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© Douglas R. Schotland Architect, LLC 2024
Why Work With Us?
1. WE ARE RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS:
WE BELIEVE THERE IS TREMENDOUS VALUE IN WORKING WITH A SPECIALIST. An architect with deep housing design expertise, for example, is uniquely equipped to maximize a residential project's design potential - and avoid common pitfalls.
MANY ARCHITECTS CONSIDER HOUSING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING AND COMPLEX BUILDING TYPES. If one area of architecture merits working with a specialist, it is without question housing design.
WHY? MAINLY BECAUSE CUSTOM-DESIGNED HOMES ARE AS UNIQUE AND VARIED AS THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM THEY ARE DESIGNED. Residential architects must spend a great deal of time getting to know their clients. They analyze the wants, needs and daily routines of entire families.
SYNTHESIZING THAT INFORMATION AND TRANSLATING IT INTO A 3D DESIGN THAT WORKS WELL FOR SEVERAL PEOPLE IS NO MEAN FEAT. Perhaps that is why residential architects are often said to possess the skills of a marriage counselor and a therapist, as well as those of a designer.
WORKING WITH A SPECIALIST ON YOUR CUSTOM HOME PROJECT IS A WISE CHOICE. Consider this: If you needed heart surgery, would you go a heart surgeon or a general practitioner? And if you were getting divorced, would you consult a family law attorney or a general lawyer?
THE SAME LOGIC APPLIES TO ARCHITECTURE. The vast majority of architects are generalists, taking on a wide range of project types. Residential clients sometimes hire generalists on the mistaken assumption that doing so will save them money. In reality, the opposite is often true. A "jack of all trades, master of none" may lack the expertise to achieve the best possible result. He may work less efficiently and make costly mistakes that the client will ultimately bear.
2. WE UNDERSTAND (AND LOVE) OLD BUILDINGS:
OUR CORNER OF THE WORLD IS BLESSED WITH A WEALTH OF BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC STRUCTURES. Indeed, that is one of its defining features. As a child growing up in Princeton, Doug felt himself drawn to these graceful, powerful structures. Through study, he learned that the humble craftsmen who built them were actually carrying on a sophisticated, centuries-old design tradition.
BEFORE THE MID 19TH CENTURY, BUILDING FACADES WERE DESIGNED USING SUBTLE SYSTEMS OF PATTERNS AND SYMBOLS. For reasons unbeknownst to most of us, these buildings resonate with the human spirit. To learn more, read The Old Way of Seeing by Jonathan Hale.
DOUG FEELS STRONGLY THAT THESE SYMBOLS OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE NEED TO BE PROTECTED AND PRSERVED. BUT HE IS ALSO A REALIST. Not everyone wants to live in a museum or forgo modern comforts. Fortunately, it is possible to enlarge and modify historic buildings appropriately and without harming them. Doing so can extend their longevity and maintain their relevance in the modern world. But this takes skill, sensitivity, and proper training. Read more about this apparent dilemma here.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO REMEMBER THAT BUILDINGS ARE COMPLEX SYSTEMS. For example: New and old buildings deal with moisture in completely different ways. Combining incompatible modern and historic materials can have disastrous consequences, for the health of occupants and for the buildings themselves.
3. WE HAVE ZONING EXPERTISE:
ALL BUILDING PROJECTS REQUIRE A REVIEW OF LOCAL ZONING ORDINANCES. Rules in one town may differ markedly from those in nearby towns. In fact, most towns contain several zoning districts, each with its own unique regulations.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO DETERMINE THE PARAMETERS WITHIN WHICH CONSTRUCTION CAN OCCUR BEFORE WE BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS. Neglecting to do that can result in unpleasant surprises when it is time to apply for permits. For example: Zoning research may reveal that a house cannot be enlarged in any way without a variance. Having this information at the outset -- before spending countless hours and dollars developing a design -- is, of course, invaluable.
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT DOUG SCHOTLAND HAS EXTENSIVE ZONING EXPERIENCE. He was an active member the Pennington Borough Zoning & Planning Board for 7 years, during which time he served on the Board's Application Review Committee. As an architect, Doug has qualified as an expert and has testified before dozens of New Jersey zoning and planning boards. He is a member of the New Jersey Planning Officials (NJPO).
To learn more about our zoning capabilities, please refer to the zoning section of our website, as well as our numerous blog articles on the subject.
4. WE'RE AT THE LEADING EDGE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE DESIGN:
THANKS TO THE RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES OF RECENT YEARS, TODAY'S BUILDINGS ARE BETTER THAN EVER. BUT THEY ARE ALSO MORE COMPLEX. Knowing where and how to use the bewildering array of new building materials requires a deep understanding of building science, not to mention continuous education to keep up with the changes.
SO, WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? Buildings designed according to building science best practices use less energy, are healthier and more comfortable for occupants, and are better for the environment (i.e. sustainable) than standard "code-minimum" buildings. Such buildings are known as "high-performance."
As a graduate of the Passive House Institute's (PHIUS) prestigious certification program, Doug is well-equipped to design high-performance buildings.
5. WE ARE A TRUSTED RESOURCE AND ADVOCATE:
