Mockingbird House Begins

Jan and I bought two hillside lots three blocks from the shore of Lake Travis, Texas. We expect to build a very efficient house having a spectacular 180-degree view of the lake. We want to walk through the front door, look though the house, and confront a glass wall that frames a million dollar view. Our esthetic encompasses very modern design; not the least bit contemporary or eclectic. The interior will have smooth, clean lines without door or window casings, floor moldings, or ugly chandeliers. Walls and ceilings will have none of the texturing found in traditional homes that cover poor sheetrock work. Countertops, floors, and other surfaces can sport rare, expensive materials alongside cheap builder materials in a manner that screams, “Man, this house is awesome. Someone thought about this”.

Someone does have to think about it. In fact, it takes a lot of thought, planning, special skills, and specific knowledge. I have found that, typically, builders and architects have narrow, highly specialized knowledge. Most builders want to build the same bricks-and-sticks house they built last month. Architects want to reach out to something new but they stay with material combinations and rules they know.

Jan and I have goals that may be out of the main stream. We want to optimize the total cost of ownership over a seven-year period with respect to the mortgage obligation, energy consumption, and maintenance costs. This goal contradicts basic rules and forces tradeoffs that move builders and architects way out of their comfort zones. Material choices directly affect build cost; therefore, the monthly mortgage payment amount. Choices also affect energy consumption and costs. So, I am inclined to increase build costs where a payback over seven years breaks-even with energy costs. This sounds obvious, but the scarcity of good information about such trade-offs from respectable sources frustrates our efforts.

On the bright side, I found a web site with some very good information, today. The site called http://www.zeroenergydesign.com/ has a 180 page, downloadable book about the subject. One of the founders has a relationship to another site featuring mortgage information and lenders who understand the issues of “experimental” buildings. I expect to write more about budgeting and financing issues.

Influences:

The most important influence on the function of Mockingbird House must be 16th Century Japanese architecture called “sukiya-zukuri”. Noble Japanese families built pier or post and beam houses around a central core with movable walls. Their driving purpose: create the most numerous space arrangements, comfortable in summer and winter, without losing visual privacy. This purpose drives Mockingbird House. A lake house must accommodate guests, be comfortable year round, and provide privacy for guests and owners. Find a good description with pictures at www.geocities.com/nobukaze23/ie.htm.

I have to admit that sky-scrapers are also a significant influence due primarily to their budget sensitivity with respect to mechanicals. Two guest bathrooms on the first floor thirty feet apart seems extravagant to me. Cost of pipe and plumbers, wire and electricians, and tile and masons busts the budget and adds to the mortgage payment. I walk fifty feet from the side door of my house to my car every time I go somewhere. I can walk fifty feet to pee. Frankly, I’d rather pay for two very special bathrooms, a master and guest.

Ikea influences my thinking about Mockingbird House, too. For example, thirteen feet of cabinets with two beautiful, black glass sliding doors, light wood frames, and plenty of drawers, shelves, and rods cost $1,400. I could make a closet without walls in the master and guest rooms for much less than the cost of building traditional closets.

Jan and I went to Ikea in Houston, Texas, today. I was most interested in the quality of kitchen cabinetry they offer. To tell the truth, I was surprised. Drawers close silently; doors swing easily and sturdily. Finishes they offer are outstanding, inexpensive, and durable. Prices for a typical 10’ X 10’ kitchen range from $1,150 to $4,000.

Special Issues:
This topic will have to wait until I have time to treat it with respect. Suffice it to say we have issues. We are special.

Architects:
My sister Debra, a Ph.D, and her ace a-number-one genius are designing this house with us. We have made progress. They recently proposed a floor design that Jan and I are working over. There will be more to come on the design collaboration topic.

More Friends

John and Rosa are friends from the neighborhood. John is a very interesting man because he is a walking contradiction. He has considerable talents in a pragmatic, artistic sort of way. His listening skills barely overtake a knack for speaking directly without offending. He is empathetic without being ridiculously mushy and wise without being cold. John can be comfortably absorbed into any group, no matter how hostile, without giving one inch of principle. He and his family have experienced their share of turmoil, as have we all. Even so, he passes around optimism as though he grew it in his back yard.

