MARKET INSIGHT
John Fulton Photography
Homework
A Savannah Designer
Draws on a Number of
Inspirations to Create
a Shared ���Think Tank���
Close to Home
W
By Kenneth W. Betz
here do you work? The
answer varies as much as
the business models of the
multiplicity of individuals
who make up the remodeling and design industry. It could be from
the cab of a truck at the jobsite, a highly
visible showroom, a storefront, a home
office or a variation on those themes. It
might be ordinary, or it might make a bold
visual design statement.
20
April 2013
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Based on a modular construction system, the
office features a deck for relaxing. It also serves
as a design element that avoids having the
staircase butt against the side of the building.
The owners of Savannah, Ga.,-based
consulting and design firms opted for the
work-at-home solution but still managed
to keep the office at arm���s length ��� physically and conceptually ��� from the main
residence while complementing the dwelling. Equally important, it is a practical
solution to site restraints and functionality.
The home with which the free-standing
office space is associated is a mid-century
modern residence in Savannah���s Magnolia
Park neighborhood. Previously owned by
the same family for 55 years, the house had
fallen into disrepair but was restored by
the new owners and won an award from
the Historic Savannah Foundation.
Additional Space Needed
The new occupants had recently returned
to Savannah after living in a larger residence, and additional space was needed for
their extensive design library and for office
space. Unfortunately, the original main
residence was only 1,800 sq. ft., and an
addition was impractical for two reasons.
First, ���the way the house was built does
not really allow for an addition unless you
start bastardizing the house,��� says