Search results for "Awareness" in Home Design Ideas

This deck once a dream has emerged as additional outdoor living space and now represents a significant increase to property value. Outdoor living space has become todays must-have. This design features Zuri Premium Decking by Royal, the latest maintenance free PVC with the look of Ipe hardwood. A gas fire feature accented with EP Henry Stone over a base of Belgard African Tile, is integrated into the deck area. Adjacent, is a gourmet kitchen accented in stone and granite, flanked by an ample seating area for entertainment.
Highlighting the design is a stunning covered structure with a tiger wood ceiling, supported by a pair of detailed columns on 36” stone bases joined by custom powder coated aluminum rails. The covered area decked in Belgard Tile, features an outdoor entertainment centers that includes a Flat Screen TV with a Sound Systems mounted on an Ipe and Mahogany Paneled Wall. A built-in Heater and Ceiling Fan transform this space for comfort and an expanded season of enjoyment. An LED Lighting Design extends enjoyment into the evening hours.
A project of this scope requires a Deck Professional specializing in all the elements that make up an Outdoor Design. Designing and Building an Outdoor Living Area like this one requires expert techniques and a vast awareness of materials. DeckRemodelers takes ownership of every project that they handle incorporating all these elements into a turnkey delivery for the client concept-to-completion.

Bathroom - mid-sized farmhouse master gray tile and marble tile bathroom idea in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and white countertops

2010 NATIONAL NARI REGIONAL AWARD WINNER
Project Scope
The owners of this 7,000 square foot colonial in Oakton, Virginia, were seeking a multi-level Mediterranean-style indoor/outdoor living space off the back of their home. They turned to Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes for a design solution that would include a stone patio, a second-story deck, a screened-in porch and linking staircases.
While the structure was designed primarily for family dining and entertaining, it also had to accommodate periodic social gatherings of one hundred guests or more. To meet these needs, the project would include a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, several serving counters with permanent refrigeration, and well-delineated socializing and dining zones.
The existing home’s setting offered several impressive assets the new outdoor living area was designed to exploit. The sprawling acreage features old stand trees, wooded paths and a private lake. Beautifully landscaped, it unfolds as an idyllic panorama that naturally draws people to the outdoors.
Challenges
Since the rear elevation was situated on a slope that drops away from the house, the Michael Nash team had to raise the grade two feet within in a 2,000 square foot area extending out from the back of the house. Infrastructure plans also called for a sophisticated drainage system that had to accommodate a whole series of water “runoff” considerations to be integrated into the decking itself. Excavation included constructing retaining walls to bolster the elevated grade—which also had to support a concrete slab, the primary foundation for the entire complex.
Solutions
The ground level decking consists of a 2,000 square foot flagstone patio level with the home’s lower level doors. There is a decorative water fountain mid-patio—an ornate collectible acquired in Florida. Food preparation is concentrated within a specially designed semi-circular wall that creates an “outdoor kitchen” equipped with a 60” Viking barbecue grill, a prep sink, a warming drawer, refrigerator and appropriate storage. There is a granite surfaced dining counter with seating for eight.
Wrought iron railing and approximately 20 decorative columns (some encasing steel vertical supports) are incorporated into the design scheme. Many of the columns house accent lights.
The top level—supported by horizontal steel beams– is a 2,500 square foot deck constructed entirely of Trex decking. The open air decking is, again, directly accessible from rooms on the second level of the house including the kitchen, sunroom and family room.
The platform’s most prominent feature is a U-shaped “kitchenette” with cedar shake shingle roofing. Like its counterpart one level below, the facility is equipped with grill, refrigerator and stainless steel cabinetry.
One portion of the deck has been allocated for a 16’ x 16’ octagonal screened-in porch crowned by a pair of 2’ x 4’ skylights. The porch can be accessed from the home’s conservatory via a set of French doors. With its mosaic tile flooring, stained cedar panel ceiling and honed granite counters, the interior is elegant and calming. Hand-painted stenciling and a wall-mounted water feature provide distinctive detailing.
Finally, the design introduced elements to highlight and reinforce an awareness of the lovely bucolic setting. Fountains and water features combined with textured surfaces and mosaic tiling and backsplashes to present a villa-like ambiance well-suited to the Virginia countryside.
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Lady Bank's Rose on wall mounted trellis
Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in Phoenix.
Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in Phoenix.

