Small Space Office Addition | Tom Young

As a low-budget case study in design/build Tom Young designed a 60sqft addition onto the back of his house to make room for a home office. Total materials cost was a mere $2500. His approach was to introduce a cost effective modern design using standard materials. I found the result to be both stunning and well thought out. I asked Tom to share with us his process and thoughts on the project. Read what he had to say below.


[+] Images via Tom Young

“Our home office addition was designed to relate to the existing structure through form and spatial relationships.

By creating a parapet wall/façade, I chose not to mimic the slope of the existing roof to, but oppose it gracefully to create an interlaced relationship. The existing fascia appears to disappear behind the parapet edge allowing the paneled wall to become the primary feature of this residence’s secondary façade. The office mass itself, appears to cantilever precariously over the recessed basement entry below. The main level entry stair was designed to reinforce this move by be being appearing delicate/ transparent.

The rain screen’s panel design/orientation was governed by several principles: 1) break up the façade mass into smaller, more relatable pieces 2) to create only rectangular panels for ease of construction/installation 3) to maximize the yield of the eleven 4 x 8 sheets purchased.”


[+] Images via Tom Young

Materials: Steel, Hardie Board Siding, Vaproshield, 2x Wood Framing, Plywood, Cedar

You can contact Tom at his Linkedin Profile.

Cabin for a Family of Four | 180 square feet

In our small spaces coverage over that past few weeks I have shown you some clever designs that go that extra step. But this cabin takes the cake. A family of four plus a large dog, have decided to occupy a mere 180 sqft design on an isolated island in British Columbia. Europeans may not be shocked at this, but most Americans have a similar sized master bath layout. Here is what the owners had to say:

Before I get started with this tour, I cannot emphasize this enough: My husband and I are not rich and we are not particularly handy. Heck, we’re not even all that smart. This latter fact was probably the driver behind why two people with little money and even fewer skills would even attempt to build a cabin on an isolated island with no amenities. But armed with a hacked $25 shed plan and an incredibly generous friend with actual skills, we gave it a shot. Here’s how it turned out. ~ via apartmenttherapy.com

cabin-180-sqft

[+] Images via Apartment Therapy

[+] found via apartmenttherapy.com

Top 10: Zeitgeist Studios Most Read in July

In case you missed it, or want to see it again. Here is the best of what July had to offer.
1. Signal Shed | DIY Cabin Design
2. Portable Office on Wheels by Tim Vinke
3. Design Thesis Studio at UVAQ in Morelia Mexico
4. Monday Mood Board 07:12:2010
5. Film as Architecture | Rainy Day Recess by Impactist
6. Wednesday Window Shoppe: Gargyle Womens
7. Ephemicropolis by Peter Root
8. iPad Finger Painting
9. Visual Acoustics the Modernism of Julius Shulman
10. Exhibition Review : Bartlett Summer Show

top-ten-zeitgeistudios-july

Signal Shed | DIY Cabin Design

This is the pure joy of living in smaller spaces. For under $60K, including the land, Ryan Lingard created a fabulous retreat in the Pacific North-West on a mountain overlooking a lake. The house itself cost around $10K, with the land at $47K. Using reuse objects, good design, research and some hard work, this cabin has every function covered, from a working kitchen, bathroom, dining area, sleeping bunk and even a deck with a view. I must say, I am very jealous and have started my own search for cheap or otherwise neglected land. If you like this design you can get your own by checking out Ryan’s website here [www]

[+] Images via Sunset.com

[+] found on Sunset.com

Book Review: Furniture You Can Build

Furniture You Can Build by Sunset Books 1967 is a book that remains timeless in its ability to simplify and inspire the act of making. Like most furniture of that era, the projects are streamlined, stylish and functional. The book valued then at $1.95 is now at the collectors price of $27.00, and worth every penny, in my opinion, and if used only for graphic and display purposes, this book is definitely worth its price. The contents of the book include photos and illustrations on over 125 furniture projects you can build. From a ping-pong table to a simple ottoman, this book has your pad credentials covered. One might say, why the fuss when Ikea is just down the road? To this I say: But can Ikea offer you a Record Player Desk all-in-one solution that looks this good? There are only few left, so if you would like to pick one up: Click Here The other great part is that Sunset has an entire collections of these books such as, How to Grow and Use Annuals or How To Build Decks for Outdoor Living to name a few. So start collecting today!! To see an inside preview go here: (Read More)

Sunset Books-cover-photo Continue reading

The Near Future of 3D Printing

As you have most likely heard, 3D Printing will become ubiquitous in the coming years. From printing your party shoes, a new set of legos, an entire city, or a new heart,  you will use something from a 3d printer in your lifetime. Enter Makerbot, the open source 3D printer described in the video below that has begun the revolution starting at just $750.

What I find interesting is how this will impact our daily life in the future; a  future where HP or Canon begin selling 3d printers for $99 and our high-speed railways are being created with a large industrial grade 3d printers. In a sense, the automobile industry has been producing methods quite similar to this with their robotic assembly line. Will we have larger 3D print facilities in our cities and towns where we pick up our custom designs, like furniture or house additions? Will you be able to order your new house from Frank Gehry’s 3D-print collection and have it printed on-site?

These thoughts are both fascinating and frightening at the same time. However, what I do find interesting is the open-source aspect of sharing design ideas and products via a network of 3D devices. Continue reading here to get various links and stuff we found on the 3D Printing. (Read More)


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Book Review | Reader’s Digest Complete DIY Manual 1973

This DIY manual is a must have for every hipster with the curiosity of how things work. What seemed to be basic knowledge to our fathers and the fathers before them, now mystifies the average apartment dweller/home buyer. If you fall into this category, and would like to understand how to do more than just replace an old light buib, then this is an essential for your collection. And why not pick up the 1973 version for a frugal $2.87 via Amazon? Plus your new score will have that vintage look and amazing diagrams to fit seamlessly in your 1960′s suburban home.

Weighing in at 600 pages, this book covers everything from wiring diagrams and fixing fences to instructions for that platform bed you’ve always wanted. So get that mattress off the floor, cancel the plumber’s visit and get yourself a copy of this limited edition piece of history. Continue reading to see a sneak peak of the inside pages: (Read More)

RD-Complete-DIY-Cover

Photo Credits - Tyler Barnard


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Adaptive Reuse and DIY Efforts

With a large dent in the prospect of new builds and scrap-off projects, it seems appropriate enough to discuss ‘Adaptive Reuse’ as not only a method but more as a solution to the larger issues of a growing population. Therefore, I have compiled a few resources of interest below, and feel free to post some of your own in the comments section.

I will start off with a a recent article in Flavorpil, that re-energized the topic for me. The article refers to a website by the name of Superuse.org, which showcases various forms of adaptive reuse from automobile hatchbacks, such as stair railings to an old airplane turned into a house. Make, my second suggestion, stress the DIY aspects of adaptive reuse, with articles such as ‘A DIY Yurt Made Out of Trash’ or more cyber-punk style articles as ‘MintyBoost USB Charger Kit’, made from an old mint tint. The WebUrbanist has a great article listing off several adaptive use projects as famous as the TATE Modern’s new home in an old power station, or the High-Line Project in NYC, to a recycled plastic bottle igloo building. The list goes on, but you get the point. (Read More)

Mason’s Bend Community Center

© George Agnew,

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