Welcome to design a dwelling - volume 3. Im Doug Patt. This is the series where we pick a site and put a house on it. Water towers are everywhere and they come in all shapes and sizes. They store water and create pressure in the distribution system because of their height. These Marshall Wells water towers seemed very unique Their shape and color are quite appealing as is the fact that they sit one right next to the other. Theyre perfect site for design a dwelling. So I started thinking about the new home as a bridge that spanned the gap between the two structures. The potential panoramic view was also really important so a series of 360 degree balconies are a must. I also thought it would be really neat to maintain the architecture of the towers on the interior of the building by leaving them exposed as well as visible from the exterior of the new home. So, remember, this exercise is simply to describe what an architect might be thinking about in a schematic way if cost and schedule were in no way an issue. It also assumes that anything is possible. So to back up, on an earlier iteration I struggled with some kind of structural support below the building. Ive decided rather, that Im not going to worry about structure here because its obvious to me that we could create some kind of hidden support for the building if money were no object. So, I overlaid the drawing on the photo. The photo is a little short so I added some width and cleaned it up. Eliminated the water tower where it would not be seen. Then added some shadow. The material for the balconies could be long strips of stained ipe or teak. The façade would take its cue from the towers set up in continuous panels of glass, steel and screens for blocking the sun. Then add a little cartoon clouds and the house really starts to take on a Jetsons feel. So well add a spaceship and my scale figure. Then a little animation showing our scale figure arriving in style, landing on the roof. Perhaps taking a little stroll through the building. Enjoying the view and then leaving for a hot date now that hes famous. And finally I think the value of the clouds is a little light so Ill darken them a bit to make them recede. And there you have it. A modern water tower dwelling. So, thanks for checking out volume 3 of - design a dwelling. This is Doug Patt. See you next time on how to architect.
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