FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (Answers)

What do architects do?

The architect is the professional who guides you through the design and construction process. Licensed by the state to practice architecture, the architect is the only professional specially trained to design the places in which people live and work and to manage all aspects of potentially complex projects from design through construction.

An architect listens to you and serves as your advocate throughout your project. Your architect translates your wishes into built form, addresses compliance with state and town regulations, oversees the work of the builder, and coordinates all technical and aesthetic aspects of your project. Your architect solves space problems, manages your budget, protects your project from unreasonable extra costs and resolves disputes that may arise with your town, other consultants or your builder.

Licensure as an architect is the result of a special educational process, rigorous training, and completion of a complex series of exams. An architect usually has a minimum of five years of professional schooling and three years experience in the workplace before becoming eligible to take the licensing examination. Only licensed architects may use the title "architect" and their project drawings should bear the architect's seal before construction may begin.

The architect is the skilled professional who listens to you, interprets your wishes, and helps realize your building dreams. The architect is a counselor, planner, designer, mediator, work coordinator, and business administrator.

Architects add value at every stage of the project, from initial conceptual design through construction completion. Your architect:

 

What is the value of working with an architect? Will I save money if I work with an architect? Not everyone uses architects for construction. Why should I?

Architects provide a broad range of services and can provide value at every stage of the design and construction process. By working directly with you and assessing your requirements in great depth, the architect tailors the design to suit your personality, needs, budget and lifestyle. The architect's extensive study of design alternatives (some of which you may not have considered), allows you to choose the design most appropriate to your needs. An architect's knowledge of site-planning and natural energy processes (the influence of wind and sun on the building, groundwater flow, etc.) helps accommodate your project to the site characteristics and neighborhood context. By monitoring construction, your architect helps to make sure that your project is built according to design.

The architect also saves you money and time. By keeping abreast of the latest construction materials and technologies, architects can recommend materials and systems that fit your budget. Your architect provides documents for the contractor bidding process, which should result in a fair contractor price. Construction is expedited through an architect's careful planning and complete drawings and specifications. The architect serves as your agent with the contractor, resolving disputes that may arise and analyzing additional costs the contractor proposes.

The design aesthetic of the project is perhaps the most obvious area in which an architect makes a unique and valuable contribution, creating a visually appealing place with pleasing character and style. Ultimately, your property's value is increased through appropriate design, improved functionality and high-quality detailing.



 What will it be like to work with Bart Lawrence?

The design of a new home or addition involves issues of the spirit. This is an environment where we raise our families, we laugh, cry, hope and dream, and share our most intimate moments. This environment must be supportive and life affirming. With so much at stake, it is surprising that many people casually make decisions concerning this environment that do not reinforce their well being. Bart Lawrence sees his role as the facilitator of sound decision making in what can be a lengthy, bewildering, demanding but ultimately, a very gratifying process. Bart Lawrence believes that the owner's ideas contain the essence of the design solution. His task is to listen, interpret, synthesize, and transform those ideas into appropriate and inspiring solutions. He believes that the process must be expedient and efficient; built on a foundation of good communication and listening skills. He has a 'hands on' style, involved in the project from initial concept to owner occupancy; if the owner so wishes.



Who is Bart Lawrence and what are his qualifications?

PERSONAL

Born: 1954
Resides on Great Neck in Ipswich, Massachusetts
Married for 25 years with 2 college age children
States of Residence: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Massachusetts
Interests - past and present: Woodworking, Lutherie, Vintage Automobile Restoration, Travel, Photography, Fly Fishing, and Backpacking.


PROFESSIONAL


SPECIALTIES


EDUCATION



What sets Bart Lawrence apart from other architects in the area?

Bart Lawrence performs all architectural services personally; he never loses touch with the project. He brings his extensive design and construction experience, and judgement to bear on all aspects of the project. The client always knows whom to call from start to finish. Most architectural firms will have the principal involved in the project only initially, and then pass the project on to a junior member of the staff for development once design is complete.

