Archive for the ‘Quick Facts’ Category

Cottages and Community Features

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Quality of craftsmanship and design are at the heart of Inglenook Carmel.  In all we do, we strive to work in concert with nature, both during and after construction.

We use sustainable materials that maintain their strength and integrity. Our homes are outfitted with the most current and energy efficient appliances and construction techniques available. 

We are concerned about the health of the community as well as the planet, and every decision we make reflects that concern. We believe that nothing is more beautiful than natural beauty, and nothing is greener than something that lasts.

Here are a few features we would like to highlight:

Site:

Foundations:

Framing:

Thermal & Moisture Protection:

Doors & Windows:

Finishes:

Appliances:

Mechanical Systems:

Electrical Systems

For more information about the individual cottages check out our Homes page.

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New Book out!

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Ross has written a new book, Pocket Neighborhoods, that has just been released. 

Building a neighborhood is about having a vision and understanding how all the pieces and layers fit together.  Skipping over a key detail or two is the difference between a subdivision and a neighborhood.  Ross Chapin understands these details and his Pocket Neighborhoods book will give you that understanding too.

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Quick Facts: The Pocket Neighborhood

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

The intention of pocket neighborhoods designed by Ross Chapin are to provide a well-defined personal space and foster a strong sense of community. Here are the key elements Ross Chapin uses to accomplish this goal:

Layering from Public to Private
It is essential to clearly define personal boundaries.  A resident arriving home or a guest coming to visit enters through “implied” gates — near the mailbox kiosk or the parking pockets — into the semi-public Commons.  This shared garden is edged with a perennial border and a low split-cedar fence*.  A swinging gate opens to the private yard, and a walk leads to steps, the front porch and front door.  The porch railing* is at a height just right for ‘perching’ and is adorned with flower boxes to further define (and express) a personal boundary.  Within the cottages, the layering continues with active spaces in front and private spaces in back and above.

*We’ve often found these elements missing when other developers work with the cottage courtyard pattern.  The reason it’s so important is that the low hedge, fence and porch railing define personal territory.  Without them, the resident can feel exposed and less inclined to venture out.

Nested Houses
To ensure privacy between cottages, the houses ‘nest’ together: the ‘open’ side of one house faces the ‘closed’ side of the next.  You could say the houses are spooning!  The open side has large windows facing its side yard (which extends to the face of neighboring house), while the closed side has high windows and skylights.  The result is that neighbors do not peer into one another’s world.

Eyes on the Commons
The first line of defense for personal security is a strong network of neighbors who know and care for one another.  When the active spaces of the houses look onto the shared common areas, a stranger is noticed.  As well, nearby neighbors can see if daily patterns are askew next door or be called upon in an emergency.

Corralling the Car
Cars dominate our lives to a great degree, so its critical they are kept in check.  We’ve intentionally placed parking [in the rear of] the cottages and screened from the street [and courtyard].

The Commons
With all paths leading through and all cottages facing the Commons, this is the locus of community.  A pea-patch garden is on one end, a calm stretch of lawn is on the other, while a child’s swing hangs from the heirloom plum tree at the center.  To the side is the Workshop: the place to cane a chair, start spring seedlings, and gather for parties.  On the roof is a terrace with a terrific overview.  The Tool Shed provides a spot for shared garden tools.

Mailbox Cluster
Rather than picking up mail from your car, boxes are clustered in a kiosk and the pedestrian entrance, increasing ‘chance’ meetings among neighbors.

Cottage Scale
These are 1-1/2 -story cottages, not 2-story houses.  The difference is not just about style, but impact on the surrounding neighborhood.  If twice the density of houses are allowed in a single-family zone, they need to be cottage scale.

Individuality
Each cottage, though similar, is unique.  This fosters a personal bond of caring and identity with each householder and their home.  We carefully chose exterior colors for each cottage in relation to one another – a total of 24 different colors!  While this was a bit over the top, we feel it is important to clearly differentiate one cottage from another. Each household creates their own garden landscape and flower box garden.  Some are like overgrown English Cottage Gardens, while others are simple and Zen-like.  But they all seem to work together. Another way the cottages are each unique is because homeowners name their own cottage.  When a house has a name, how can it be a commodity?

Porch Rooms.  So many porches these days are ‘faux porches’; they may look like a porch, but have absolutely no function except to provide “modulation of the façade” and “curb appeal.”  That’s just babble.  A porch should be large enough to be a room and placed just off of the active area of the house.  It should also be next to the commons, where householders can choose to informally engage with neighbors.  The passageway to the front door should pass along the side and not the center of the porch to preserve its function as a room.

Living Large in a Small House
A small house can feel and function large when there is ample light and adequate storage space. Nine-foot and higher ceilings with large windows and skylights fill the rooms with light, creating a much larger perceived sense of space.  There is ample storage with walk-in closets, built-in shelves and an attic.  We designed in nooks, built-in eating alcoves, and deep sills. Living, dining, kitchen, bedroom and bath are all on the main level and there is a spacious full-height loft accessed by a ship’s ladder.

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