What are Qualities of Good Architectural Design?

People are generally able to tell if they like something right off the bat. It’s not too hard to tell if you like a home’s decorations or if you like a certain flavor of ice cream. But when it’s time to contemplate architectural design, there are a few things you should keep in mind when you are deciding if you like the design or not. Boston Architect, an architectural design firm serving North Andover, has a few suggestions on what makes for good architectural design.

The architectural design you are presented with for your new home or for an addition or renovation for your current home should be both open-minded and bold. The architect you hire, like the ones here at Boston Architect, should keep your ideas in mind when they are designing for you. They should know exactly what you want and need, and they should be able to incorporate those ideas (within reason) into the design. The architectural design itself should be bold, as in, it should wow you and impress you. You should be excited about the design, not feeling iffy or wondering if you made the right decision.

Your architect should also be creative and pay attention to details. Your architect, like the ones at Boston Architect, should be able to think outside of the box and come up with an architectural design that is unique and suits your personal taste and style. But they shouldn’t lose sight of the details of your project either.

Architectural design can be described as a juggling act. You have to keep your eye on a lot of different and sometimes conflicting elements to be sure the design you are presented with is what you want but is also practical and affordable.

For more information on architectural design in North Andover, call Boston Architect at 617-323-6081 or contact us for a Free Quote.

Newton MA: Home Architect has Style

The team at Boston Architect really has some style. For residents of Newton MA, home architects need to be able to design somewhere you want to live. Not all home architects are alike. You’ll want a team that really listens to your wants, needs and concerns. When you’re having a new home or home remodeling project designed, you’ll want to know you’re getting the most for your money. In this blog, we’re going to cover how important it is to find an architect in Newton MA with style.

Your Personal Style

Your personal style is the most important, when it comes to designing your new home or home remodeling project. You’ll want your personal style to shine through every aspect of your Newton MA project. Be clear and upfront with your home architects about what you are envisioning for the project. This home should be dripping with personality by the end.

Our Style

We’ll bring some of our style to the table, as well. We’re trained, experienced and here to help. As professional home architects in Newton MA, we’ll offer some of our stylistic tips. You can see some of our previous projects on our website, so you can get a feel for what our style looks like.

Bringing Styles Together

We enjoy meshing the styles of our home architects and our Newton MA clients. A collaborative effort usually ends up better than either party could have designed on their own. You deserve to have the home you always dreamed of! It’s a reflection of you and the home architects you decide to go with. So, choose wisely.

Are you looking for some stylish Newton MA home architects? Look no further than Boston Architects. Contact us today by calling 617-323-6081 or Request a Free Estimate Online.

Architectural Design Considerations for Andover Residents

Are you looking to design a new home? Then the professional Andover architectural design experts at Boston Architect are your perfect choice. We have over 30 years of practice in the field, so we speak from experience when we give you the following advice on considerations to make before we design your home. Follow the simple steps below and you'll be building your new home in no time!

Budget

Before you begin the process of designing your dream home with us, your local Andover architectural design company, nail down a budget. There will be a fee to have the home designed and the designer will base the plan on your desired price-point. If you're not up front about your budget in the beginning, everyone loses. The designer will have to revise the plans and that may cost you additional money.

Location

Choosing a location for your home may be the biggest challenge of the whole project. You have a lot to think about when choosing a location. First of all, do you want to be in a city or rural environment? Do you love the hustle and bustle lifestyle, or do you want to tone it down? Once you've decided that, you need to take into consideration what the property has to offer. Will you need to provide a well and electricity or do you have city conveniences? All of these thoughts will be taken into consideration by your architectural designer.

Research Designs

Spend some time looking at home designs that you like. Find a style of house that will fit you and your family's needs. The more input you can provide to your designer, the better. We strive to create the perfect home for you, which requires a lot of participation on your end! Combine the best of everything you can find and we'll make it work. We'll take your dreams and craft them into a manageable and practical plan.

Hire an Andover architectural design expert today by calling 617-323-6081 or Request a Free Quote.

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.

Blueprints for House

Here are some of the more common questions we get asked about blueprints:

How many sets of architectural designs do I need to order?

It’s recommended those who have a mortgage and want to speed up receiving estimations order at least 10 sets.

What is a frontal sheet?

This is the artist’s representation of the home’s exterior. It’s drawn in two-point perspective to give you an idea of how the home will look once it’s built and landscaped.

What do detailed floor plans show?

These are complete in 1/4 scale, and illustrate each floor’s layout. Careful attention is paid to the dimensions of every room and interior space.

Boston blueprints designer AI Boston Architect can help you with all your architectural designs. Contact us today at www.Boston-Architect.com. 

Architect Facts

Below are some interesting facts about architects and architecture:

• An oculus is a horizontal circular opening, the most of famous of which can be found at the Pantheon.
• A cenotaph is an empty tomb, erected in honor of a dead ruler.
• Bridges were so sacred to the Incas that anyone who dared to tamper with one was put to death.
• It takes a person between 15 and 20 minutes to walk once around the Pentagon.
• There is only one man made structure that is visible from space: the Great Wall of China.