Deck and Patio consulted with a good friend and architect, James DeLuca. Our collaborative effort inspired a building and extended pool deck that is in keeping with their home’s overall elegance.
About Travertine
Travertine natural stone has been in existence for thousand of years. It comes in many different colors, ranging from reddish orange, beige, to white, and is sometimes mistaken for marble.
Italian Travertine, revered for its hardness and porosity, is what the Coliseum in Rome was constructed of, so the durability of Italian Travertine is not in question, although it can be expensive.
However, Travertine is quarried from around the globe. The three most common locations where Travertine comes from are: Italy, Turkey, and Mexico. Mexico’s Travertine is a much softer and much more porous and does not hold up well in our frost zone.
Turkish Travertine, is very common and, in most instances, is less expensive than the Italian. It does hold up quite well in our Northeast’s freeze/thaw climate.
Be aware, however, that some companies offer very inexpensive Travertine for use outdoors and may seem to be a great deal. However, they may be using stone quarried in, say, China, where the qualities of such stone differ considerably and will not stand up to certain climates. Just because a stone is called “Travertine,” don’t assume it’s all the same. It’s not.

Here's what our client had to say about this project which is taken from our review page:
All Square has completed Phase 1 of an expected 3 phase whole house renovation of our lake home, and we are beyond thrilled with the results. We were demanding clients – my husband is an engineer by education and a program manager by profession, so he is very detailed, exacting and demanding. We solicited bids from 3 other general contractors before engaging All Square, but Micah Purvis won our confidence that he and his team could make our dream a reality. Micah is a master communicator, clear, detailed and pro-active in his approach to problems.
We were very happy with all the All Square employees who worked on our job – Daniel and Austin were great and a pleasure to have around – but most especially Justin Solomon, truly a jack of all trades. If there is something Justin can’t do or a skill he doesn’t possess, we aren’t aware of it. Justin was as reliable as the sun, here first thing every morning, troubleshooting problems, dealing with all the sub-contractors and making invaluable structural and design suggestions that made the finished product all the better. I honestly miss having Justin around and our dogs miss him too!
It is obvious that All Square has worked hard to identify and nurture relationships with quality tradesmen and a few of them really stand out for their superior work – Mike (stonemason), Jeremiah Cook (painter) and Michael Stewart (electrician).
When we are ready to begin Phase 2 of the renovation, there is no doubt that we will call Micah and All Square to do the work. We are so happy with our renovation and grateful that we made the right decision to entrust our forever home to All Square.

Tucker Design Awards celebrate the innovation and vision that designers bring to their projects through the specification and use of natural stone materials. For members of the Natural Stone Institute, acknowledgment as a contributor to a Tucker Design Awards winning project is a genuine tribute to their traditional values, physicality of work, and dedication to precise specifications required in the realization of such accomplished architectural design.
Landscape Architect
Design Workshop, Aspen, CO
Landscape Contractor/
Installer
Landscape Workshop, Carbondale, CO
Stone Installer
JD Masonry, Arvada, CO
Stone Suppliers
Coldspring, Cold Spring, MN
Gallegos Corporation, Vail, CO
Through a collective dialogue between landscape, architecture and interior design, a new vision reimagines the disturbed site into a livable landscape, emblematic of our American West. The residence – an ensemble of structures designed in a modern ranch vernacular – is effortlessly unified through layered, interconnected outdoor gathering spaces and regional materials that elaborates upon the experience of moving between structures, heightening and renewing one’s sense of place. Upon entering the courtyard, one is immediately aware of seamless and unfolding relationships between architecture and landscape through a sophisticated, regional palette of natural stone, water, and plants. Set upon architectural focal points, two perpendicular sandstone paths descend into the space and converge upon a monolithic, hand-carved granite fountain. The design of the fountain is purposefully quiet, both in its detailing and operation. The feature includes a recessed interior, allowing water to become still before it reaches the surface, with lightly cleft sides, allowing the water to delicately bounce as it descends into the geometric lower granite basin. The landscape architect’s selection of various stone material extends the tones of the home’s granite walls and contextual surroundings into the garden, but also be detailed in a manner that balances rural and modern qualities. The majority of the paving is constructed of rectilinear gray sandstone with a natural finish and snapped edges, laid in a staggered running bond organization. Throughout the garden, thoughtful attention was also given to the configuration and layout of terraces, pathways, and steps. In doing so, this ensured that the edges of the terrace and its interface to other elements were designed so that no “leftover” stone paver pieces would be found. Within the central courtyard, split-faced stone stairs descend into a rectilinear plinth of lawn, punctuated by a carved granite fire pit. Leveraging the property’s existing topographic relief, a shallow infinity-edge dipping pool abstracts the transparent and cavity-like pools found throughout the Rocky Mountains. The design purposefully achieves the illusion of a larger water feature with the distant pond and offers a refreshing recreational element. Containing the infinity edge, a designed granite escarpment emerges from the meadow, juxtaposing the geometric water feature and providing informal seating ledges. The site’s prior use required the landscape architect to incorporate a highly technical and complex sub-surface structural system. The initial geotechnical report identified the building envelopes rested on 12 feet of man-placed fill. Assuming a 1 percent settlement, the team faced concerns that the terraces would settle up to 12 inches. In response, a grid of structural micro-piles provides the necessary foundation for the construction of terraces immediately outside of the architecture, under the water features and site walls. The solution enabled the crisp detailing and design resolution of the architectural structures to seamlessly connect with the horizontal stone terraces.

