Abandoned farmhouse near Marble Falls, Texas

Historical renovation of abandoned Farmhouse near Marble Falls, TXBuildings are neglected for many reasons. Some are exotic products of native people, developed in ways unfamiliar to modern life. Other buildings become way too familiar and unimportant to appreciate any longer. Vernacular architecture, structures using local materials in functional style, developed to meet the needs of common people in their time and place. These anonymously-built cabins, barns and outbuildings are occasionally seen in rural areas.

Men and women who fabricated these structures tell us their stories through the daily labor of their built world. Study of 'the neglected' brings diversity to architecture and acknowledges how those who came before us developed culture out of their spatial dimension. One architectural response to the 'green'/ sustainability movement is to recognize the embodied energy that exists in negected buildings, then adapt whatever is still useful in them as integral components in our present-day designs.

Onsite Architectural History Lessons Through Travel

Our firm feels that architecture is not a personal philosophical or aesthetic pursuit by a few individualists, but rather a profession that must consider the everyday needs of people who own the property, live in the homes, and use the technology and aesthetic environment that we design. This philosophy is a more people-oriented and client-centric design process that we feel provides our clients with increased enjoyment and livable experiences in their homes. We use the behavioral, environmental, social, and aesthetic needs of the owners to inform us as we guide them through our design process. As a consequence of our design orientation, the study of historical examples of architecture 'in situ,' on location, is essential to our creation of new designs, historical preservation, and remodeling. An architect learns much about culture, craftsmanship, climate, societal influences and the development of communities by visiting sites, countries, and locales that differ from the one in which he or she practices architecture. Whether we are working on a modern home, a new home with historical references, or a preservation project, the study of the details, scale, and proportions of buildings that have gone before us can be a rich resource for artful ideas. The onsite examination of how ancient structures have survived also helps us understand how to produce designs that respect the environment and adopt practices that increase their sustainability. So, travel with us and enjoy your vantage point as we give you access to hidden details that we find in a world of architecture.

The Duomo was begun in 1386, in a rayonnant Gothic style that is more characteristic of France than Italy. Work proceeded for generations, the main spire being topped off in 1762. The Milan Cathedral blurs the normal distinctions between Gothic and Neo-Gothic. Only in details does it reveal its Baroque and Neo-Classical date.

About Steve Chambers

Steve Chambers AIA, Residential Architects, Dallas TX. Steve is a Residential Architect and a licensed interior designer. He achieves unique styles by enquiring into what his clients think would be their ideal home and building a home that meets their stylistic aspirations while centering the design of their home around their daily habits.

Visit his portfolio or contact Public Relations Director, Stephanie Chambers.