A few years ago I had recently completed a landscape design for a client
when Amy called saying her brother Bryan was going to build a green house
on the beach. Soon I would spend many hours looking over drawings and
working through designs with Bryan Cranston. We would discover many
similarities between the two seemingly disparate processes of film making
and structural design. And in the end we would produce a design for a
Passive Solar, Platinum LEED, Modern home.
For 3 Palms we quickly adopted a team (or charrette) method both required
by LEED Certification and the manner in which I am accustomed to working.
The architectural design of the project must proceed from a singular design
concept while at the same time allowing for technical and creative input from
the design team. There in lies the danger. It was the Turkish born, British Engineer
and designer of the Morris Minor and the Mini, Sir Alec Issigonis who said;
“A camel is a horse designed by a committee.”
During our complete and exhaustive Preliminary Design Phase, I would prepare
concepts in the form of design drawings, sketches and models for design meetings
at which the client/s, myself, and select team members would be invited to give
input relative to their respective roles and knowledge. Our Architect of Record,
Larry Graves of Alliance Deign Group, Bryan Henson, President of Allen Associates Builders,
Laima Reeder our engineer, Jim Morledge, Project Manager for Allen Associates,
and others would often sit in at preliminary design meetings.
The result of our teams thorough design process is that we have made many of our
mistakes on paper rather than with wood, concrete and steel.
As Project Designer for 3 Palms my role is to oversee all aspects of the design and
construction process. Throughout, I have kept a strong hand in guiding the continuity,
or harmony, of the overall design intent. This design intent, or vision, comes from our
client/s; A green building of warm modern style and low maintenance. Bryan Cranston’s
goal is to produce an aesthetically pleasing, modern, green design, without compromise of
creature comforts, while using the latest in green building design principles, materials
and systems.
For my part, I am pleased with our progress. We have taken advantage of
the natural elements and beauty of the building site. I believe we have made a highly
efficient use of an otherwise restrictive building envelope, and, we have endeavored
to assimilate green building components, both active and passive, within the overall
design.
In the end, the design of the structure itself will be sealed in time and
space. It is an expression of the will of our clients, the knowledge and experience of
our team, the integrity of our design concept, and the technology, materials
and systems available to us.
When complete, the house we have built will be experienced and assessed by
it’s owners, occupants and guests over many years. My hope is that none of these
occupants or guests will think we have produced a camel.
Partnerships – As vital and contributing team members, our sponsors have played
a key role in the development of the 3 Palms Project. Next, more on the relationship
of our valued sponsors to the success of our work.
-John A. Turturro, Project Designer, 3 Palms