Tips to Remember When Hiring an Architect

If you’re getting ready to hire a Salem MA architect, then you’ll need to remember that it’s not just a matter of looking online and hiring the first firm you come across. As one article noted recently:

After all, you want an architect who understands your dreams for your renovation or new residence and will work with you to achieve that dream.

You’ll want to look at their portfolio, ask them about the design process and problems they’ve had to overcome with previous designs. It’s also important to discuss with them pricing, who you’ll be working with and you’ll need to figure out whether you and the prospective candidate get along.

Read the entire article: “What You Need to Know to Hire an Architect.” 

Do You Really Need to Hire an Architect?

There are some things in life where hiring a professional may not seem very necessary, but when it comes to your home this is not the case, unless you are a professional in the particular area to be worked on. Of course, not everyone is sold on the need for professional services, but keep in mind that one gets out of something what they put into it.

So, if you are planning on building a home, then it is highly recommended that you first choose an architect to help you make the best use of your time and money. After all, you want your home to not only be a place to relax and rejuvenate after a long day at work, but a place where you can pursue whatever hobbies and activities you enjoy. Whether it is hiring Boston architects to design that home with a great room complete with ornamental fireplace or having an architect design a state of the art kitchen where you can entertain guests, having a professional will ensure you get the look you want for your home.

But what else does an architect bring to the table? Here are some other reasons why hiring an architect will make a significant difference in the outcome of one’s home designs.

• An architect will take the time to design, or re-design existing house plans, to meet your needs. A good architect will sit down with you and ask question about your routines, hobbies and plans for the future so that the final product will meet all your needs.
• As you look over blueprints to decide on the look of your new home, you will likely encounter terminology that you are unfamiliar with. An architect will be able to explain these to you so that you can be sure that you select plans that meet your needs.
• There is more to a home than its structure. An architect can also work with you to ensure that any plans you have for landscaping, will work with the design of your new home. They can even help with choosing the ideal location on your property for your home to be built so that you get the best views.
• If you want a home that makes a statement both architecturally and artistically, then your architect is the person to talk to as they are skilled in both of these fields.
• An architect can help you choose a contractor, saving you the time of interviewing numerous people to find someone who gets your vision for the house and has the knowledge to accomplish the task. They will also work with the contractor to ensure they understand any changes to the plans.
• Architects understand design elements like lighting, texture, color and more that add style and personality to a home.

Hiring an architect is one of the most important steps you can take towards building your new home. Their understanding and knowledge will help your experience be positive. If you are considering building a new home or business facility, be sure to talk to an architect as part of the process.

Hiring an Experienced Boston Architect

Looking for the most experienced Boston architects around? We tackled the subject in an article a while back, and noted there are four main steps to hiring an architect: knowing what you want, asking around, narrowing down your list and finally choosing the best two or three.

When it comes to knowing you want, you should create a wish list and your visions for the project. Asking around should involve asking people you trust for recommendations. You should then have a fair amount of information to begin narrowing down your list to the final two or three candidates, and finally picking the best of the bunch.

As we said in the article, it's important to remember:

If you have or are in the process of building your dream home, you know how it important it is to take care in hiring an architect. It's not a process, like ordering a pizza, where a simple look at the Yellow Pages can tell you who to hire. It's something with which you should take care, as well as an abundant amount of research.

Read the entire article by clicking here.

Boston Architecture: 122 Commonwealth Avenue

When you visit 122 Commonwealth Avenue today, you'll find the headquarters for Bay State College. If you travel back in time over 130 years to 1871, however, you'll find this building in its original state, having been designed by architects Emerson and Fehmer, and built by James Brown Case and his wife, Laura.

The home itself has a very storied history, having been lived in not just by the original Case family, but later the Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts, as well as several other owners before and after the Bishop. The home's dining room even gained a bit of fame in its own right, having been included in Charles Elliott's 1876 book, The Book of American Interiors.