This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine.
Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home.
The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living.
This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut.
Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

This deck once a dream has emerged as additional outdoor living space and now represents a significant increase to property value. Outdoor living space has become todays must-have. This design features Zuri Premium Decking by Royal, the latest maintenance free PVC with the look of Ipe hardwood. A gas fire feature accented with EP Henry Stone over a base of Belgard African Tile, is integrated into the deck area. Adjacent, is a gourmet kitchen accented in stone and granite, flanked by an ample seating area for entertainment.
Highlighting the design is a stunning covered structure with a tiger wood ceiling, supported by a pair of detailed columns on 36” stone bases joined by custom powder coated aluminum rails. The covered area decked in Belgard Tile, features an outdoor entertainment centers that includes a Flat Screen TV with a Sound Systems mounted on an Ipe and Mahogany Paneled Wall. A built-in Heater and Ceiling Fan transform this space for comfort and an expanded season of enjoyment. An LED Lighting Design extends enjoyment into the evening hours.
A project of this scope requires a Deck Professional specializing in all the elements that make up an Outdoor Design. Designing and Building an Outdoor Living Area like this one requires expert techniques and a vast awareness of materials. DeckRemodelers takes ownership of every project that they handle incorporating all these elements into a turnkey delivery for the client concept-to-completion.

This deck once a dream has emerged as additional outdoor living space and now represents a significant increase to property value. Outdoor living space has become todays must-have. This design features Zuri Premium Decking by Royal, the latest maintenance free PVC with the look of Ipe hardwood. A gas fire feature accented with EP Henry Stone over a base of Belgard African Tile, is integrated into the deck area. Adjacent, is a gourmet kitchen accented in stone and granite, flanked by an ample seating area for entertainment.
Highlighting the design is a stunning covered structure with a tiger wood ceiling, supported by a pair of detailed columns on 36” stone bases joined by custom powder coated aluminum rails. The covered area decked in Belgard Tile, features an outdoor entertainment centers that includes a Flat Screen TV with a Sound Systems mounted on an Ipe and Mahogany Paneled Wall. A built-in Heater and Ceiling Fan transform this space for comfort and an expanded season of enjoyment. An LED Lighting Design extends enjoyment into the evening hours.
A project of this scope requires a Deck Professional specializing in all the elements that make up an Outdoor Design. Designing and Building an Outdoor Living Area like this one requires expert techniques and a vast awareness of materials. DeckRemodelers takes ownership of every project that they handle incorporating all these elements into a turnkey delivery for the client concept-to-completion.

