Kuhn Riddle Architects

Think Smaller

Published November 7, 2011 in Modern Design, Publications, Staff, Chuck Roberts, Rachael Chase, Sustainability

KRA's Chuck Roberts and Rachael Chase are featured in this month's Preview Massachusetts where they discuss the value of designing and building smaller homes.

Green Tours

Published September 23, 2011 in Institutional, Modern Design, Sustainability

We are excited to be participating in the 2011 NESEA Green Buildings Open House on Saturday, October 1st. Our architects will be leading tours of three of our most sustainable buildings: the UMASS Marching Band Building, New England Environmental's headquarters, and the Ken Burns Wing of the Jerome Leibling Center at Hampshire College.  All three buildings are located in Amherst, MA.

New England Environmental recently achieved LEED Platinum for New Construction, the highest rating available to LEED-certified buildings and a distinction that is shared by only four other buildings in Massachusetts. The recently-completed UMASS Marching Band Building is on-track to achieve LEED Gold certification; the Ken Burns Wing achieved LEED Gold in 2010.

NESEA's Green Buildings Open House is the largest sustainable energy event in the Northeast. For the past 15 years, the GBOH program has inspired thousands of individuals to learn about and implement energy efficient and renewable energy solutions in their buildings. The goal of the GBOH event is to enable participants to see, firsthand, energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in their communities and motivate them to adopt similar solutions for their own buildings.

Tours will run at varying times between 10am and 4pm on October 1, 2011. More information is available on the NESEA website.

Farm House

Published September 23, 2011 in Modern Design, Staff, Elizabeth Morgan, Unbuilt

KRA's Elizabeth Morgan reflects on the development of a current residential project with a modern-vernacular point-of-view:

With the Farm House project, the orientation of the site and nearby lake called for a linear floor plan.  Views of the lake are toward the north, while the largest source of sunlight is to the south.  Typical of many northern farmhouses, a plan in which each interior living space spans the full width of the house allowed light to be captured from the south, while in this case also allowing views to the north.

The elongation of the open plan began to evoke images of the New England barn, with its singular body and simply gabled roof.  While the form of the project echoes agricultural buildings and farm houses of the region, the detailing and window patterns bring a fresh perspective to the traditional view.  

Perhaps  vernacular  materials of cedar, slate and stone will take shape, or perhaps they will be reinterpreted as metal, steel and concrete.  In any case, when complete, the building hopes to feel as timeless as it does modern. 

Is it Live?  Or it is Revit?

Published August 29, 2011 in Modern Design, Staff, Andy Grogan, John Kuhn, Rachael Chase

Sometimes, the built project looks so much like the renderings, it's difficult to tell the difference when they're side-by-side.  One of the photos below is the actual project, while the other is an image we produced during the design phase.  Is it live?  Or it is Revit?

More images from the project are available on our website.

We were reminded of the old Memorex commercials from the 1970s and 80s.

The photo on the left is the actual project; the one on the right is the rendering.

SIP

Published August 18, 2011 in Historic, Modern Design, Retail, Staff, Rachael Chase

As construction comes to a close on SIP in Northampton, MA, we thought we'd take a moment to share some of the ideas that went into the design.  KRA's Rachael Chase looks back at the project:

Sip is a new concept for a coffee shop in downtown Northampton, MA.  The customer experience is thoughtfully orchestrated through clean design, well thought-out circulation within a small space, and attention to detail.

From the street, green painted steps and slatted signage call your attention and invite you in.

Customers enter into an open hang-out space. A series of painted posts call you forward to the white tiled counter.

Move past the fireplace and retail shelves to order a drink,

and then head back toward the sunlight filled front to add cream & sugar and find a seat.  Dark gray wood flooring and black-stained plywood tables balance the light walls, and the natural "golden" stain on the Birch plywood warms the space immensely.

SIP encourages the customer to watch the brewing process; seats at the counter allow for interaction with the barista, as well as a view of the fireplace.  The coffee is made via a “slow” brewing process in which hot water is poured over freshly ground beans. Steeped with a special filter, the process is fun to watch and beautifully composed.

And for those (like me) who always add sugar to our coffee -- you might not need to; the coffee is deep and smooth.

Go sit down: Comfortable, long banquettes surround the front windows and give customers a place to congregate in the sunlight.

A long bar height table allows for conversation with people waiting in line or moving through – or turn the other way, and let a collection of magazines grab your eye.  Whether you're part of a large group or sipping solo, the space accommodates.

The existing building was the original Smith College Bookstore, and its long history is reflected in the leaded glass windows and the functional wood burning fireplace that the owners plan to light on special winter occasions. 

The modern aesthetic of the new enhances the old and brings it back to life.  By using birch plywood and an incredibly talented millworker, we were able to do custom furniture throughout the space.  The slats of the banquettes transition from a solid back to an open back to let the light pour in through the antique windows.

We worked hard to use the materials creatively to show them off, expose their layers, and showcase their strength and flexibility.  Even the lighting fixtures are made from plywood.

Sit on a cube by the fireplace; grab a stool at the counter to chat with the barista; congregate with friends around a bar-height table; or slide into the banquette and lose yourself in the trees.

Elegant and utilitarian at the same time, this is a real space to be used and enjoyed, comfortable and sophisticated.  Check SIP out: the people are fabulous, and even the bathroom is cool.