Residential Design + Build Magazine editors and contributing insiders post their opinions and viewpoints on residential design and building.
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Call for Entries - 2013 Design Excellence Awards
By Rob Heselbarth - Monday May 20, 2013
Call for entries! Get the recognition you deserve. Enter your award-worthy project in the Residential Design + Build 2013 Design Excellence Awards , honoring architects, designers and custom builders for excellence in the design and construction of custom homes. Application deadline : July 26, 2013 Click here for the online application . Projects must be completed between Jan. 1, 2011, and July 26, 2013. Click here for entry rules and guidelines . Binder deadline : Aug. 9, 2013 Benefits to award winners include: Article in RD+B magazine’s October special issue Industry recognition Customized award trophy Exposure on RD+B website Press release for local distribution Advantage in local market Use... -
Welcoming in 2013 and all that it brings
By Todd Vendituoli - Thursday December 20, 2012
As we enter the end of 2012 and look to the coming New Year, I wonder what we will see, and what will be the best ways to approach it for the construction industry. I would assume that almost everyone has made their plans for the coming year based on what they saw happening in their businesses in 2012. My assumptions are that you will be looking at better ways to advance your market programs to gain traction and may be trying different approaches you haven’t used before. Maybe this will include ramping up your social media efforts or using your print advertising in new ways. Regardless, I think it is commonly agreed that using the same methods will probably not yield the desired results. How are you going to control your... -
Pondering the next four years
By Todd Vendituoli - Wednesday December 5, 2012
Well, the election is over and some people are happy and others are not. I can’t say exactly what will happen with the economy over these coming years, but as a contractor for almost 30 years I know it’s going to be interesting if nothing else. However, from my perspective I think the construction industry as a whole is in for more rocky times, and here’s why. We still have unemployment that is way too high, with no signs that it will come down to reasonable levels at which more people are employed and can afford homes. Many countries around the world have many monetary issues that are major problems, such as Spain, which has an unemployment rate of almost 25%. The United States is no longer a country of prosperity and... -
My firm is (skeptically) moving to BIM
By Todd Mather - Wednesday November 21, 2012
My firm just lost a project. I should say another project, because we do not always receive the contract (or commission) on all of our proposals. This one was more abrasive. The reason? Revit does not find a Home at my firm. At least not yet. We have been holding off from the BIM movement for years. There are a few key reasons for this. One, cost. Two, our projects – custom residences and remodels/additions – don’t seem to demand it. Three, why fix what isn’t broken? I know all three reasons have been diminished by the CADD gurus of our time in every blog on this topic. Still, we are not alone at our firm … but we’ll be making the move very soon now that we did not receive this large commission based upon this... -
Walking the line between architect and showoff
By Rob Heselbarth - Friday November 9, 2012
I expect to see architecture on the cover of architecture magazines. Sometimes, however, I see photos that perpetuate a stereotype that many architects I’ve met in the past nine years tell me they wish didn’t exist. This stereotype is one of design professionals who are more interested in selling their vision rather than an ability to make their clients’ vision come to life. As one might expect of articles that follow such cover photos – photos in which only people are shown with no architecture – the editorial focus is on the person, his or her vision, awards, education, portfolio and interests. These interests might include architectural styles he or she is “into” these days. Rarely is a client’s dream listed as...
