Continue Planting the Seeds

Landscape work continues. As you will note in the plan, the landscaping on this project is quite extensive…and…extensive means labor. It has been quite a process planting the various grass, shrubs, and trees, but the vision is slowly becoming more apparent and will most certainly be worth it in the end.

You can start to the number of plugs that have already gone into the ground. We have planted much of the prairie dropseed, purple love grass, serviceberries, and redbuds, just to name a few. As previously mentioned, the intention was to maintain a native plant palette, as this is quite important in connecting with our local environment and utilizing plants already adapted to this region. It’s honestly a really great way to feel a stronger connection to your locale and to the environment in which we live. It actually serves as a reminder to the beauty that exists within our own landscape.

Much of the Shelby Street side is now planted. Next will come the Fletcher side and the backyard. This will include construction the raised beds for vegetables and hopefully we will see the construction of the deck and fence extension in the near future. Look for more updated pictures in the next few days.

Work the Land

This weekend we began the landscaping process. We started by tilling the entire lot. This is never an easy thing to do on an urban lot on which a structure previously sat. We encountered a lot of this:

However, we got the hang of the tiller pretty quickly and things progressed relatively smoothly, minus losing control of the tiller and having it crash into the house…not really…but it could have happened, right?

Although it is still just a dirt patch, it feels just a little closer to the real deal. After seeing the site as little more than a dried up dirt and gravel patch for such a long time, it’s rewarding to see us actually begin the landscaping process. We should have more news on plants, deck, and fencing this week. Stay tuned.

Hello…I’m back.

As you can tell…I’ve really been slacking on this whole blogging thing for quite some time. However, it seems like a good time to get back into the rhythm. Spring has made a few appearances, which means things should be picking up for both me, 701 Shelby, and various developments and happenings throughout the city. Spring is always a great reminder of the beauty and value in a place and a pleasant reminder why I am in Indy and all of the great things happening in the city.

Because it’s spring, it’s time for landscaping to happen at 701 Shelby. We have gone through various landscape iterations, with help from a few different people. A friend of mine, James Poisel, happens to be a landscape architect and has graciously lent his help on the project. Below is the current plan, minus a few very minor modifications (click on the link for a better quality image of the plan):

701 Shelby_Landscape Plan_040313

As you can see from the plan, there is a strong emphasis on native plantings and minimizing the use of turf. We all know the problems and issues that grass lawns create, and this house has always been about living the right way, living responsibly. The landscape is a direct reflection of this mantra, with a series of low maintenance, local trees, grasses, flowering plants, and plenty of space for raised vegetable garden beds.

Keep a watch on the blog for updated photos as the work begins. The landscape will really tie everything together and demonstrate the home’s strong intention to marry interior with exterior, house and landscape.

Also, there will be some updates in the near future on some changes in plans with the lot in Fountain Square…as some issues were encountered…though I still plan on building in the neighborhood…no doubt about that.

Thanks for following the blog and look for some more regularity being brought back to it!

701 Shelby – Exterior

701 Shelby on a Saturday morning.

Interior Shots

I thought I would share a few interior photos of how the space is shaping up. While it’s still not quite 100% yet, you can really get a good sense for the quality of the spaces.

As you can tell in the photos, one of the biggest drivers for the the space was access to natural light. While we couldn’t break the budget on windows and daylighting, we understand the role daylight plays in creating inviting interior environments.

We will share more interior photos after the finishing touches are put on and also will share exterior as landscaping begins to happen in the spring.

Console Table

After installation of the plywood second floor, we were left with a number of extra pre-cut 1′x4′ boards. As a result, I came up with the idea to produce a simple television console table. The table’s design is intended to be simple in nature, with the introduction of only two additional materials, scrap 2x4s for the legs and a sheet of pegboard for the sliding door panels.

The design speaks to simplicity in form, materiality, and finish (left unfinished), utilizing off-the-shelf products to produce a piece that complements the design of the home.

Check it out:

The piece was fabricated with the help of my friend and industrial designer Chris Stuart. Chris runs Luur, a design-build operation in town. He is a fantastic designer and we are lucky to have such a talent. Definitely check out his work.

New Lot in Fountain Square

Some good news to report on my end…I have recently signed the purchase agreement for a vacant lot in Fountain Square and will be closing soon.  Check it out:

1234 Lexington Ave

The plan is to design and build a house for myself.  As Fountain Square is the up and coming urban neighborhood in Indianapolis, this is an exciting time to be building in the neighborhood. Further, you can see the proximity to 701 Shelby and begin to understand the impact these homes can begin to have on the neighborhood and its future direction.

I have a real passion for this neighborhood for many reasons, a few being: its proximity to downtown, the Virginia Ave commercial corridor, the scale of the lots and existing housing stock, the influx of the creative class, the history, the design freedoms and receptiveness to new housing typologies, and the energy and vibrancy, and the promising future the neighborhood holds.

Fountain Square

1234 Lexington presents a different context from 701 Shelby.  The lot is mid-block, a fairly narrow slot between two existing homes.  As a result, the design response will be very different, but different in a good way.  The existing conditions always inform the design process and often can become a key driver for the design of the project, and, often, I find the properties with the most geographic restrictions to be the ones with the opportunity for the most interesting design solutions.

So look for the development of this property to also become a strong focus of this blog, from the very beginning stages of design through construction. I look forward to sharing this experience with you and giving you a little more insight into process.