FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe
Long Live Our Buildings

Long Live Our Buildings: An Introduction

Architect Steven Baczek describes his ongoing inquiry into what makes a good building, and how we can continue to improve the way we design and build homes.

By Steven Baczek Issue 282 - April/May 2019

My name is Steven Baczek and I am a registered architect in Massachusetts, working in the Boston area and throughout the United States. During my nearly three decades as a residential architect, energy efficiency, comfort, health, durability, and environmental responsibility have been at the core of my work. As a sole proprietor, I am involved in every aspect of the process, from sales to construction administration, which not only helps me understand the entire process, but more importantly gives me insight into the interrelationships of all the decisions made throughout a project.

If you’re familiar with Fine Homebuilding, you may also be familiar with some of my work. In the pages of the magazine, and here on FineHomebuilding.com, I’ve dug deep into the process and details necessary to design and build high-performance homes, showcasing examples of several unique projects I’ve had the pleasure of working on. But all of the articles I’ve written only tell the story up to the point where we hand the keys to the new homeowners. My goal in this new column, Long Live Our Buildings, is to take you further; I want to revisit some of the homes I’ve designed, after they’ve been a part of people’s daily lives for years, take a close look at what makes them tick, and see how closely they’ve matched the dreams of the people I designed them for.

Steve Baczek
Steve Baczek

Respect for the past, eyes on the future

I have a love for the simplicity of older times, and a passion for new thinking in current times. I believe understanding one allows me to venture into the other. I believe what I do shouldn’t stop at the aesthetics, but should extend to an integrated level of performance to deliver to homeowners the best possible solutions. There is a long history in home building in the United States. The evolution of this history is wide and varied. In some regards, we have learned from experience to provide an improved set of goals and solutions for the next project. But in many instances, we choose to build to the same parameters that we know are marginal performers at best. We have the knowledge to build better, and the information to understand better; we need to act accordingly. What we do extends beyond us, and should be conceived in that understanding and conform to a set of parameters to ensure long term success. We need to put the buildings we design and build, in a position for success—a position that ensures the longevity our buildings deserve.

I believe there is nothing more valuable than to share one’s experiences with those around us to lift the industry to new heights. My projects vary in size, scale, budget, and clients’ desires. The one thing that is common is that every project of mine offers something to the “whole” that is my career, that is my experience, and that is the basis for the next project. It’s a disciplined process, one that breeds innovative thought. It’s a process that builds new solutions on the foundations of old solutions. The information I present here will be wide and varied—just like the history of our work—but that is an accurate reflection of what my daily work entails. It might be sharing a detail I developed with a builder, or maybe a concept discussed at a design meeting with a client. In selecting a title for my new column, I thought long and hard as to what kind of message I wanted to share. Well, I’m thinking there is probably nothing more valuable to discuss than the trials and successes of my daily career of developing residential projects and placing them in what I consider a “position for success.” So, welcome to “LONG LIVE OUR BUILDINGS — Defining the next level of performance in home building and design,” where I will be sharing those everyday thoughts in the hope that you not only enjoy our discussion, but share in the learning from it too.

—Steve Baczek

Here are some of the projects I’ve previously written about for Fine Homebuilding:

  • The Passive House Build, Part One: Designed for Success
  • VIDEO: The Passive House Build, Part 1
  • The Passive House Build, Part Two: Air-Sealed Mudsill Assembly
  • VIDEO: The Passive House Build, Part 2
  • A Practical Approach to Passive House

Follow me on Instagram @stevenbaczekarchitect

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

More Long Live Our Buildings

View All
  • Why "Long Live Our Buildings" Has Become My Motto
  • Long Live Our Buildings: An Introduction
View All

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Modern and Geometric Home in New England

Comprised of three simple, triangular forms, this minimalist Vermont house is infused with character and culture.

Featured Video

Micro-Adjust Deck-Baluster Spacing for an Eye-Deceiving Layout

No math, no measuring—just a simple jig made from an elastic band is all you need to lay out a good-looking deck railing.

Related Stories

  • Estimates, Bids, and Proposals in Residential Building
  • Podcast 535: Members-only Aftershow — Architectural Styles
  • Editorial Note: Building New is Easy
  • Podcast 530: PRO TALK With Architecture Student Phillip Schladweiler

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All
  • Podcast 535: Members-only Aftershow — Architectural Styles
  • Podcast 530: PRO TALK With Architecture Student Phillip Schladweiler
  • Podcast 524: PRO TALK With Design Department Manager Candice Rania
  • Balancing Design and High-Performance Construction
View All

Architecture and Design

View All Architecture and Design Articles
  • Photo of a large open window opening onto an urban neighborhood
    Editorial Note: Living Smaller
  • front of house
    Modern and Geometric Home in New England
  • affordable housing design
    Innovative Design in Affordable Housing
  • Illustration of a small house surrounded by lots of green space
    6 Ways to Make a Small Lot Live Big
View All Architecture and Design Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 313 - Feb/March 2023
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    • Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
  • Issue 312 - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
    • Tool Test: Cordless Tablesaws
    • Gray-Water System for a Sustainable Home
    • Insulate a Cape Roof to Avoid Ice Dams
  • Issue 311 - November 2022
    • 7 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
    • Options for Smarter Home-Energy Tracking
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: James Metoyer
  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
    • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs
    • Custom Built-in Cabinets Made Easy
  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept 2022
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in