As a young boy, Bart worked at his father's side as they renovated a Dutch colonial barn into their residence. He is a builder at heart and has been involved in the world of design and construction his whole life. To this day, in his spare time, he can be found in his studio designing and constructing fine furniture and musical instruments (lutherie), if not at the jobsite fabricating some complex detail for his client.

Bart Lawrence is well traveled, having visited England, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica, as well as most areas of the United States. Travel is an excellent form of continuing education and has greatly contributed to Bart's "Old World" sensibilities.

Bart has had a unique academic education. He has two university degrees. One degree is in Physical Geography, which is the study of geology, the erosional forces that shape the surface of the earth (geomorphology), as well as the plants and animals that inhabit the earth. He also has a Master's degree in Architecture. These two degrees perfectly compliment each other and reflect Bart's vision of the relationship between the built environment and the natural environment. It is also a vision that is in harmony with the "North Shore Style"

Sound judgement is a function of experience. Bart Lawrence has extensive experience with varying building types in addition to residential design. He has been involved with the following commercial, institutional, and public works building projects totaling more than $135 million:

In addition to the large-scale projects above, Bart Lawrence has designed over 130 residential projects; primarily on the north shore of Massachusetts, since starting his practice in 1995. These projects are valued at over $32 million.




 What architectural services does Bart Lawrence provide? What is the design process?

There are 3 distinct phases to a project. There are numerous tasks associated with each phase. Some tasks are easy and some are hard; but all are vital to the success of the project. Meetings are indicated where they would normally occur:

Phase I - Schematic Design

Phase II - Construction Documents


Phase III - Construction Administration

Bart Lawrence can be hired to help with one or all of the above services.




What are the costs of architectural design services?

The following percentages apply for projects between $100K - $400K. Higher cost projects will be a smaller percentage and less expensive projects will be a higher percentage.

Phase I - Schematic Design

The architects fee for the schematic design phase will be approximately 2-3% of the construction cost.

Phase II - Construction Documents

The architects fee for the construction document phase will be approximately 4-6% of construction cost.

Phase III - Construction Administration

The architects fee for the construction phase will be approximately 2-4% of construction cost.

Bart Lawrence can also be retained on an hourly basis for individual tasks.




How long will it take to design my project? If I want to do a summer project, when should I seek out the services of an architect?

It typically takes 2-4 months to do the design and draw up construction documents on a project. There may be a 1 to 2 month lead time from when you first contact the architect and when design work begins, depending on the architects schedule. The bidding process and contract negotiation usually takes 1 month. The wild card is how soon your preferred contractor can schedule your project. To be safe, design work for a summer project should be under way at least 6 months in advance of construction start.




 What is Bart Lawrence's philosophy?

"My aim is to exceed my client's functional and aesthetic assumptions; to deliver a crafted product that is a poetic expression of a creative design process, one that is cost effective, and one that is appropriate to its setting. I strive for efficient and elegant solutions for every design opportunity. Excellence in service and in the final product is my primary goal."

Bart Lawrence, AIA




 What is Bart Lawrence's attitude on materials?

Bart Lawrence uses solid, traditional, and natural materials whenever possible. Materials such as solid wood, stone, solid masonry, plaster and tile have a known track record of service, are very durable, and tend to have low toxicity levels.

In today's construction environment, many building materials are processed. Take for example particleboard, plywood, and the myriad of composite materials. In theory, these materials have redeeming features such as longevity and stability; but in reality they tend to fail under normal variable environmental conditions. They break down upon exposure to UV from the sun or they degrade from repeated cycles of heating and cooling, expansion and contraction. They do not age well. With proper detailing and joinery, solid materials wear in and gain a pleasant patina as they age. In contrast, processed materials tend to wear out and look poor as they age.




What is Feng Shui?

