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Discussion Forum

Who or what has had the most impact o…

Ruth | Posted in General Discussion on April 27, 2006 09:39am

Who or what has had the most impact on residential design?

  • Architects
  • Builders
  • Big-box home centers
  • Shelter magazines and books

You will not be able to change your vote.

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Replies

  1. User avater
    IMERC | Apr 27, 2006 10:30pm | #1

    often is the case where the HO hands a magazine to ya and says...

     

    This is exactly what I want... BUT.....

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!

    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  2. DavidxDoud | Apr 27, 2006 11:01pm | #2
    Who or what has had the most impact on residential design?

     

    1. insurance companies

    2. building codes (see 1.)

    3. banks/mortage companies

     

     

     

    "there's enough for everyone"
  3. User avater
    CapnMac | Apr 28, 2006 12:07am | #3

    I want a "none of the above," as I fear the current greatest "impact" is from high volume national builders who prize a pretty veneer over the fastest-built 6-7 stock plans in their subdivision.  But that's me--and my rant against quantity over quality.

    I'd like to have seen HOA/ARB on the list, just to see how many would have voted that way.  Some of the developer-HOA collusions have created some rather large volumes of mayo-on-crestless-white bread blandness conceivable.  Once again, that could also just be my prejudices, too.

    Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
    1. User avater
      IMERC | Apr 28, 2006 12:50am | #4

      at least an "other" with a fill in the blank space...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

      WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

      Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

      1. User avater
        razzman | Apr 28, 2006 01:02am | #5

         

         

         

        cu invented residential design

         

          

         

        'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity

      2. User avater
        CapnMac | Apr 28, 2006 01:25am | #6

        an "other" with a fill in the blank space...

        Yeah, excepting that not nearly enough "poll" templates include that sort of thing, which makes it that much harder to set the poll up.

        (That and the "purists" about polls, hate FitB answers, as that muddies the categories for statistical analysis--but they are purists, so they suffer through life anyway . . . <g>)Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

        1. User avater
          zak | Apr 28, 2006 01:58am | #7

          AAAAAHHHHHH

          This will never work for an ANOVA.

          Actually, anybody who wants a good statistical analysis of residential design influences based on whoever is hanging around BT in the middle of the day doesn't have very good test parameters anyway, and is probably just bored themselves. ; )

          How about a "consumer" answer- well, make that a consumer influenced by the whole cultural trend to buy whatever is cheap and widely accepted, without worrying about long term (more than 5 years) value, or the unquantifiable importance of "quality" or "pride".zak

          "so it goes"

          1. User avater
            CapnMac | Apr 28, 2006 06:24pm | #16

            whoever is hanging around BT in the middle of the day doesn't have very good test parameters anyway, and is probably just bored themselves. ; )

            Or has broadband at work, and needs a quick "break" between the four open sessions of AutoCAD on the computer . . . <tired sigh>

            Tough being the only galley slave, and having to pull different pairs of oars at different times for two different "skippers," each with their own rudder, who appear and dissappear randomly, and expect the dude with the oras to be able the see the same things as they do--in advance . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

        2. User avater
          IMERC | Apr 28, 2006 03:56am | #10

          narrowing the field of answers....

          steers the out come... Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

          WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

          Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          1. DaveRicheson | Apr 28, 2006 01:17pm | #12

            Load the question, then load the answers....

            One of the answers becomes research for an article or target for the marketing group.

             

            You be soooo right.

             

            Dave

          2. bolts | May 27, 2006 10:32am | #30

            If it had been on an architects chat room or magazine site you can guess what the answer would have been regards from OZYou can make it fool proof but not idiot proof 

          3. jjwalters | May 27, 2006 02:20pm | #31

            Builders........main requirement, square foot and priceconsumer demand.......super size me! on the cheap please....so we take them to McDonalds
            Blind allegiance FOR ANY REASON is the greatest ignorance we can bestow upon ourselves.Edited 5/27/2006 7:20 am ET by jjwalters

            Edited 5/27/2006 7:22 am ET by jjwalters

    2. Piffin | Apr 28, 2006 01:38pm | #13

      That's why my vote went for 'builders' 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. User avater
        BossHog | Apr 28, 2006 03:19pm | #14

        I wonder if "Computers" should have been a choice. Maybe it's just because it has so dramatically affected what I do, but...Around here houses and trusses used to be real simple. Very few sloped ceilings, relatively simple roof lines, etc. Now that we have computers, we can draw all this wacky stuff, then design and build it. What I do would be virtually impossible without computers. I know computers have affected other parts of home design. What would modern HVAC systems be without computers? Everything in the house has been touched by a computer indirectly somehow - Every last stick of lumber right down to the shape of the trap in the toilet. Maybe a bit of a stretch. But computers touch every part of home building now...
        Look at the sun and the shadow will fall behind you

      2. User avater
        CapnMac | Apr 28, 2006 06:37pm | #17

        why my vote went for 'builders'

        Mine, too.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

    3. smslaw | May 10, 2006 05:20pm | #28

      I share your rant.

      1. User avater
        CapnMac | May 10, 2006 06:53pm | #29

        I share your rant.

        I thank you.

        I would not have thought of Maine as a target for the big builders to inflict tract homes on the unsuspecting, though.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

        1. Piffin | May 27, 2006 05:02pm | #34

          the invasion has begun 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. User avater
            CapnMac | May 28, 2006 07:07am | #35

            the invasion has begun

            Argh, all this last week, I've been seeing Toll Brothers vehicles about.

            Might be a sign of the 'Pochy'clpse!Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

  4. User avater
    JeffBuck | Apr 28, 2006 02:07am | #8

    tradition.

     

    as in .. house styles that haven't fallen down in that particular location ... and uaually the types replicated.

