A stunning restoration and renovation of a historic plantation home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia by Stephen Muse and William Kiwan of Muse Architects, this project was awarded because of its meticulous attention to detail, authenticity and preservation.

Originally constructed in 1784 and expanded in 1829, the brick-ended clapboard structure with twin Georgian entry porches follows a one bay deep linear plan typical of Tidewater homes.

Along with complete renovation and restoration of the original house, the scope of work included removal of recent out-of-character additions and construction of additional living space capturing the view of nearby Hungar’s Creek.

To accomplish this, the twin porches from the drive side of the house were replicated on the waterfront side and a new kitchen with breakfast bay was connected to the existing structure by a one-story hyphen.

Additional work included the restoration of all outbuildings, construction of a new garage and the restoration of all driveways, walkways and gardens.

Marvin products used in the project included Ultimate Double Hung Windows, French Casement Windows, Ultimate Casement Windows, Stationary Windows and Transom Windows.

To see more winners and learn more about the Architect’s Challenge, please visit Marvin.

Today the marketing department at Marvin Windows and Doors had the privilege of hearing Sarah Susanka talk to us about her work. Sarah has been a long-time friend of Marvin and we are huge fans of her. She’s a top architect, designer, author, visionary and all-around good person.

Sarah talked about her new showhouse in Libertyville, Ill., which feature both Marvin and Integrity windows. She shared some of her design tips with us. Here’s a sampling.

• Varied ceiling heights. This makes a room feel cozy instead of stark.
• Aligning the house so that the eye has something to be drawn towards. For instance, Sarah designed the entry of the Libertyville house with a recessed shelf that can hold some artwork or a vase of flowers. You see the focal point as soon as you enter in through the door.
• Walking towards light. As Sarah reminded us, human beings are drawn towards light, so when designing a home, it’s important that we are able to move towards light-filled spaces, whether that is a window, a door, or just a lighted area on a wall.
• Multi-use spaces. Sarah showed us a floor plan that could be switched around to include large gatherings. As she pointed out, in traditional home plans, there are often spaces that get used once or twice a year. Why not design homes to be as flexible as possible?

Learn more about Sarah and her Not So Big philosophy here.

Image courtesy of Susanka.com.

This meticulously considered renovation by Douglas Larson of Larson and Paul Architects transformed a decrepit 19th-century farmhouse in Stanfordville, N.Y., into a weekend retreat for a New York City family. It also was a winner in the 2011 myMarvin Architect’s Challenge.

A plan to preserve the original structure as well as harvest as many reusable materials as possible, resulted in the creation of a comfortable, modern, green design while maintaining the simplicity and charm of the home’s history.

Of particular note, restoration of the original post and beam framing allowed for installation of an open wall of glass featuring Marvin Wood Ultimate Sliding French Doors to showcase a stunning mountain view on one of Duchess County’s most scenic country roads.

Marvin products used in the project included in sash wood polygons, Ultimate Casement windows, the Ultimate Sliding French Door, Ultimate Double Hung windows and Tilt Turn windows.

Learn more about the project on Marvin.com.

Here’s another example of a tiny house that is built imaginatively and attractively. It comes from Japan, a place where space is at a premium, but has a long history of beautiful architecture. We found this house while perusing  Design Milk; you can check out the rest of the Mizuishi Architect Atelier-designed house here. It may be only 312 square feet, but it houses three people comfortably. We’ll let the pictures do the talking…

Images courtesy of Design Milk

Here’s another look at the winning entries of the 2011 myMarvin Architect’s Challenge.

As a brand-new residential construction on an existing footprint, The Overlook House achieves light environmental impact while producing visually rich and architecturally satisfying spaces.

With the goal of replacing a structurally compromised house that couldn’t be renovated, Marcus Gleysteen of Gleysteen Design took great care to design sensibly with sustainable materials. Using the best in effective building technology and energy use, both design and environmental sensibilities are apparent throughout all interior and exterior surfaces.

Clean, sharp lines and details set the stage for inviting light, spatial flow and family interaction. Individual living and working spaces are arranged around a central hall and stair, lighting and uniting the house. Rather than a series of formal rooms, the main level of the house characterizes a large loft, where the kitchen, dining and living areas are integrated. The more private sleeping areas are located in the upper level of the house. In a dramatic design move, the master bedroom cantilevers over the first floor, shading the terraces below and extending into the rich landscape.

