Green and Efficient Renovation, in Mpls and St. Paul » Architect

Rainwater Collection For Reuse In The Landscape

Stephen — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:12:18 +0000

LAI has designed an affordable solution for collection and reuse of rainwater in cold climates to essentially eliminate the need for potable water to be used in the irrigation of the landscape. This can be done with both new construction and renovation projects. As shown in the image below we are demonstrating one of many ways to effectively disconnect your irrigation system from either a well source or city water source as a means to conserve the valuable resource and save money!

Rain Water Cistern detail

Landscape Architecture, Inc. Residential Rainwater Collection Cistern Detail

This section drawing shown is from a project we designed in Edina, MN. This project collects all the water from the downspouts of the roof and discharges them directly and via overland flow to the rain garden shown above the cistern. Once 6 inches or more of storm water pools in the rain garden it then is captured by the inlet shown and enters the cistern where it is stored for another day.

Cistern Installation at Eco Builders Site

This project is currently enrolled in two green certification programs and is on track to achieve both (MN Greenstar and LEED for Homes accreditation). In this project we were able to collect enough water from the roof of the house and landscape areas utilizing this 2,500 gallon cistern (which is locally manufactured) to irrigate the entire greenspace on the property and operate the water feature represented in section without the use of potable water. As for this project and any other project where you are proposing to install a cistern on-site consult with your local building official during design and complete the permit process prior to installation if required.

With increased awareness in the both the residential and commercial markets we are finding that the use of both natural water impoundments and cisterns are becoming a norm on most of our projects as a way to conserve this valuable resource. Also, as we all learn more about best management practices with stormwater it has been found that these practices will help prevent flooding down stream in spring snow melts and large stormwater events by storing this extra water on-site for a not-so-rainy day.

If you are considering this or any other type of rainwater storage technique, please contact us. –we would be excited to share our passion and experience to ensure success on your project!

Stephen Mastey, ASLA, CLARB, LEED AP

Landscape Architecture, Inc.
856 Raymond Avenue, Suite C
St. Paul, MN 55114
651.646.1020 office
651.246.1151 mobile

www.landarcinc.com

stephen@landarcinc.com

Great architectural advice

Meshach — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:05:45 +0000

Once again Phillip, the architect from Architron, saves the day. I needed to figure out what I want to do in a few months time with some windows. In a few short minutes he was able to advise me on my options and give me renewed insight into the lay of the land and how I want to use the space. A good architect is Cyrano Debergarac whispering in your ear. Well, maybe not that, but I guess my point is that a great architect helps you find the solutions that are already in yourself, that reflect your vision, likes and lifestyle needs. They do this through working with you, working with your ideas and helping you visualize your options. It’s hard to explain, but it is something that is pretty amazing. Something that I could never do without the right help. Thanks, Phillip!

Renovation decisions

Meshach — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:32:38 +0000

In going through this process, I am amazed at the difficulty of making decisions on floorplans and architectural details based on lines on paper. I think the thing that really gets me is the finality of those decisions. Give me the digital world and I can make decisions in a heartbeat, and stick to them. Give me a choice on a placement of a physical wall and I go blank.

I’m very glad I have such a good team to work with and to help me work through these crippling decisions. Phillip Broussard, the St Paul based architect from Architron, is (and I’ve said this before, so forgive me) a saint. He has such an amazing way pf presenting options and discussing them, from so many angles. Things like, how sight-lines will be effected, traffic patterns, efficiency and green (environmental) impacts, etc… There are so many factors to any decision, you will do well to find yourself a top-notch architect like Architron. Don’t take chances here, and don’t skimp!

Now I can’t just stop here because my builder, Jason Stinson, from Minneapolis’ Stinson Builders, Inc., has been a lifeline and a great construction consiglieri. He has such an easy way about him and has been a great resource on design and layout as well as environmental building and renovating on a budget. He always gives me a easy to understand and well-thought out perspective. I can’t say enough about his support and design and building talents.

Anyway, I guess the gist of this post is to make sure you have a great architect and builder (general contractor) for your renovation project, as you will use them, and never underestimate the difficulty in making renovation decisions.

