Vermont Architect – Robert Swinburne

After about 8 years of post secondary education, a number of years working for other architects and a decade of running my own design firm with over 100 projects to my credit, I am starting to become a good designer. It is not that I am so un-talented that it took me so long and so much effort to reach this point. It is more a recognition of the standard I hold myself to. See my previous post “What Architects Don’t Know”. There is a certain amount of frustration when I see ads for local building firms offering design services or even architectural design (illegal) and realize that most people think of design as not much more than a floor plan or drafting. I’ve always been a good drafter but drafting is just a tool in my toolkit to get the job done, not an end in itself as some hand-drafting cermudgeons seem to view it. (more on that later) Floor plans whether for a new home or other project take more skill, talent and experience but are also a small part of the whole picture. I am often in a situation where I make a simple move on paper that will save the clients thousands of dollars and save the builder a headache during construction and no one but me will ever know it. Thus this blog. It allows me to pat myself on the back a little bit once in a while.

Architecture is one of those professions where the more you know the more you know you don’t know. Many architects don’t know this. There are some who “float” and others who are in a constant state of continuing education. I am reminded of this by the large number of architects who state on their websites “We have always been green” but then you look at their projects with a trained eye and see otherwise. Geothermal heating or solar Photovoltaics on a house with 2 x 6 walls, probably insulated with fiberglass batts is an infraction I commonly see. Those architects who read this and don’t see the hyppocracy in this example would be the example of “floaters”

Last week I got a call from a reporter at the Keene Sentinel newspaper. Apparently I was on a list of interesting people to interview for their “Monadnoc Profiles” section.
Keene Sentinel article
It is a really good article. My mother will love it.

Update: the link no longer works!

The first and most recent issue of the Roger Williams University alumni mag did a profile on me.

I just wrote up a list of past work and realized that one of my current projects is my 100th project.  One of my current projects is also my 110th poject as well.  Not counting consulting jobs of only a few hours.

This morning I passed the LEED exam. This added credential is now reflected on the title page of my website I should probably add a good description of what LEED is other than “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” and the AP stands for “associated professional” but I am rather tired and looking forward to a night off from study and work. I will instead,  link you to the United States Green Building Council website where you can discover for yourself.  I’m also rather excited about the election and with a two year old daughter, telling her “it’s going to be okay” takes on a whole new meaning.  Who’s idea was it to schedule the LEED exam for the morning after the election?

I have been very busy lately with lots of work so I have been remiss in my blog duties.

Here is a very cool letter I got from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in regards to the Providence competition

Katie Hutchinson Studio – House Enthusiast

A picture of a recently completed project that I am rather proud of. The small double skylight against the wall over the fireplace may just have to become my signature move.  I’m doing it on the Perry road project as well.  It has a very amazing effect and acts as a sundial as well.

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The Brattleboro Reformer ran an article on the Perry Road Project today “LEED-ing the Way” For those who have been keeping tabs on this project, we will be holding several open house tours during and after construction.  Stay tuned here for dates and more information.  Also my college friend Mark LePage put an entry relating to me in his new blog Entrepaneur Architect It has been interesting to watch Mark’s firm as it grows and his internet activities expand. Very inspiring, Now I am trying to inspire other classmates from architecture school to follow suit.

David Powell was featured in the April 2008 Trade magazine “Builder/Architect” Vermont Edition. the article features a number of projects we worked on together as well as an article on page 9 written by me which is a better developed version of a previous entry on this blog.

Yes, it’s official as of this morning although some of you have known since Friday. Read more »

Recently while looking at my own portfolio I realized how no project completely represents “me”. I work for other people to help them realize their dreams therefore each project is mostly about them. I see evidence of my input and guidance, I see each project as a series of decisions, compromises and inspirations but none of these projects represent what I would have done if left to myself with the site, program and budget. I wonder when I look at other architect’s work how much was the architect and how much was the client? In architecture school we were taught to design for ourselves. We interpreted the program. Budget constraints were non-existent. We never met with clients. We were trained in the “starchitect” model. We realized this at the time but perhaps never thought that once we got out of school we would never again be allowed such freedom of design. Even those of us lucky enough to design our own homes are faced with budget constraints and family input. Architects as artists are like the painters of old in that we are told what to paint and how. Most of us do need to feed ourselves and our families. Perhaps all we can hope for on some projects is to slip a little of ourselves in when and where no one’s looking.

I am involved with a project that is currently in the trimming out phase. This is the point where, if all goes well, the client and the builder can really see what I was blathering on about months ago. The owner is having some “aha!” moments and really appreciating the back and forth of the design process and the builder is humming along comfortable in making decisions and enjoying doing good work. Of course with the warm weather and the snow finally gone here in Vermont and no bugs yet, I think it would be hard not to be happy. Gotta go work on the garden. We get a substantial portion of our food year round from our own garden.

There is an article in the summer 2008 “Fine Homebuilding” entitled “How to Afford an Architect” by Duo Dickinson. A good article if you ignore the super high percentage of construction cost fee numbers he uses. I have heard of (st)architects getting 12% to 15% of construction costs but 16% to 18% and 60 to 80 drawings for a house? Get real Duo! That’s why people are scared of hiring architects. I doubt I could design a house complicated enough to require even 40 drawings! I think I did 18 once…Of course, maybe I’m going about this all wrong.

I am a purist, architecturally speaking.

When the subject of style comes up people usually have very firm ideas in their heads. For years it seemed that everyone building their house in Vermont wanted a “cape”…with big windows and lots of light and an open floor plan. Talk about contradicting ones self. People tend to be as conservative architecturally in Vermont as they are socially liberal. Read more »

Today I visited the recently cleared site of a new house I have been working on. Read more »