I have great respect and admiration for John. He does those unsung hero things we should all do. He donates platelets for cancer patients. He shares his architectural knowledge. He helps neighbors deal with the homeowners association. He takes on neighborhood kids like projects, helping their parents in big and small ways. I may not often catch John doing his hero thing but I can clearly see where he has been.

Rosa, John’s wife, exemplifies the pure power of faith as well as anyone I have ever known. She is intensely maternal, moral, and astute to the ways of the world. A finance professional by education and experience, she recently gave up the corporate life to become an elementary school teacher. Rosa apparently intimidated a weak, petty principal who caused some trouble for her. That principal made a terrible mistake. Rosa believes in her students and vocation. She does not fear autocrats driven by ego. I have never seen her pick a fight but have not known her to walk away from her commitments, either. When asked about it, she seems strangely nonchalant because she knows with absolute certainty that outcomes are in God’s hands. She will quietly do the job assigned with grace and good humor.

To be Not Rude

A few days ago, circumstance presented me a perfect opportunity to be not rude. It did not go well.

It began with an IM from Jan telling me our A/C was out at home. This is much more than an inconvenience on the Gulf Coast where humidity is high and temperatures reach 97 degrees during the day but don't fall much at night. Our house was built in 1942. Its attic superheats air during the day and releases its heat into the house at night. It is not just hot and sticky; it is miserable.

Buddy, the hard working A/C guy, returned my wife's call around 6PM. He instructed me to check something on the outside unit. Exiting the side door, I walked down the driveway toward the front porch.

There was a sweaty guy holding papers on my porch. "What do you want", I barked. "Hurry up. I'm on the phone." Our neighborhood seems to be a target for scams, and brush salesmen. Already irritated, I made assumptions. It turns out; the man was a local politician. He was one of the good-guys we supported in the past.

Jan and I have done some door-to-door community organizing. I know all about the hot, sweaty work required to inform and persuade my neighbors. That experience teaches humility. So, I promised to treat people who knocked on my door with respect.

Failing utterly at my first opportunity, I demonstrated just what an ass I could be. The politician was an overheated middle-aged man, red faced and nearly exhausted. Instead of sharing a cold drink, I shared my aggravation about an inanimate A/C unit. Instead of thanking him for the good work he has done, I was terse and indifferent.

Other opportunities to be not rude will certainly present themselves. I need practice.

First Post

OK. Well, hum.

This blog thing sounded fun right up to the point where an actual post was required. Now, I have so much to write that beginning seems an insurmountable obstacle. This must be the usual problem among newbie bloggers because nothing seems to intimidate the way a blank screen does.

A friend of my wife and I blogs. She composes and organizes her blog very well. Her posts include lots of pictures. More importantly, her blog seems honest. While this blog will not likely emulate her subjects and style, she has set a standard.

On the other hand, maybe the time has come to make more use of the old camera phone.

Friends and Family:
My wife, Jan, provides adult supervision in this house. Jan is smart, funny and wise. She is scary when she's angry but warm and caring most of the time. Her pragmatism is the perfect counter weight to my optimism. Everything we accomplished since we were married we did together.

My sister, Debra, has a PhD in Architecture from Texas A&M. She is smart, funny, energetic and excels at annoying me. Her daughter, Natalie, just started kindergarten and already demonstrates her mother's best qualities. But, Nat doesn't annoy me as well, yet. I'd say she needs more practice. Frankly, only those I love the most possess that ability to make me crazy so I expect Nat to grow into her proper role, soon.

Debra has a firm called RAD-Consultants. She uses her science background to organize knowledge-bases for Architecture firms and Health care organizations. She also consults with furniture manufacturers who use real science to produce high quality stuff. Debra rocks!

My cousin, Randy, is a C++ programmer and analyst. He is one of those guys so smart it leaves me speechless sometimes. Randy is also very good at making me crazy. He provoked me so far about 12 years ago that I completely changed careers. It turned out to be one of the best mistakes I ever made.

Randy has a love for dogs. Several years ago, a doberman pincer showed up on his front porch. The dog was obviously a stray. It suffered from severe malnutrition so Randy and his wife Dotie took on the dog's recovery. A local veterinarian found Strider had a problem absorbing nutrients so Dotie fixed special food sometimes feeding Strider by hand. Strider's quirky personality made him a very fun diversion. Randy would stand under a light on his back porch to make shadows on the ground. Strider chased them until he exhausted himself. We all loved Strider; Randy most of all.