Egress windows

Meshach — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:51:13 +0000

Egress windows are one of the best ways to increase the usable space in a home as well as one of the best ways to increase a home’s value (IMHO.) One thing people forget is the landscaping and the look of the well itself. Jason Stinson from Minneapolis’ Stinson Builders and Stephen Mastey, from St. Paul’s landscaper, Landscape Architecture Inc., have been very helpful in discussing these factors. So many people just lay down a plastic barrier or a metal wall and forget that they’ll be staring at this wall every time they are in this room. Sure, you may save a few dollars, but better to do something right the first time. Especially when that decision creates such a visual impact.

Of course, placement is a very important issue as well. Ideally, you have an architect a builder and a landscaper work with you on this. If you get a great contractor, like Jason, and a great landscape architect, like Stephen, you can get all the essentials (important if you are adding an egress window as a stand-alone project and want to keep costs down.) The light is very important, of course, but other factors are perhaps even more important, like placement of pipes and supports, stacked stone or concrete with facing brick, safety and code, and one of the most important: drainage! Working so close to the foundation, you definitely do not want to create a source for water intrusion.

So, don’t do it on the cheap and hire some shop who whips up an all-vinyl solution, willy-nilly. Hire a top builder and landscape designer and get it done right.

Grading and plans

Meshach — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:11:20 +0000

Landscape Architects Inc.

Stephen Mastey, Principal at Landscape Architecture Inc. Came over today and discussed fixing the grading on the East side of the house. The current situation is dire with a deep recession in the middle and a high berm in the front and elevated area in the back. This is a recipe for disaster. The only reason that the basement is dry is because of the fine sugar sand below which drains like the dickens.

Anyway, they’ll be leveling things out and taking out everything on the right side. They will temporarily be putting down some mulch to keep the soil stable. While they have it dug up they will be putting in a drain of some sort (Stephen, help me out here!) and running conduit for future electrical runs. In the spring we will be moving forward with some pretty exciting stuff. think modern Japanese with local flora and some rain gardens to prevent runoff.

One idea I have been floating around is to create a cutout of the numbers on a metal sheet buried in concrete. Sounds fun, right? If I do go that way, I’ll be cutting and welding it myself, so stay tuned. I’ll make sure to take a lot of photos.

-M

Renovation project starts

Meshach — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:21:06 +0000

OK, so I recently bought this house. It’s a small 1955 rambler on the border of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in Desnoyer Park (a very unknown gem in the Twin Cities.) I purchased it with some significant renovation work in mind. I have a limited budget and I would like to go “Green” as well. Through this renovation blog you can learn the process I went through, learn from my mistakes and successes (mistakes can be successes too!) and hopefully have a good time doing it. Wish me luck.

So far I have Phillip Broussard from Architron as my St. Paul-based architect and JasonStinson from Stinson Builders, Inc. in Minneapolis, as my general contractor. We will also be working with Stafford Home Services for Electrical, HVAC (for a new Furnace, AC unit and ducts), home sound installation, and the new Media Room; and Landscape Architects for Landscape design and Landscape work. They all do amazing work, so check their sites out.

Architecture

Meshach — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:53:28 +0000

You can’t start a good renovation project without a good architect. A good architect knows not only the form and function of a home but incredibly important details like how a person lives in a space and maddeningly complex things like codes, appliances, materials, good contractors, certifications, rebates, etc… Now that is a tall order. Fortunately I found all of that, and more, with Phillip Broussard from the St. Paul-based Architron.

From my meetings with Phillip I can say this: Make sure your architect is friendly, patient and has an eye for detail. Make sure they can talk about the smallest detail and then immediately jump out to the big picture. Talk to them about not only your goals for the project and the ideas you have but also about your lifestyle and how you live in a space. Listen a lot too. Ask questions about the architect’s lifestyle, ideas and goals as well. You are going to spend a lot of time with this person, so compatability is key. You have to find someone you trust your life with because that is what you are essentially creating; a new life. A new way to live and a new place to live.

Anyway, I cannot say enough about Phillip’s skillset. He’s a veritable cornucopia of information and is patient as a saint. I think I’ll start calling him St. Phil from this time on. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

Architron Architects
Architron.com