The Chinese have used the teachings of Feng Shui for more than 4000 years. It is a system that correlates health, prosperity, and good luck with many factors in the environment. In essence, it is a physical understanding of the flow of energy ( the Chinese call this energy Chi) - electromagnetic, mass in motion, thermal energy, stored kinetic energy, visual energy, gravity, etc., and their affect on topography and our physical surroundings. Energy flows are not inherently negative or positive, but can be positive or negative to the human experience. Example - a window can provide an inspiring view, bring in refreshing breezes, let in the warmth of the sun - or - it can let in a chill breeze, let in the fumes and noise from traffic, look out at the side of another building or directly into another persons home. The choice of where to put that window is up to the designer! Feng Shui allows us to physically place ourselves in the best position possible to be available to energy that can benefit us. In the simplest terms, Feng Shui states that our accomplishments in life are influenced by the places where we live and work. Feng Shui investigates the influences of topography, vegetation, water sources, site plans, floor plans, furniture placement, colors, architectural details and neighborhoods on our lives.

It should be noted that there is currently a great deal of interest in this knowledge. Unfortunately there are many so-called Feng Shui practitioners that have little understanding of the physics that underlay the principles of Feng Shui.




What is the "North Shore Style"?

The "North Shore Style" is a term I have coined to describe the architectural style that is to be found in the coastal and pastoral areas just north of Boston, Massachusetts. It is a unique region bounded by the rugged mountains and coasts to the north and world class cosmopolitan centers to the south. The homes in the region consist of classic New England colonials, capes, farmhouses, shingle style, and Victorian homes. Oftentimes these styles are blended together into a unique and pleasing composition. Excellent natural materials such as wood, tile, plaster and stone are utilized. There is a balance of the built and natural environment. Carriage houses and barns are coveted and many properties have an evolved look that only time and thoughtful additions over time can create. Many properties have fine mature trees and landscaping, meandering entry drives, privacy, and a distinctive sense of entry into the home. It is a distinctive look tailored to the New England country lifestyle; a lifestyle that evokes feelings of quality, individuality with a sense of community, permanence, character, history, social standing, security, and a healthy dose of old world charm.




 What is low toxic construction?

A house is not simply a benign structure in which you relax. It's an active, enclosed system and when you are inside it, you become an integral part of that system. If your house is like most being built in the U.S. today, it is composed of many individual components that contain toxic chemicals. Particleboard, plywood, carpeting, floor tile, furniture, wall coverings, adhesives, finishes, paint, pressure treated wood, etc., are composed of chemically processed materials that emit toxic by-products into the air that may persist for years. These multiple outgassing sources create a stew of toxic compounds that can greatly undermine the health of the building's inhabitants, and is popularly known as Sick Building Syndrome.

One of the illnesses that's increasingly being recognized is a condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). There is evidence that this condition is precipitated by exposure to many of the toxic compounds emitted by common building materials. People with MCS are much more sensitive than the rest of the population to common indoor air pollutants. As with all illnesses, there are degrees of MCS. Some reports have estimated that it affects up to 15% of the population. MCS is greatly influenced by the materials in which a building is constructed, as well as design issues such as ventilation and the types of heating and cooking appliances that are specified.

There are different levels of low toxic construction, ranging from traditional building using low impact materials to extreme attention to all aspects of a project using only zero emitting materials and components. As a baseline, Mr. Lawrence's projects have much less toxicity than "normal" construction. With his extensive specification database, he can tailor a project to meet any person's tolerance level.




Are timberframe structures cost effective?

Timberframe structures are constructed to last for centuries and have great value. It is an adaptable structure. The forms generated by the designer, and the craft and skill of the builders show through in the final product to add beauty and character to the house. Wood is a sustainable building material. Timberframe structures can be made energy efficient easily since the insulation envelope is usually entirely outside the structural frame. While timberframe structures initially are more expensive than traditional stick framed structures to build, there is no better way to add integrity and value to your home than to display a beautifully designed and expertly crafted structural timberframe.




 What are my responsibilities as the client?

As the owner and client, your input is essential for a good working relationship with your architect and the success of your project.

Be flexible about achieving the design solution - oftentimes the best solution is arrived at through a process of sketching, discussions, and revisions, which take time.