Alternative Solution #3

.............First Floor..........................Second Floor...............

Alternative Solution #2

..............First Floor.........................Second Floor...............

Alternative Solution #1

.............First Floor.........................Second Floor.............

Brainstorming

The following are brainstorming sketches for the alternative solutions:

Testing Procedures

Design Expectations: All plans must clearly display the specifications set forth by Mr. and Mrs. Crumlish. The new house should satisfy the desire for a primary home in Manasquan, NJ to replace their existing summer home. The exterior appearance of the house must fit in with the surrounding environment and be aesthetically pleasing. The first floor should provide a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for entertaining and lodging guests, with a Master Suite refuge on the second floor solely for Mr. and Mrs. Crumlish. There should be ample and sensible transitions between rooms. The Master Suite should include a Master Bedroom, Master Bathroom, walk-in closet, and private balcony. The house should encompass outdoor areas for enjoying favorable weather and provide spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as Fisherman’s Cove (to the rear of the house) for year-round enjoyment. The house should also have an outdoor shower as well as outdoor storage. The decision by Mr. and Mrs. Crumlish to move forward with the presented plans and construct the house is the ultimate objective of the project.

Testing procedures are as follows:

1. Review all plans with the client. The entire design of the house should exceed the satisfaction of the client. Any discrepancies must be documented as part of the Final Evaluation and eliminated. Areas of assessment include:
   a. floor plan layout,
   b. window & door schedule,
   c. exterior elevations,
   d. interior finishes, and
   e. exterior finishes.
2. The client, as well as immediate family and friends, should each complete a survey serious in nature providing honest feedback of the overall design of the proposed house.
3. Following approval from the client, a Zoning Permit Application must be completed and submitted to Mr. Richard Furey, Borough of Manasquan Zoning Officer.
   a. The Zoning Permit Application must be complete and signed.
   b. A survey less than five (5) years old must be submitted.
   c. All building plans must be submitted.
4. Following approval of the Zoning Permit Application, a Building Permit Application must be obtained through the Borough of Manasquan Building Department. If the Zoning Permit Application is denied, discrepancies must be documented as part of the Final Evaluation and eliminated.

Research

Architecture is the art and technology of realizing, from design through construction, physical spaces that meet the basic necessities of human existence on the individual and collective levels (Bussagli 7). The interior and exterior construction of a building is affected by geographic location, climate, available materials, anatomical structure of humans, and the specific function of the building. Architectural language is created by design, building technology, and building style (Bussagli 7). Building style is often influenced by historical context and/or by artistic and cultural trends of the time.

The relationship between people and space is conditioned by the anatomical structure of the human body (Bussagli 9). Humans perceive space in four parts: right, left, front, and behind, and sometimes above and below. This is the “concept of four-way space” (Bussagli 9). Ergonomics is the field of technology that considers physical capabilities, work processes, and environments in the design of machines and everyday implements (Bussagli 31). Walter Gropius asserted that design concept “embraces in general the entire orbit of what surrounds us and derives from the hand of man, from simple domestic furnishings to the complex organization of an entire city”.
Architectural plans are the horizontal sections of structures showing the system by which spaces are organized and the relationship between the exterior and interior. Each drawing indicates thickness of walls, dimensions of rooms, and the location and size of doors and windows. The basis of a plan is to make it possible to identify architectural style, forms, and elements. Plans are considered the “genetic code” of a building. (Bussagli 104)

Architecture can be interpreted through linguistic code, based on grammatical and syntactical rules all its own, that is called style (Bussagli 107). Facades may be regarded as the “calling card” of the building, or image by which it is commonly identified and remembered. Typical features of a façade are architectural orders, windows, and doors. (Bussagli 98) Doors are crucially important in the architectural composition of a building, involving arrangement on the main façade, secondary façades, and any minor structures adjoining the main building (Bussagli 100). Porticoes are an architectural element occupying a position midway between the exterior and interior of a building, open on at least one side, lined with columns/pillars (Bussagli 101). Windows satisfy the need for light and ventilation. The variety of style varies according to interior/exterior use.