This deck once a dream has emerged as additional outdoor living space and now represents a significant increase to property value. Outdoor living space has become todays must-have. This design features Zuri Premium Decking by Royal, the latest maintenance free PVC with the look of Ipe hardwood. A gas fire feature accented with EP Henry Stone over a base of Belgard African Tile, is integrated into the deck area. Adjacent, is a gourmet kitchen accented in stone and granite, flanked by an ample seating area for entertainment.
Highlighting the design is a stunning covered structure with a tiger wood ceiling, supported by a pair of detailed columns on 36” stone bases joined by custom powder coated aluminum rails. The covered area decked in Belgard Tile, features an outdoor entertainment centers that includes a Flat Screen TV with a Sound Systems mounted on an Ipe and Mahogany Paneled Wall. A built-in Heater and Ceiling Fan transform this space for comfort and an expanded season of enjoyment. An LED Lighting Design extends enjoyment into the evening hours.
A project of this scope requires a Deck Professional specializing in all the elements that make up an Outdoor Design. Designing and Building an Outdoor Living Area like this one requires expert techniques and a vast awareness of materials. DeckRemodelers takes ownership of every project that they handle incorporating all these elements into a turnkey delivery for the client concept-to-completion.

Here's what our client had to say about this project which is taken from our review page:
All Square has completed Phase 1 of an expected 3 phase whole house renovation of our lake home, and we are beyond thrilled with the results. We were demanding clients – my husband is an engineer by education and a program manager by profession, so he is very detailed, exacting and demanding. We solicited bids from 3 other general contractors before engaging All Square, but Micah Purvis won our confidence that he and his team could make our dream a reality. Micah is a master communicator, clear, detailed and pro-active in his approach to problems.
We were very happy with all the All Square employees who worked on our job – Daniel and Austin were great and a pleasure to have around – but most especially Justin Solomon, truly a jack of all trades. If there is something Justin can’t do or a skill he doesn’t possess, we aren’t aware of it. Justin was as reliable as the sun, here first thing every morning, troubleshooting problems, dealing with all the sub-contractors and making invaluable structural and design suggestions that made the finished product all the better. I honestly miss having Justin around and our dogs miss him too!
It is obvious that All Square has worked hard to identify and nurture relationships with quality tradesmen and a few of them really stand out for their superior work – Mike (stonemason), Jeremiah Cook (painter) and Michael Stewart (electrician).
When we are ready to begin Phase 2 of the renovation, there is no doubt that we will call Micah and All Square to do the work. We are so happy with our renovation and grateful that we made the right decision to entrust our forever home to All Square.

Here's what our client had to say about this project which is taken from our review page:
All Square has completed Phase 1 of an expected 3 phase whole house renovation of our lake home, and we are beyond thrilled with the results. We were demanding clients – my husband is an engineer by education and a program manager by profession, so he is very detailed, exacting and demanding. We solicited bids from 3 other general contractors before engaging All Square, but Micah Purvis won our confidence that he and his team could make our dream a reality. Micah is a master communicator, clear, detailed and pro-active in his approach to problems.
We were very happy with all the All Square employees who worked on our job – Daniel and Austin were great and a pleasure to have around – but most especially Justin Solomon, truly a jack of all trades. If there is something Justin can’t do or a skill he doesn’t possess, we aren’t aware of it. Justin was as reliable as the sun, here first thing every morning, troubleshooting problems, dealing with all the sub-contractors and making invaluable structural and design suggestions that made the finished product all the better. I honestly miss having Justin around and our dogs miss him too!
It is obvious that All Square has worked hard to identify and nurture relationships with quality tradesmen and a few of them really stand out for their superior work – Mike (stonemason), Jeremiah Cook (painter) and Michael Stewart (electrician).
When we are ready to begin Phase 2 of the renovation, there is no doubt that we will call Micah and All Square to do the work. We are so happy with our renovation and grateful that we made the right decision to entrust our forever home to All Square.

