College of Built Environments at the University of Washington.
Second Life
Monday March 2008CAUP graduate Brian Bell, who went to Harvard (GSD) to pursue his Masters in Architecture in the early 1990's has since opened up shop with architect partner David Yokum in Atlanta, naming their architecture firm bldg. While most young architects can merely dream of owning their own offices and working in their own building, these two have made that very dream come true - at the bargain price of $40,000.
While employed with architects Mack Scogin and Merill Elam of Atlanta in 2000, Bell and Yokum found an old, abandoned structure built in 1947, whose floor plan comprised of an auto repair shop with a warehouse behind it, added on in 1960. Recalls Bell, "We could see sunlight streaming in where it shouldn't have been." This was because of the collapsed roof of the main building, making the structure too dangerous to be inside. Following eight months of demolition in his spare time, Yokum brought his employers to see the space. Looking around the cleared, roofless main space, Elam said, " This is lovely, You should leave it like this." Taking his advice, the 1,650 square foot repair shop was turned into a courtyard, complete with a wood burning stove, pictured above. The 1,850 square foot addition became a live-work space. An all glass front was also added to the back building to give it views of the courtyard, and skylights were also installed. The partners Yokum and Bell, having completed an art gallery, are now working on two houses and a large addition to a third home. The two feel "that the deliberate anonymity of their building and its focus on the interior rather than the exterior - apart from its obvious security advantages - has influenced theier work, particularly in 'how to manipulate views,'" according to Yokum. "It has also given these architects a chance to show how resourcefully, and subtly, they can make more out of less."
For the complete story, and a slide show of pictures showcasing the building, please visit the New York Times Magazine online.