Architectural Alchemy
Marrying Old and New
The specifics of actually marrying old and new architectural elements, however, still had to be worked out on-site. “I used an old-school, story-pole approach to build a basic frame for the new porch,” Walker continues. “There were so many layers and steps to the design that we had to start by seeing where it would end, then work backward from the most distant point. The construction team positioned this framework at the proper elevation, replaced the gutters, and then added the steps and layers of the entablature.”
Although most companies are not willing to submit to the strict financial accountability that was also required, Huseby Homes was able to deliver the completed project on budget through clear communication and close collaboration with the owners. “The owners wanted us to provide pricing by the area affected—such as the roof, dormers and porch addition—rather than by line items for construction materials, such as concrete, plus the total labor costs,” Huseby says. “We did this and included a contingency amount for each area. Every two weeks, we provided an updated spreadsheet that summarized cost information and reviewed it with the owners.”
Although Huseby had not used this approach in the past, he says it worked well. “I told the clients upfront it would be difficult to know exactly what the labor costs would be to complete the porch addition,” he says. “Since we met the budget for all the other areas, we were able to preserve those contingency amounts and apply them to the entry to hit the budget for the entire project.”
Huseby says the owners are quite pleased with the way their renovated home expresses their personalities with an understated elegance. “Eric [Stengel] listened to them and provided a vision for how their house could become much more than a ranch without drastically changing the overall structure. The renovation transforms a plain home into an architectural gem that is in keeping with its surroundings.”
Now, people who used to pass by a nondescript house pause to comment. “Neighbors have said they didn’t notice the house before the renovation,” Stengel says. “So the design achieved what I call ‘architectural alchemy.’ It gives the impression of greater value being provided than was actually spent. It is as though the owners got a new house for the cost of a porch.”