Paul Grdina Photography
Mid-sized minimalist l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen photo in Vancouver with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops
Mid-sized minimalist l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen photo in Vancouver with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This deck once a dream has emerged as additional outdoor living space and now represents a significant increase to property value. Outdoor living space has become todays must-have. This design features Zuri Premium Decking by Royal, the latest maintenance free PVC with the look of Ipe hardwood. A gas fire feature accented with EP Henry Stone over a base of Belgard African Tile, is integrated into the deck area. Adjacent, is a gourmet kitchen accented in stone and granite, flanked by an ample seating area for entertainment.
Highlighting the design is a stunning covered structure with a tiger wood ceiling, supported by a pair of detailed columns on 36” stone bases joined by custom powder coated aluminum rails. The covered area decked in Belgard Tile, features an outdoor entertainment centers that includes a Flat Screen TV with a Sound Systems mounted on an Ipe and Mahogany Paneled Wall. A built-in Heater and Ceiling Fan transform this space for comfort and an expanded season of enjoyment. An LED Lighting Design extends enjoyment into the evening hours.
A project of this scope requires a Deck Professional specializing in all the elements that make up an Outdoor Design. Designing and Building an Outdoor Living Area like this one requires expert techniques and a vast awareness of materials. DeckRemodelers takes ownership of every project that they handle incorporating all these elements into a turnkey delivery for the client concept-to-completion.

This deck once a dream has emerged as additional outdoor living space and now represents a significant increase to property value. Outdoor living space has become todays must-have. This design features Zuri Premium Decking by Royal, the latest maintenance free PVC with the look of Ipe hardwood. A gas fire feature accented with EP Henry Stone over a base of Belgard African Tile, is integrated into the deck area. Adjacent, is a gourmet kitchen accented in stone and granite, flanked by an ample seating area for entertainment.
Highlighting the design is a stunning covered structure with a tiger wood ceiling, supported by a pair of detailed columns on 36” stone bases joined by custom powder coated aluminum rails. The covered area decked in Belgard Tile, features an outdoor entertainment centers that includes a Flat Screen TV with a Sound Systems mounted on an Ipe and Mahogany Paneled Wall. A built-in Heater and Ceiling Fan transform this space for comfort and an expanded season of enjoyment. An LED Lighting Design extends enjoyment into the evening hours.
A project of this scope requires a Deck Professional specializing in all the elements that make up an Outdoor Design. Designing and Building an Outdoor Living Area like this one requires expert techniques and a vast awareness of materials. DeckRemodelers takes ownership of every project that they handle incorporating all these elements into a turnkey delivery for the client concept-to-completion.

This kitchen features a transitional door style in rag and bone finish on maple. The countertops are Caesarstone Quartz throughout and the generously sized island features a 4' Galley Workstation with KitchenAid five burner induction cooktop. Across from this is a 36" farmhouse cleanup sink. All baking and quick meal cooking is handled by a Bosch microwave and oven ensemble. The bright and clean look of the overall kitchen is contrasted beautifully by the addition of the luxury vinyl flooring.

Here's what our client had to say about this project which is taken from our review page:
All Square has completed Phase 1 of an expected 3 phase whole house renovation of our lake home, and we are beyond thrilled with the results. We were demanding clients – my husband is an engineer by education and a program manager by profession, so he is very detailed, exacting and demanding. We solicited bids from 3 other general contractors before engaging All Square, but Micah Purvis won our confidence that he and his team could make our dream a reality. Micah is a master communicator, clear, detailed and pro-active in his approach to problems.
We were very happy with all the All Square employees who worked on our job – Daniel and Austin were great and a pleasure to have around – but most especially Justin Solomon, truly a jack of all trades. If there is something Justin can’t do or a skill he doesn’t possess, we aren’t aware of it. Justin was as reliable as the sun, here first thing every morning, troubleshooting problems, dealing with all the sub-contractors and making invaluable structural and design suggestions that made the finished product all the better. I honestly miss having Justin around and our dogs miss him too!
It is obvious that All Square has worked hard to identify and nurture relationships with quality tradesmen and a few of them really stand out for their superior work – Mike (stonemason), Jeremiah Cook (painter) and Michael Stewart (electrician).
When we are ready to begin Phase 2 of the renovation, there is no doubt that we will call Micah and All Square to do the work. We are so happy with our renovation and grateful that we made the right decision to entrust our forever home to All Square.

