Taking on a home construction project—whether a modest addition, wholesale renovation, or new house—can be a daunting task for even the most intrepid homeowner. The possibility of creating a wonderful new environment for your family is exciting, but the disruption to your daily routine, the financial burdens, and unforeseen roadblocks promise new levels of anxiety. This course will attempt to alleviate home construction anxiety by answering questions commonly encountered in residential construction projects: How much will it cost? Do I need an architect? How do I find a contractor? What is the permitting process? How long will construction take? How do I know if I have paid for quality work? We'll tackle these in night one and from there we will explore design methodologies to help you better define your architectural needs. Universally useful architectural concepts—including methods of spatial organization, designing for effective natural and artificial light, properly relating a house to its context—as well as broader design philosophies will be explored. In the second night, we'll dive into each student's home project, using Zoom and onscreen visualization. Participants will be asked to email the instructor plans, photos, or similar images of their home for design feedback. At the end of this course, you will be able to face your home construction projects with greater confidence and peace of mind.