 When hiring a Salem MA architect, think first of Boston Architect. Learn about our services at www.Boston-Architect.com. 

Archtiect FAQ

Here are some of the most common questions we get about our architect services:

Why do I need an architect?

An architect will be able to provide you with the necessary tools to make your project successful. This person will become your advocate when dealing with design and construction issues, and should help you successfully navigate through the entire project scope, including budget, site and space.

What should I remember when hiring an architect?

Interview at least two or three architects, and find out if they’ve done the type of architecture you want. Visit the sites of their projects or take a look at the drawings. Be sure to speak to references, and ask them questions.

What all is involved in architectural design?

Architects have to think of many things before drawing up plans. They must consider what the building will be used for (the building’s “function”), and how many people are going to be in it at the same time. They also have to make sure it’s designed safely, and will last for many years.

Looking for a Salem MA architect? No matter the scope of your project, Boston Architect should be able to help. Enlist their services by visiting www.Boston-Architect.com. 

What Clients are Saying About Boston Architect

Thinking home renovation or architectural design? Consider Boston Architect for all your architectural services. Here's what one of our Boston MA clients had to say about us:

Easy to work with on reasonable price. Hard to find an experienced professional like him with great quality work but at reasonable price. Steven Petitpas excelled in his work on my new single family home architecture and will recommend him to anyone.

We’d love to put your testimonial on our website. Call us now at 617.323.6081 or visit www.Boston-Architect.com to request a free architectural quote.

Boston Kitchen Renovation Tips

Is your Beantown home kitchen in need of a serious facelift? Here are some Boston kitchen renovation tips to get you thinking about where to take your kitchen design:

Colors

It goes without saying, but colors make a huge difference in style, theme and filling empty areas. Colors can give your kitchen a certain mood and character, and can even make it look bigger or smaller; lighter colors add depth and warmth, while darker ones make spaces smaller.

Backsplashes

A backsplash ties every kitchen element together and add its own style by bringing together the color palette of other rooms. They come in variety of textures and no matter the chosen palette or theme, a backsplash can transform and enhance your kitchen.

Eco-friendly

Kitchens use most of your home’s energy, and a green-designed kitchen can save energy, as well as be functional and stylish. If you’re doing a simple remodel or update, or even creating a whole new kitchen, take the time to ask your Boston architect about how the project can be more environmentally friendly.

Organization

A top priority of your project should be how to make the area more organizational. Have it designed in a way that keeps clutter off of countertops, and has plenty of storage solutions. Ask about your designer or architect about installing a kitchen island, which can prove to be a great storage solution.

Need Boston architecture services for your kitchen design? Get in contact with AI Boston Architecture by visiting www.Boston-Architect.com. 

Hiring an Experienced Architect

If you have or are in the process of building your dream home in Boston, you know how it important it is to take care in hiring a Boston 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.

Know what you want
No matter who you select, it's going to come down to what you want. The first step you should take is to create a wish list of what you want the project to look like. Put together as many details as you can, including size, style, special features and plans for living in it. Such a plan will become the centerpiece you use in hiring a Boston residential architect.


Ask around
The most important aspect of any working relationship is trust. You want to be sure that whoever you hire ultimately will do the job you want to your specifications. Ask your friends and family for recommendations, as you're more likely to trust someone who has worked for someone you know. If your inquisitiveness hasn't resulted much in the way of names or leads, then search the Internet for the names of architects in your area.


Narrow down your list
Taking a good look at the architects' portfolios will give you a good idea of what each is capable. Examine their previous works to see if anything they've done previously would be a good fit for you and your needs. This will tell you about their Boston architectural design process and philosophy.

Before you make any calls to set up appointments or consultations, try to find out the following about each: do they stay with you through the entire process? Will they outsource anything, like schematics, administrative work or bid assistance? What is their typical fee structure like? Do they carry liability insurance? Are they LEED certified or having any green ratings? What have others had to say about their work? Finding out these answers before meeting face to face will leave more time to ask questions about your specific project.


Pick out the best two or three
With all this information available, you should be ready to meet with your top two or three picks. Call or e-mail each architect to set up a consultation, and ask every question of which you can think. Find out what kind of issues or opportunities could present themselves during the project. Ask about their workload, and if they're interested in your project. This will be the first chance each gets to find out what you want, so be sure to lay out very carefully your expectations.

After that last step, you should be ready to make a final selection. Trust your best instinct and whichever architect made you the most comfortable. Be sure to work out a contract where both parties' responsibilities are spelled out clearly.

Boston Architect Will Help You with Regulatory Requirements

Building permits can be difficult to understand if you’re not familiar with the process. The requirements to obtain one are often confusing and can be stressful. When you align yourself with Boston Architect, serving the Boston metro area and more, we’ll worry about the headaches.

Our residential architects will take care of all the proper permitting. We’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and are well versed in how the process works. You have enough to worry about, so let Boston Architect take care of the regulatory requirements.

When it comes to our clients, our goal is absolute satisfaction. Contact us today by visiting www.Boston-Architect.com, where you can obtain a free architectural design quote.