Tour illustrates elements of modern design
2014 MA (MODERN ATLANTA) ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
The 2014 MA Architectural Tour, part of MA Eighth Annual Design Is Human Week, features 11 homes and two commercial spaces (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center and Lightroom 2.0) in the Atlanta area.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 7-8
Cost: $35 per person (students with ID, $25)
For tickets and information: MA-designishuman.com and some ticket locations around Atlanta. And follow the MA14 story on:
- Instagram and Twitter: @ModernAtlanta
- Facebook: Modern Atlanta
Diane and Tony Riffel hoped one day to live in a modern house. Now they do.
Their move to modern began a few years ago. The couple, who lived in Grant Park, had started a family. With two young daughters, the Riffels had outgrown their one-bedroom loft and were on the hunt for a modern house that suited their lifestyle — but more importantly, their budget.
The Riffels, owners of Atlanta-based Octane Coffee and fans of modern design, were introduced by their real estate agent to Brian Ahern of Darby Construction in Atlanta. With permits and plans in place, Ahern was ready to build a modern spec house on a lot in the historic Reynoldstown/Cabbagetown area of Atlanta.
The Riffels and Ahern struck a deal. In November 2012, the family moved into their new two-story, 1,950-square-foot house, which looks like two boxes stacked perpendicular to each other.
The house features an open floor plan with various ceiling heights and energy-efficient windows that were placed to provide lots of natural light yet maintain privacy. Two covered patios and a roof deck work well for this family who likes to entertain.
“The house has simple, clean lines and flows well — inside and out,” Diane said. “We love modern but live modestly. It suits us.”
The Riffels’ home is one of 11 homes (and two commercial spaces) on the Modern Atlanta Architectural Tour, June 7-8. The tour is an opportunity to see various styles and elements of modern projects in the Atlanta area.
Modern home design integrates a number of features and elements. It might use unusual materials and have stark, planar walls and rooflines. But there are other key elements of modern architecture and design, according to Ahern and Bryan Russell, an architect and partner in Dencity Design, an Atlanta-based design-build firm. Modern design:
- Solves problems. Modern architecture and design are about solving problems of today with today's technology, materials and building techniques.
- Emphasizes function, form and flow. Rooms and adjacent spaces are designed so the residents can use, move and live easily in various multifunctional areas. Fewer walls and open floor plans make that possible.
- Adds light and privacy. Homes often feature floor-to-ceiling windows and lots of sliding glass doors to bring in the light. Rooms should not be dark because of privacy issues. Landscaping and exterior courtyards can shield a neighbor's view but allow light. Clerestory windows, which are often set high in the walls of the home, allow light but preserve privacy.
- Keeps things simple. Homes are typically free of clutter and unnecessary details. The focus is on the space. Streamlining details, plus keeping the space clean and simple, is the goal.
“Details are important in modern design and construction,” Ahern said. “Many people believe that executing a minimalist aesthetic is less time-consuming than more traditional work. Actually, it takes more time in most cases.”
- Connects the inside to the outside. Multiple rooms that open onto a patio, porch, deck, courtyard or terrace are designed to extend the square footage and blur the distinctions between indoors and outdoors — making a smaller home feel larger.
“Utilizing this idea can save money,” Russell said. Designing smaller spaces means less square footage — and lower costs.
- Uses technology. New technologies are used, not because they are the latest thing, but because they improve the way we live. A smart, new thermostat that programs itself, automatically turns down the temperature when you are not home or adjusts to your comfort level is an example of using technology in a modern wise way.
- Offers energy-efficient features. A smart thermostat (like the Nest) can lower your heating and cooling bills by up to 20 percent. So can other energywise building materials and details, such as open-cell foam insulation, energy-efficient glass in all windows and doors, white roof membrane to reflect solar heat gain. Some passive solar features, including thermal mass from concrete floors, roof overhangs and breezeways, also help.
- Should be fun. A modern home or building should have the same kind of appeal as an iPhone, Russell said. It should be easy to use and understand, but also add a bit of wonder and delight to your experience with it.