2010 NATIONAL NARI REGIONAL AWARD WINNER
Project Scope
The owners of this 7,000 square foot colonial in Oakton, Virginia, were seeking a multi-level Mediterranean-style indoor/outdoor living space off the back of their home. They turned to Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes for a design solution that would include a stone patio, a second-story deck, a screened-in porch and linking staircases.
While the structure was designed primarily for family dining and entertaining, it also had to accommodate periodic social gatherings of one hundred guests or more. To meet these needs, the project would include a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, several serving counters with permanent refrigeration, and well-delineated socializing and dining zones.
The existing home’s setting offered several impressive assets the new outdoor living area was designed to exploit. The sprawling acreage features old stand trees, wooded paths and a private lake. Beautifully landscaped, it unfolds as an idyllic panorama that naturally draws people to the outdoors.
Challenges
Since the rear elevation was situated on a slope that drops away from the house, the Michael Nash team had to raise the grade two feet within in a 2,000 square foot area extending out from the back of the house. Infrastructure plans also called for a sophisticated drainage system that had to accommodate a whole series of water “runoff” considerations to be integrated into the decking itself. Excavation included constructing retaining walls to bolster the elevated grade—which also had to support a concrete slab, the primary foundation for the entire complex.
Solutions
The ground level decking consists of a 2,000 square foot flagstone patio level with the home’s lower level doors. There is a decorative water fountain mid-patio—an ornate collectible acquired in Florida. Food preparation is concentrated within a specially designed semi-circular wall that creates an “outdoor kitchen” equipped with a 60” Viking barbecue grill, a prep sink, a warming drawer, refrigerator and appropriate storage. There is a granite surfaced dining counter with seating for eight.
Wrought iron railing and approximately 20 decorative columns (some encasing steel vertical supports) are incorporated into the design scheme. Many of the columns house accent lights.
The top level—supported by horizontal steel beams– is a 2,500 square foot deck constructed entirely of Trex decking. The open air decking is, again, directly accessible from rooms on the second level of the house including the kitchen, sunroom and family room.
The platform’s most prominent feature is a U-shaped “kitchenette” with cedar shake shingle roofing. Like its counterpart one level below, the facility is equipped with grill, refrigerator and stainless steel cabinetry.
One portion of the deck has been allocated for a 16’ x 16’ octagonal screened-in porch crowned by a pair of 2’ x 4’ skylights. The porch can be accessed from the home’s conservatory via a set of French doors. With its mosaic tile flooring, stained cedar panel ceiling and honed granite counters, the interior is elegant and calming. Hand-painted stenciling and a wall-mounted water feature provide distinctive detailing.
Finally, the design introduced elements to highlight and reinforce an awareness of the lovely bucolic setting. Fountains and water features combined with textured surfaces and mosaic tiling and backsplashes to present a villa-like ambiance well-suited to the Virginia countryside.

YOUNG ARCHITECTS STUDIO COMPETITION
PROJECT: Clean Water Workshop
PARTICIPANT: Robert Tuñón and Keith Labutta
DESCRIPTION: Pittsburgh’s waterways are not polluted because of our industrial past, but because our antiquated infrastructure causes 16 billion gallons of wastewater to overflow into the city’s rivers every year. The built-up shoreline forces rainwater runoff directly into the waterways, and the lack of green space at the rivers’ edge allows for limited natural filtration. There is increased public access and interaction with the riverfront, but recreationalists lack awareness of the unhealthy state of the rivers. As an intervention, the Clean Water Workshop provides a place where every day recreational activities aid in the filtration of rainwater runoff. Collective individuals and teams power a variety of resistance machines to generate the energy used in the water filtration process. To carry out this mission, the highly visible urban void beneath the Tenth Street Bypass will be utilized, as it is a place where a dense roadway system meets a high volume of pedestrian traffic.
JURY COMMENTS: The jury selected this project because it addresses a real void with a real solution, addressing a need that exists both recreationally and environmentally. We need attention drawn to clean water and the solution engages the community. It achieves everything we want to do on our riverfronts and makes it fun to participate. This space is very bleak from the other side of the river, yet the solution makes all the space useable and beautifully conveys the aesthetic of Pittsburgh’s riverfronts at night. The project has a totally modern sensibility, done simply and practically, as a celebration of health. It is clearly presented and highly inventive. The graphics are superb.
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