've made it through them all it will show you the next house in line.

Happy surfing!

Tutorial Thursday: What is a quoin?

Welcome to Tutorial Thursday! Today we're learning about quoins (pronounced "coins.") Below are some of Visbeen Associates homes which feature quoins. (Please excuse the construction mess. Falcon Custom Homes is doing a fantastic job!)

"Stone [or brick] quoins dress and frame the corners of buildings." Cole, Emily. The Grammar of Architecture. East Sussex, UK: The Ivy Press Limited, 2002.

"Quoins are rusticated blocks of stone [or brick] alternating in size, which run in strips up the corners of a building..." Cole, Emily. The Grammar of Architecture. East Sussex, UK: The Ivy Press Limited, 2002.

And, here are some homes with quoins designed in: