Considering a last minute elevation change

11 years ago

We broke ground on our home this week (FINALLY!) and I'm feeling very nervous about how our elevation will look when it is fully constructed.

The exterior of our house will have a mediterrean type style, and has a partial second floor, however the height isn't centerred over the front door.

Here is what it looks like now:

Our architect has reassured me that when constructed this will look great, but I have had reservations all along.

He did give me two options to change it. One is to bring up the peak above front door and the room the right (den/study) by 1 ft (he says anything more will look wrong).

The second option is below. This almost solves the problem, but I don't like how it changes the angles and removes the peaks.

Anyone have any brilliant suggestions?

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Comments (16)

kirkhall
11 years ago
Laura, don't worry! (but if you change, I do like option 2.)
daisyblue
11 years ago
Congratulations on breaking ground! I really like option 2 ~ it gives the entry a more pronounced look. Either way, it's going to be a handsome house!
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done_again_2
11 years ago
I prefer the second option. The roof type more closely matches the rest of the house. The windows to the left and right of the front door are plain compared to the others. Will they have the muntins like the rest of the windows?
User
11 years ago
I think the second option is OK, but only if the whole entry is either stucco or stone. The mix of materials doesn't work.
auroraborelis
Original Author
11 years ago
live_wire_oak - I see what you mean about the stone, I'd do the entire entry with the second example.

The responses to the second option seem to have all of you saying "just okay" is there anything else that I could do with this structurally to make it more than "okay"?

Thanks!
marcolo
11 years ago
Option 2 is OK but it's that gargantuan open mouth of a picture window that is throwing everything off and dwarfing the entry. It's the first thing you see. It is too wide, too plain and too different from all the other fenestration. It needs divided lights and some Slim-fast.
auroraborelis
Original Author
11 years ago
I see what you are saying about the windows.

The window the left is the kitchen, and it is all windows over the counter. Much of the design centered around those windows so I wouldn't want to change the size

I am not a fan of mullions/muntins/grilles on how I have to look through them from the interior of the house. I'd prefer to change the other ones to be less detailed, but could ad something to the larger windows as well... What would you do specifically?

Btw, the rest of the windows on the front of the house are in seldomly used rooms (bathroom, closet, laundry room and garage).

I also think more windows might need shutters or something... not sure which though!

Thank-you!
palimpsest
11 years ago
One thing I see is that the projecting gable over the new front entry matches the pitch of the primary roof behind it.

A few books: Getting your House Right, and What Not to Build recommend varying the pitch on secondary or projecting gables, and on dependencies rather than lining them all up.

Getting your House Right is based on strictly classical architecture so it gives good advice.

There is another book: The Old Way of Seeing, which discusses things like this.

We tend to do thing like align architectural elements or place things in strict grids but this often results in proportions that are off or visuals that aren't particularly pleasing, but we think they Should be that way. Really when you look at ancient or historic classical architecture or even the early architecture of America, it's Not that way, and there was generally a more pleasing visual proportion.
auroraborelis
Original Author
11 years ago
palimpsest - thanks for the perspective! Given that, what would you do with this elevation?
palimpsest
11 years ago
I would probably elevate the wall and the roof massing over the room on the right And consider a front facing gable that encompassed both the front door and that window. And I would vary the pitch of the front facing gables. That is what is considered correct in classical architecture, not matching them all.

Right now the second option still has a long down-sloping effect that still diminishes the door location, in my opinion.
auroraborelis
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks!

Do you happen to have a picture of something that would represent what you describe?
palimpsest
11 years ago
I can't really find anything online and since we are temporarily renting an apartment, I can't find the camera software for my computer (packed somewhere) so I can't take a picture from the book What Not To Build, which might help. Maybe someone else has the book or you could get a copy.
auroraborelis
Original Author
11 years ago
Palimpsest - I just ordered the book! :) Though, it will take until next week for it to arrive.

Is there a page in that book that would illustrate a front facing gable over both the front door and that window that also varies the pitch of the front facing gables?
lavender_lass
11 years ago
What if you added divided lights/mullions to the two side windows in the kitchen...and keep the middle one clear? Maybe do the same thing with the arched window, to the right of the door. That might blend the larger windows in with the rest of the front facade.

I like Option 2 as well, but if I saw Pal's idea that might be even better :)
auroraborelis
Original Author
11 years ago
Nanj - I tried responding to your email but it was addressed to gardenweb_user@gardenweb.com and thus it couldn't go through to you! :)

Could you email again, but this time include your email address in the body of your email?

Thanks!
palimpsest
11 years ago
I sent some commentary on the book and what to look at to your email, did you get it?

Considering a last minute elevation change

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