Start building your own piece of Boston architectural history today. Call Boston Architects today at (617) 323-6081.

Old State House: A Boston Legend

The oldest surviving public building in the City of Boston is the Old State House, a history structure originally built in 1713. The Boston architects behind the Old State House are unknown, but the building was altered, restored, and renovated by three separate architects during its lifetime; Isaiah Rogers, George Albert Clough, and Goody, Clancy and Associates.

The Old State House is built in the Georgian style, and is considered a U.S. National Historic Landmark, and is also listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. On March 5, 1770, the Old State House provided the backdrop for the clash between British soldiers and colonists known as the Boston Massacre. The building's balcony also served as the site where the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to the citizens of Boston in 1776. This building holds a lot of history for Boston and, if you get a chance, you should absolutely visit and check it out for yourself.

Looking to build your own history by constructing a brand new home? Contact Boston Architects today at (617) 323-6081.

Blueprints Explained

You may be vaguely familiar with what a blueprint is, but do you have a complete understanding of what information is contained on one, or how they're used by Boston architects? We've decided to put together a quick rundown to explain what you can expect to find on such a document.

According to Wikipedia, a blueprint is "a type of paper-based reproduction usually of a technical drawing, documenting an architecture or an engineering design." Nowadays, the term blueprint is often used to describe a detailed plan, and the traditional methods of creating blueprints have largely been replaced by plotters and computer aided design applications on computers.

Boston Architect is a company you can trust with your blueprint creation. We'll turn your dreams into an architectural design on paper, incorporate your ideas and wishes, and help the eventual builder on your project complete it to your specifications. Give us a call today at (617) 323-6081 to talk more about how our Boston architects can help you with your next home design or renovation design project.

Boston's Old North Church

The Old North Church, constructed in 1723, is a famous landmark in Boston history as well as Boston architecture. It was in this church that Paul Revere received the two-lantern signal, which meant the British were invading by sea. The church's official name today is Christ Church in the City of Boston, and the church itself is located at 193 Salem Street.



Here's an image of Boston's North End section. Here, you can see the steeple of the Old North Church shooting up from the rooftops.



A statute of Paul Revere stands outside the Old North Church as a symbol of that fateful April night in 1775.

Interested in designing some Boston architecture of your own? Contact Boston Architect today at (617) 323-6081.

Hancock Place: The Tallest Building in Boston

Known better as John Hancock Tower, Hancock Place has been the tallest building in Boston since 1976. It's the 50th-tallest building in the United States, and the 162nd-tallest building in the world.



Hancock Place stands approximately 790 feet tall and contains 60 floors. The structure's windows are highly reflective. In the image below, you can see parts of the city behind the camera being mirrored back.



This is a recent piece of Boston architecture, but a significant one nonetheless. Over the next few weeks, we'll be covering more famous Boston buildings in an attempt to help readers familiarize themselves with Boston's wide variety of architectural styles.

Boston Architect Gallery

For 30 years, Boston Architect has helped homeowners in Boston and surrounding areas create their own memorable bits of Boston architecture. We're affordable, but most of all, we're dedicated to doing amazing work. Here are a few photos of some projects we've completed for our customers.

















Imagine these looks as part of your new home or renovation. With Boston Architect, it's possible.

Call us today for Boston architecture work at (617) 323-6081. You can also get a free online quote.

Examples of Boston Architecture

Boston has many different types of architecture represented in its homes and buildings. Here are a few examples of Boston architecture we feel are significant.

 
Colonial
Revere House - 1681


Federal
Harrison Gray Otis' Second House  - 1802

 
Victorian
Boston Public Library - 1887


Contemporary
John Hancock Tower - 1972

Boston Architect appreciates the rich architectural history contained within the city of Boston, and we aim to help everyone create their own piece of Boston architecture. Interested in learning more? Give us a call at (617) 323-6081. You can also get a free architecture quote by filling out our online form.