Several different drawing techniques are used in architecture. A sketch is a drawn idea, quickly done, which suggests a final building, sculpture, or painting and sometimes becomes an end and art form in itself. Its crudeness or refinement is not the issue, but rather the intention for its final use (White 280). Drafting implies free-hand drawing (White 90) leading to the creation of working drawings and/or blue prints. A rendering is a pictorial illustration of a proposed building or structure, traditionally a perspective proto-photograph that appears to be as real as the finished product (White 254). Computer Aided Design is used in the drafting and design of all types of buildings, from small residential types (houses) to the largest commercial and industrial structures (hospitals and factories). There are also several different types of modeling techniques used in architecture. A finished model is a scale representation of what the building or structure will look like when complete and is often built to communicate design ideas to clients, owners, committees, customers, and the general public. A site model shows the building or structure in relation to the surrounding area.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Since 1857, the AIA has represented the professional interests of America's architects. As AIA members, over 80,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners express their commitment to excellence in design and livability in our nation's buildings and communities. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public, and colleagues of an AIA-member architect's dedication to the highest standards in professional practice. (AIA 1) The AIA estimates the number of architects licensed in the U.S. at 108,000. Licensure is the highest form of professional regulation, and all 50 states require an individual to be licensed in order to call him or herself an architect. Each state establishes its own professional standards for architect licenses, and architecture registration boards in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories, require that candidates satisfy those standards for education, training, and examination. (Facts 1) The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is the sole agency authorized to accredit US professional degree programs in architecture. There are currently 117 schools offering NAAB accredited professional programs in architecture, leading to the Doctor of Architecture, Master of Architecture or Bachelor of Architecture degree. Schools offering architecture as a major include University of Miami, The Cooper Union, Pratt Institute, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Texas at Austin, Virginia Tech, and Montana State University.

Limitations

The limitations of the house are based upon the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Manasquan and the International Residential Code 2006, New Jersey Addition:

• The Lot is located in the R-5 One-Family Residential zoning district.
• A new conforming building may be built on a nonconforming lot provided there is compliance with the following requirements:
  a. The building is used exclusively for residential purposes.
  b. The use of the building is permitted in the zone.
  c. The nonconforming lot is separately designated on the current municipal tax map or has been established by a subdivision approved by a Municipal Land Use Board.
  d. The proposed new building complies with subsection 35-9.4 (Schedule of Area Yard and Building Requirements) for the zone in which it is located.
  e. Building height does not exceed thirty (30) feet as measured from: the top of an existing curb; or in the absence of an existing curb, from the crown of the road; or in the case of beachfront lots, from the elevation of the monumented beachfront line. (Ord. No. 1956-05 § 3) (New Jersey Ch. 35)
• A Zoning Permit Application of the Borough of Manasquan must be completed, indicating any variances. Variances must be approved by the Zoning Department. Reference: http://www.manasquan-nj.com/~manasqua/docs/ZONING.pdf.
• The area, yard and building requirements for each zone in the municipality are as set forth in Schedule I. Reference:http://70.168.205.112/manasquan_nj/lpext.dll/Infobase/lpext.dll?f=objects&fn=Ch35_sch1.htm.
• The survey of Lot 8, Block 182.01, Tax Map, Borough of Manasquan, Monmouth County, New Jersey pronounces lot dimensions and boundary lines as well as dimensions of the current structure. See Appendix C.

Reference:

• New Jersey. Monmouth. Manasquan. Office of the Borough Clerk. Revised General Ordinances of the Borough of Manasquan. Amended through April 2, 2007, Supplement No. 12. 1998.
• International Residential Code 2006, New Jersey Edition. April 2007. International Code Council, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1-58001-515-8, ISBN-10: 1-58001-515-8

MP1 Calendar

Specifications

The house must satisfy the wants and needs of Mr. & Mrs. C while also meeting the zoning requirements of the Borough of Manasquan. A floor plan view (with dimensions and rooms labeled), exterior elevation views (with materials labeled and heights of floor and ceiling lines, and window and door heights dimensioned), a cross-section through the structure, and a three-dimensional color rendering of the exterior and one interior room must be presented to the client, as well as a scale model of the house. In addition, a site plan may be produced.

