MACKAY-LYONS

M-L’s work embodies sustainability, craft, honesty, and simplicity.  It is quite consistent among the houses in the reading.  It is evident that he applies the 3 F’s in the same fashion in dealing with residences along the Nova Scotia coastline.  I am curious how his travels affected him. How would he articulate his principles of terra-sensitivity & embrace of the traditional building technique in a different location?

For me, M-L’s 3 F’s (more specifically: their application in his work) is one of my “ahah!” moments in architecture.  Combining the vernacular, sustainability, moving parts, crisp materiality – yes yes yes & yes!  I value these F’s.

Of course I would like to be part of building the Ghosts.  A design / build is always something I have wanted to pursue in my practice.  Having worked at a couple design-builds – there is a richer sense of satisfaction being on site & working with the craftsmen.  If you actually are the builder – lucky you!  I would love that – I’ll have to work my ability to lift over 30 lbs. first.  Throughout the project it’s eye-opening to adjust details to the appropriateness of available materials, moody inspectors (I have been told, by an inspector, that the existing building code – the IEBC – does not exist), & specific skill of the tradesmen.  The realization manifests itself of how aloof a designer can be by just clicking a mouse.  Design-build grounds work in reality, but also pushes the designer to consider what envelopes can be pushed.  The challenge becomes being a master of translation – to produce clearly demonstrative “instructions” on how to build something, thus the craftsman cannot disagree with its possibility.

Why is it said that design-build is more expensive?  I was under the impression that it is perceived as more economical due to eliminating change orders & e/o backlash….?  Perhaps it is more expensive when an architect is subject to the virtues of his/her own design & refuses to value-engineer anything out.

-D. Hoet