Architecture

Design Inspiration: The High Line, NYC

October 1, 2024
By Jim Sorgatz

Bring Your Home Designs to Fruition at Outhouse

Have you ever stumbled upon a place so unexpected and exhilarating that it floods your mind with creative ideas and inspiration? That’s exactly what I experienced on a recent trip to New York City while exploring the High Line, an elevated linear park built on a former rail line. This isn’t just any public park; the High Line is a unique blend of art, architecture, and urban design. Stretching 1.45 miles through Manhattan’s West Side it offers stunning views of the city’s skyline and showcases some of its most innovative buildings.

Iconic Architectural Landmarks

From the elevated perch, high above the crowds, the view of iconic buildings, like the Empire State Building, is astonishing. Here are a few of the wonderful buildings you see along the way:

The Eleventh (BIG): Designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group, this striking complex features two twisting towers at 76 Eleventh Avenue. Known for its bold geometry and expansive glass walls, The Eleventh offers panoramic views and a modern twist on traditional skyscraper aesthetics.

*The Eleventh – designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group.*

520 West 28th Street (Zaha Hadid Architects): A hallmark of contemporary design, this building is noted for its curving metallic façade and futuristic appeal. It is one of the last projects by the legendary architect Zaha Hadid, making it a significant landmark on the High Line.

Chelsea Market: Originally a factory for the National Biscuit Company, this historic building now serves as a vibrant market with various food vendors and shops. The High Line runs through the building, showcasing its blend of old and new architectural elements.

*The High Line making it’s way through Chelsea Market.*

10 Hudson Yards (Coach Building): This skyscraper marks the northern terminus of the High Line and is a central part of the Hudson Yards development, a massive urban revitalization project often compared to Rockefeller Center in scale and impact.

*10 Hudson Yards building in the distance.*

Unique Experiences and Sights

Walking along the High Line offers more than just architectural wonders. The park itself is a showcase of landscape design, featuring over 500 species of plants. Areas like the Gansevoort Woodland and the Washington Grasslands offer serene green spaces amidst the urban hustle

The High Line also functions as an outdoor art gallery. With installations like Paola Pivi’s “You know who I am” and Nina Beier’s “Women & Children,” the park provides a continuous rotation of thought-provoking art that enhances the visitor experience.

*Mural by renowned Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra.*

Although some people don’t love these, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I found “The Vessel,” and a whimsical sculpture by artist Danny Cole to be quite entertaining as well.

The Vessel – centerpiece of Hudson Yards. This interactive sculpture was imagined by British designer Thomas Heatherwick.

What’s The Connection Here to Home Building?

Wherever you find inspiration for new homes, whether it be the High Line in Manhattan, an out-of-this-world experience elsewhere, or a simple walk in the neighborhood park, Outhouse, the outsource hub for home builders, can help bring your wildest ideas to fruition. Give us a sketch on a napkin, and our architectural team will produce a full set of construction documents.

While plans are in progress, our rendering team will meticulously craft your 3D exterior and interior elevations, virtual tours, and visualizers. Our interactive team works their magic to build digital tools like interactive floor plans and interactive site maps that will engage your homebuyers. We can also coordinate digital assets with your web designer including industry experts Blue Tangerine, Bokka Group, Group Two, Meredith Communications, and Adlanta Creative,

All of this can be accomplished simultaneously in a compressed timeline bringing your homes to market faster, and increasing your ROI.

*The juxtaposition of old and new is striking. The iconic Empire State Building in the background.*

Conclusion

The High Line is a testament to New York City’s ability to innovate and adapt, transforming an old rail line into a vibrant public space that seamlessly blends nature, art, and architecture. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or just looking for a unique urban experience, the High Line offers a fascinating journey through some of the city’s most captivating sights.

If you visit the High Line, or anywhere else that inspires some fresh design ideas, draw a quick sketch, and send it over to Outhouse. We will take it from there to bring your idea to life!

Visualization Sells

October 2, 2024
By Jim Sorgatz

Lessons Learned from Zillow + a Trip to Croatia

*A mural at the market in Zagreb, the largest city and capital of Croatia.*

With its ancient towns, incredibly detailed architecture, and pops of color, the country of Croatia a sight to behold. If you haven’t been, this is one place that should be on your must-see travel list. The country is a visual feast, and the great walled cities like Dubrovnik and Split are spectacular! As you sail along the Dalmatian Coast and between the islands dotting the Adriatic Sea, the first glimpse of each city or town reveals a mass of limestone buildings with terra cotta tile roofs.

*Korcula Island, a historic fortified town.*

Although a bit similar, each is wonderful and breathtaking in its own way. Color and texture play a vital role in bringing out the unique personality of each island and the coastal area in general. Fantastic murals, light installations, brightly painted pottery, and fun, colorful yachts and boats stand in sharp contrast to the deep blue sea and off-white buildings. “A picture paints a thousand words” certainly applies to this amazing country, and that is why Croatia draws travelers from around the world.

Imagery and Engaging Tools are Vital to New Home Sales

The same holds true for your homes when it comes to painting a picture for potential buyers. Describing a “beautiful bedroom with tray ceiling and a pair of windows” is one thing. And then there is this rendering.

Which bedroom is most appealing to you? The one in the description, or the one in this beautiful rendering?!