The specifications of the house reflect the wants and needs of Mr. and Mrs. C:

• Mr. and Mrs. C are looking to spend an average amount for the completion of their new beach house.
• A house near the shore must be built to withstand the elements: salt air, flooding, high wind, extreme sunlight, and more. Quality must not be spared in the building materials of the house, including but not limited to windows, doors, lumber, siding, and roofing. Quality also extends to the interior of the house, including but not limited to floor coverings, appliances, plumbing, and utilities.
• The overall house must be aesthetically pleasing.

Interior/Use of Space:

• The layout of the house should provoke a light, social, and relaxing environment.
• The house must be two (2) stories.
• The house must have a decent sized kitchen to accommodate frequent cooking and entertaining, as people often gather in the kitchen when entertaining.
• The house must have an informal dining area to eat meals, especially when entertaining.
• The house must have an adequate living room area for entertaining and to hang out.
• The house must have a front porch no smaller than the current front porch (approximately 168 square feet).
• The house must have two guest bedrooms for visitors. The guest bedrooms may be on the first floor, second floor, or one on each floor.
• There must be ample space, on the first or second floor, to set up sewing equipment and quilting tables.
• If space exists, a library/study is desired.
• The second floor must have a master suite.
• The master suite must have large views and a private balcony on the east elevation for viewing the sunrise over the ocean.
• The second floor must have large views and a balcony on the west elevation for viewing the sunset over the cove.
• The master suite must have a master bathroom with a walk-in shower as well as a tub.
• The master suite must have a walk-in closet.
• The master suite must have a sitting area for enjoying coffee in the morning.
• There must be an outdoor shower.
• There must be outdoor storage.
• There must be a bathroom on the first floor, and if there is a guest bedroom on the floor, the bathroom must have a shower.
• There must be a bathroom (other than the master bathroom) on the second floor if there is a guest bedroom on the floor, and the bathroom must have a shower.
• The house must have heating and air conditioning.
• There must be a utility room, where the hot water heater, HVAC, washer, and dryer will be located.

Exterior:

• The house must have a metal roof.
• The house must have a balanced window plan.
• The house must be built in a style similar to many of the new constructions nearby. This style predominantly consists of features from both the Stick Style and Shingle Style.
  

Background Information

Mr. and Mrs. C live in Matawan, NJ. In the summertime they enjoy spending time at their beach house in Manasquan, NJ, about a half-hour away. The Cs enjoy entertaining at their beach house and often have friends spend the day or even a few days. The house has a front porch, living room, kitchen, dining room, two guest bedrooms, a bedroom which their two daughters share, a master bedroom, and a bathroom.

The house is located on First Avenue, between Brielle Road (to the north) and Pompano Avenue (to the south). Off-street parking for the beach house is off Timber Lane, which runs north and south behind the house. Across the street on the other side of First Avenue are two rows of houses. Past the two rows of houses is the beach.

The house was built in the early 1920’s and has remained nearly the same since its construction. One part of the house, however, is an addition to the original house. The only bathroom in the house originally did not exist and was constructed outside on the back porch of the house. Following the construction of the bathroom a larger addition was put on the back of the house consisting of a storage room, an informal dining room and a bedroom. The original roof in the back of the house is visible inside the addition. The house has no heating or air conditioning, nor is it insulated. In the kitchen is a gas stove/oven that dates back to the 1940s.

Mr. and Mrs. C would like to live in Manasquan year round following their retirement, yet the ir one story frame dwelling would be uninhabitable year round. They would like to start over by demolishing their current beach house and building a new one that would be much more suitable for full-time living. As they start over, there are certain things they would like to see in their new house to fit their lives. This includes a master suite, open space to set up sewing and quilting equipment, a decent sized kitchen suitable for a good amount of cooking, a living room suitable for entertaining, guest bedrooms, and several outdoor areas.

The C’s new beach house is where they will spend most of their retirement, so it has to be perfect. Everything about the house will be designed to meet their wants and needs. They are in complete control of what their house will be like so they can enjoy each and every day of their retirement and continue to entertain all their friends. It is the duty of the architect to give them the best retirement home possible.

Click here for the lot survey.

Design Brief

Design and model a beach house for Mr. & Mrs. C’s retirement in Manasquan, NJ to replace their existing beach house.