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

  5. andybuildz | Apr 28, 2006 03:00am | #9

    I think new custom homes are done the same way as renovations to a degree.

    The buyer throws out their ideas from past homes they're loved. Homes they've lived in, homes in the  hood, homes in rags. They give that to the architect and the architect does whatever the architect feels like doing and then with some  initial changes the plans get drawn up.

    Sooooo...I'm checking the archy box.

    If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!

    TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]

  6. Kaliforniaman | Apr 28, 2006 08:46am | #11

    The question is Who or What has the most impact...  I would agree with CapnMac.  I would add that rising prices and technology has changed the way we build homes.  Take hardwood floors, they are just too expensive for most home buyers these days, cheaper alternative products have replaced them.  I never see inlayed patterns floors anymore, like the 1910 rosewood inlays.

     

    On the technology side you have the television reinventing what our living room is used for.  You have kitchens requiring more counter space and more electrical requirements.

  7. User avater
    txlandlord | Apr 28, 2006 05:07pm | #15

    My inclination is to say architects and / or builders, but then I think about nation wide or world wide magazine media and my decision is made.

    I have a friend who owns a landscape company. He is very good and his reputation spread, he does upper end work and signed on with a few pool companies, passed out flyers, but his business really took off when he ran an ad in a local home magazine. In the same way, I am thinking impact is with media coverage and mass promotion.

    Boss has a good idea in that computers should be included, and would probably be my first choice. An architect can produce great designs and reach his local market and beyond, but he can market the plans through the internet and reach the world. So in this case, what element is having the most impact? The architect, his device for promo or both?

    Lowes and Home Depot have a local presence, but what of their TV Ads and Nascar sponsership?

    Speaking of Nascar. What would Nascar be without TV?

    I am thinking with just about anything, the answer has got to be some or all types of media. Magazines in the case of the original question.

     

  8. User avater
    rjw | Apr 28, 2006 10:15pm | #18

    Most impact v most important impact v best impact


    Fighting Ignorance since 1967

    It's taking way longer than we thought

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Apr 29, 2006 01:44am | #19

      The question was "most impact", if I still have my faculties.

      I'd opt for none of the above. The reason is that land use is at a premium, and here at least the influx of bipeds is alarming.

      So, I'd say door # 17 gaazillion Ruth, we have too many impacters on the impactable landscape.

      Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      Damm, I miss that stuff

      1. blue_eyed_devil | May 08, 2006 01:58pm | #24

        Not enough wasn't a choice and neither is computers.

        If the question is thrown out there with all options available, then I'd choose homeowners. Homeowners have influenced the design and build process by buying the things that please them the most. They have all the options to buy what they want with their money and they spend it as they see fit.

        blue 

  9. JohnSprung | Apr 29, 2006 01:52am | #20

    Inherent in this question is the unwarranted assumption that residential structures are, in fact, designed.  As a counterexample, I should post some pictures of the remodel that just happened next door to me.  It looks like part of Hitler's Atlantic wall, with the front door from a Food4Less on it. 

     

     

    -- J.S.

     

    1. philarenewal | May 08, 2006 08:35am | #23

      >>"As a counterexample, I should post some pictures of the remodel that just happened next door to me.

      That's cruel.  Now you know you have to post some pics.  Who isn't dying to see this thing the way you described it.  ;-)

      Pic, pics, pics . . . . 

      "Let's get crack-a-lackin"  --- Adam Carolla

      1. rez | May 27, 2006 03:35pm | #33

        yes John, where's those pics?

        half of good living is staying out of bad situations

  10. studiomcl | May 08, 2006 04:43am | #21

    To say builders have had the most influence on Residential desing is like saying that fast flood has had the most influence on menues 7 what people enjoy eating.

    1. philarenewal | May 08, 2006 07:18am | #22

      >>"To say builders have had the most influence on Residential desing is like saying that fast flood has had the most influence on menues 7 what people enjoy eating.

      It's really that fast food has had the most influence on what most people eat.

      Ever been to a fast food joint?  Take a look around at who is there (I likely will be).  Not always the greatest crowd.  ;-)

      Big builders end up (seems to me) designing the most stuff or influencing its design 'cause they have to build it.  They tell the masses what the masses are to want -- a gianormous big house with absolutely no style or class, inexpensive to build, with a good profit margin. 

      "Let's get crack-a-lackin"  --- Adam Carolla

  11. User avater
    hammer1 | May 08, 2006 02:45pm | #25

    TV

    Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
  12. user-151394 | May 10, 2006 07:51am | #26

     

     

     

    Yes, although builders have a great deal to do with the design of the home it's the archetect who comes up with the ultimate style, apperance and nuances that create a lasting impression on the mind.  Having done both design and building my design work has always freed me as fare as expresion where my building always hindered my design because of monetary constraints.  Package stores have brought alot of changes to homeowner but I've found that the home owner usually does such a bad job in adding or making the changes they may as well have just left the home the way it was than to screw with it's apperance.  Now having a building store that cattering to the builder and archetect, know there's a real thought for the mind.

    John R.

  13. Sadie | May 10, 2006 05:17pm | #27

    I cast my vote for "Big Box Home Centers" .  Even though a builder may provide catalogs, I & others may still wish to view the selections identified in catalog to learn what alternative if any there may be.  Where best but at the Big Box Stores to view so much?

  14. DanH | May 27, 2006 02:22pm | #32

    I dunno -- where do the designs for spec McMansions come from?

    If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
  15. rolla | Jun 01, 2006 03:29am | #36

    I think there is an architect behind or within  every home builder's company so when you vote for home builders you are really voting for architects....  Right everyone?

    Rolla

    1. bolts | Jun 02, 2006 12:37am | #37

      No.You can make it fool proof but not idiot proof 

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