Marvin products were essential to the design, allowing abundant natural light as the vision intended. While smaller windows face north and east towards the street and nearby homes, walls of glass overlook a private, natural landscape. The use of high-efficiency windows and solar shading allow for these expansive window walls.

Clerestory windows located in the main living loft and above the stairwell bring light into the center of the house throughout the day, animating the space. The interior to exterior transition is blurred by broad sliding doors that open to a patio, which further terraces down to a secluded garden overlooking marshland.

MARVIN PRODUCTS USED:

Picture Windows
Casement Windows
Awning Windows
Sliding Patio Doors
Electronically Operable Awning Windows

Images courtesy of Marcus Gleysteen

Over the next few weeks, we will be profiling winners of the 2011 myMarvin Architect’s Challenge. Let’s start with a beautiful project from sunny Spain.

Francis Daniel Trico of McLundie Architects in Sotogrande, Spain designed a majestic villa of 850 square meters built area, laid out over four floors on a steep sloping site in Sotogrande Alto. This coastal gem boasts magnificent views over La Reserva golf course and lake and the Mediterranean Sea. The villa’s design was influenced by the traditional Andalucian architecture of the area, including details like “Tosco” brick in roof eaves and columns, play of volumes in the roofscapes and water fountains.

See more photos and learn more about this project on Marvin.com.

Given its location in the Mediterranean, forming a seamless relationship between outdoor and indoor living spaces was essential to the overall design approach. To open up the façade and connect the external covered terrace to the main living room, a Marvin Bi-Fold door was the perfect fit. Another feature, the introduction of an internal courtyard, serves as the focal point of the main living areas.

To maximize the height of the openings on the main floor, elegant fixed transoms with lites were introduced to allow for natural light and splendid views of the nearby golf course and lake. Additionally, windows were treated internally with the same lime washing finish as the rest of the timber ceilings and internal doors around the house, which was key to the overall aesthetic.

The decision to use Marvin Windows and Doors was made late in the construction process (building fabric and fenestration openings were fully completed). This proved to be the right decision, as Marvin demonstrated flexibility and versatility in its products and solutions. Scale, proportion, frame profile, elegance and general beauty of the windows and doors were vastly superior to any other products available in Spain.

Attention to detail in every aspect of the design coupled with the selection Marvin Windows and Doors culminated in a standout luxurious home.

Marvin products used included:

• Clad Bi-Fold Door
• Clad Ultimate Swinging French Doors
• Clad Ultimate Sliding French Doors
• Clad Direct Glaze Rectangle Units
• Clad Fixed Transom Units
• Clad Sliding Patio Doors
• Clad Ultimate Arch Top Swinging French Doors
• Clad Ultimate Awning Windows
• Clad Ultimate Casements
• Clad Ultimate Casement Round Top Units

At its best, building and architecture not only provides beauty but also innovative solutions to problems. Here’s a great example of that.

Inhabitat recently blogged about the Swiss St. Maurice Abbey. It’s ancient — more than 1,500 years old — and during the thousand-plus years of its existence, it sometimes needs a little TLC.

Recently, the abbey had some rocks fall on it. For protection, it was originally built next to a cliff, and that decision has served it well for thousands of years. Unfortunately, where there are cliffs, there are rocks, and when there’s a structure nearby…

Somehow, the St. Maurice Abbey had to be protected. But how to to do that while keeping with its ancient aesthetics and traditions? Enter Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes. They designed a roof that gently floats over the abbey and achieves the goals of protection and not changing the fundamental character of this historic place. It lets in massive amounts of natural light and looks like a cross between water and sky. Inhabitat has some great pictures of the project; check them out here.

Looking for innovative solutions for your home? Visit www.marvin.com to learn more!

The Minnesota Homes By Architects Tour, showcases 14 new and remodeled homes with an eye toward more than simple aesthetic pleasure:

This tour is about more than simple oohs and ahhs… it is about experiencing how design solutions — from dramatic to subtle — arouse an emotional response and create a sense of place. It is about observing first hand how working with an architect transformed what could have been run of the mill living spaces to responsive, tailored domestic environments.

