The Inspired Intermedia digital book collection
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85 T he word "modern" often provokes strong reactions in the world of residential architecture. Some people might imagine wonderful homes of steel and glass with open, flowing floor plans; others might picture sterile homes that feel like museums, complete with men in suits watching carefully that nothing is touched. But, ultimately, "modern" is about what is "now" — what's current — not what's in the past. Our lifestyles today are considerably different than the lifestyles of 50 years ago, let alone 100 or 200 years ago. Architecture must represent the way we live today, not the way we lived hundreds of years ago. Remember parlors? These sitting rooms where guests were greeted are no longer relevant. Often, a modern floor plan features an open great room — kitchen, dining area, and living area all in one space. Seldom is there a formal dining area, or parlor, for that matter. Five hundred years ago, we built with walls of thick adobe and stone with deep-set windows and small interior rooms. But current technologies, such as engineered lumber and structural steel, have allowed for large expanses of unencumbered space and glass. This glass has also provided the ability to connect to the outdoors f rom the interior — something that was never possible before. Energy-efficient solutions have made homes more resourceful and sustainable. This is modern design. Avoiding trends gives modern architecture an authenticity that other styles lack. For example, it makes little sense to design an Old-World Tuscan home in the Sonoran Desert, given the difference in climates and the fact that our technology is so radically different f rom 200 years ago. Ayn Rand's main character in The Fountainhead, architect Howard Roark, said it well, "A house can have integrity, just like a person; and just as seldom." Too many homes lack integrity because they lack authenticity. A modern home should represent how we live today. It should reflect current construction methods and materials. It should have integrity. Modern architecture offers an opportunity for original beauty — not the imitation of another style f rom another time or place. We consider the present and, with imagination, create a f resh aesthetic. That is modern. Eric Spry Spry Architecture Phoenix, AZ see page 385 Single-Family Modern Homes Single-Family Modern Homes under 5,000 square feet under 5,000 square feet Darwin Harrison Design, page 114 Studio D, page 156 Studio LeMaster, page 160