A recent report by Zillow shows nearly half (49%) of new construction buyers under age 40 (Gen Z and millennials) say they feel very or extremely confident about making an offer on a home solely after seeing it virtually. The same holds true for 36% of buyers between the ages of 41 and 55 (Gen X).“

2020 brought some unique challenges to the home building industry. With Americans staying home in droves, builders were forced to rethink online marketing strategies. As the abundance of time people spend online continues in 2021, we see a growing contingent of sophisticated buyers who are making most purchases online; and retailers are spending billions of dollars engaging them. When it comes to their search for a new home, these same buyers seek out and expect a similar, interactive experience. Outdated 2D renderings and static floor plans are not enough to capture their attention. They are looking for tools like Interactive Floor Plans (IFPs) and Interactive Site Maps (ISMs). These tools are incredibly engaging and build emotional connections, especially the IFPs with their furniture planners, pricing tools, and structural options selectors. Statistics show that home buyers spend 2-3 minutes on the typical builder website. This time increases by 13-20 minutes, on average, with an Outhouse IFP.

*Click to engage the Outhouse Interactive Site Plan and Floor Plans.*

Statistics show that home buyers spend 2-3 minutes on the typical builder website. This time increases by 13-20 minutes, on average, with an Outhouse IFP.“

Also playing a huge role in online sales are virtual tours and animations, which allow home buyers to walk or fly through homes not yet constructed. These can be so lifelike with running water, crackling fireplaces, and more, they may even look better than the Matterport tours of your model homes. A massive benefit to builders is the cost, which is substantially less than building and furnishing a model.

*Click to see our animation in action – bubbling fountains included!*

Virtual Tours and Visualizers Bring Maximum Engagement

Kicking it up a notch are interior and exterior Visualizers, enticing home buyers to select color palettes, materials, and finishes for their new homes. In addition to clear, vivid images, the Outhouse Visualizer offers builders the choice between predetermined color schemes and a la carte selections.

Yes, model home traffic will gradually continue to grow, but the move to greater interaction online is here to stay. The pandemic has accelerated the widespread acceptance of new technologies. Even people who typically are later adopters have learned to use and appreciate the convenience of interactive online tools (can anyone say Zoom!). Visualizers, Virtual Tours, Animations, Interactive Floor Plans, and Interactive Site Plans are crucial for builder websites. All of these tools are designed to capture buyers. They market and sell your homes from anywhere in the world, even when your sales centers are closed.

Great Architectural Design Never Goes Out of Style

October 2, 2024
By Jim Sorgatz

What inspires a young entrepreneur to found a company focused on Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) for residential architecture? For Outhouse partner Stuart Platt, a big catalyst was growing up in one of the most breathtaking homes in Phoenix, “a unique desert oasis,” built by internationally acclaimed Architect, Will Bruder. Constructed from a combination of glass, steel, and desert masonry, the home takes full advantage of the impressive desert setting in north Phoenix. It is often hard to tell where the inside of the home stops and the outside begins. SPECTACULAR! This is the first thought that comes to mind when you walk in. The second is, Wow, when Stuart says he grew up in an uninhibited family, he isn’t kidding. There is nary a window covering in sight. Third is who cleans all the glass? The joke at Outhouse is this is why Stuart is so tall, he needed to be to reach the clerestory windows.

Great design - expansive living room constructed of metal, glass and wood. — Great Design – Platt Residence, Phoenix AZ

Building this house did not come without challenges. To move into their home, Stuart and his parents lived in a trailer on the property for four years while they were building. After moving into the home prior to completion, construction continued for most of the Platt family’s tenure. For those of us who have undertaken renovation projects while in our homes, we can certainly relate!

Modern, open kitchen designed for entertaining — Minimalist, but highly functional kitchen – perfect for entertaining

Earlier this year, the Platt residence went on the market and sold in a very short time. Being curious by nature, Stuart asked a realtor friend to arrange a tour, and off they went. When they arrived, they had a chance meeting with the owner, and when Stuart let him know his family built the home, the owner extended an invitation to house sit for a week while he was on vacation. True story!

Outhouse Partner Stuart Platt in front of home his family built. — Outhouse Partner Stuart Platt – original homeowner (via parents)

Over the years, changes were made. The sunk-in living room was raised, the kitchen was renovated, and needed most of all, proper air-conditioning units replaced a single evaporative cooler. But the overall structure remains the same as it was when it was built more than thirty years ago.

Expansive master bedroom with glass wall to bring the outdoors in. — Spacious bedroom which extends to the great outdoors.

The Platt residence proves that great design is timeless. The HERS Rating on this home is probably astronomical, but who cares. The one-of-a-kind design is fabulous! Its style is being incorporated into today’s production homes which feature expansive walls of glass that open to the great outdoors, and materials that complement the natural setting. Enhancing great design today are energy efficient features like dual pane low-e windows, well insulated walls and ceilings, a tight thermal envelope, air/vapor retarders, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, low flow faucets and toilets, and energy efficient appliances. Forward thinking builders are also implementing value engineering, modular construction, and innovative building envelopes including Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) and the JEP building system, all of which increase energy efficiency of a home.

Great design and energy efficiency are at the core of Outhouse’s new partnership with Linderoth Associates Architects. Our 40+ years of experience have led to a shared philosophy based five pillars of home design and marketing presented a decade ago by Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect of the Department of Energy Building Technologies Office:

Sustainable land development
Great design
High-performance
Quality construction
Effective home sales and marketing

With 76 million Boomers and 72 million Millennials seeking out builders who embrace these principles, the importance of designing, constructing and selling homes and communities featuring innovative planning techniques, great, timeless design, high performance, and socially responsible features cannot be overstated. Homes like the Platt residence inspire us to build homes that seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor living spaces. Today’s innovative construction techniques allow that to happen.