Bryan Anderson of SALA Architects, Inc. is the architect on Home #1 on the tour. This project uses multiple custom sizes and shapes of Marvin Windows and Doors to show off the expansive views and let in lots of natural light. In the video below, Anderson speaks with Jeff Hoffman from Marvin Windows and Doors and shares some details about his approach to this home.

HBA Home 1 Standard & Custom Windows from Ryan Siemers on Vimeo

Marvin is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Architect’s Challenge. These gorgeous houses and buildings, designed by some of today’s most innovative architects, feature Marvin products and cutting-edge design. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing in-depth details of each project (and you can visit marvin.com to see more now), but let’s learn more about the judging panel.

J. Carson Looney, FAIA: Carson is one of the founders of Looney Ricks Kiss Architects with multiple offices headquartered in Memphis, TN. He is the Principal in Charge of Residential Architecture, providing design services for all segments of the Housing industry, as well as neighborhood planning and design guidelines.

He passionately believes one of the highest levels of sustainability in design is achieved through the creation of homes and neighborhoods that have enduring value— places and homes that are based on timeless principals, while seamlessly balanced with identifying and solving modern functional lifestyle needs. Quality of life and adaptable livability solutions are evident in the firm’s work, whether it is a modest row house or a unique custom home.

In 1996, Carson was elected to The College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of his efforts to ensure the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment. In addition, he was recognized by residential architect magazine (Jan. 1999) as one of five current-day architects whose work forecasts the century ahead. In October 2007, he was inducted into the Wm. S. Marvin Hall of Fame for Design Excellence for his quality-of-life design solutions based on timeless principles of architecture. In January 2009, Carson was honored as one of the Top 30 Innovators for the Past 30 Years by BUILDER Magazine and the Hearthstone Humanitarian Awards. Carson was also inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Best in American Living Awards Hall of Fame in January 2009.

The work of the firm is widely published and to date has received 502 regional and national design awards.

William H. Kreager, FAIA, LEED®, MIRM: Bill Kreager, retired founding principal of Mithun, has created new homes and communities all across the United States. The integration of site planning, building design and sustainability in urban infill and mixed-use developments is the focus of his practice. His projects have achieved national recognition for Smart Growth implementation, environmentally sensitive master site planning and innovative architectural design. His progressive, marketoriented projects range from small, infill communities to new 6,000-acre towns. Bill has been lead master planner for new innovative communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, most recently High Point, a mixed-use community of 1,600 units that reweaves the neighborhood into West Seattle. Bill is a compelling speaker who is frequently requested to talk about housing issues before regional and national audiences.

Mark McInturff, FAIA: Mark McInturff FAIA is a native of Washington DC and received his B. Architecture from the University of Maryland School of Architecture with its first graduating class in 1972. He taught at the University of Maryland from1980 to 2006, and was appointed as the University of Maryland Kea Professor for Spring 2003. From1995 through 2004 he was also a visiting critic at the Catholic University of America’s School of Architecture and Planning. McInturff was elevated to the College of Fellows of the AIA in 2000.

McInturff Architects, a seven-person firm in Bethesda, Maryland, has an orientation toward small highly crafted contemporary design for residential, commercial and small institutional projects.

The firm has received more than 250 design awards, including three AIA Honor Awards, two for Interior Architecture and one for Urban Design, and an AIA Housing Award for multi-family housing. The work is the subject of two monographs, In Detail: McInturff Architects (2001) and In Residence: McInturff Architects (2007), both by The Images Publishing Group of Australia.

Starting in 1912, Marvin Windows and Doors has committed to providing the best made-to-order wood windows and doors in the industry. But the commitment doesn’t start and stop with the construction. Marvin staff work on architectural support, customer service, product support, research and development, sustainability and more.

Taking a closer look at the dedication given to each and every Marvin window, we’ve created the video series: Inside every Marvin window.

This is the third of four videos: Inside every Marvin window: Architectural support

Meet Dan Rood, III. He manages the architectural department at Marvin Windows and Doors, a team of 17 experts. Each of the experts ensures that the Marvin Windows and Doors’ catalog is just the starting point for the window or door each homeowner wants. From a custom design to a unique size, the team provides support throughout the entire window and door-making process to ensure that each product is “Built around you®.”