"Contemporary" House in Forest Hills, Davidson County Tennessee

It's a bit strange to think of a house design that you did, and realize it's around 15 years old! At the time this house was just about complete, a local architect here in Nashville walked through and said something to the effect of "Savor this opportunity. You may never get a chance to do something like this again". I think he meant this in a complementary way- and I took it that way- but now that I look back, I realize he was more right than I would have expected at the time. I've had great opportunities to do nice things, but rarely have I had clients with the vision, resources and time to do this kind of project. There are a few things I would change if I had the chance now- and this house was definitely a product of its time (and my lack of experience), but I still like it and enjoy looking at the photos and plans from time to time. Back then I was with Edwards + Hotchkiss Architects, and received lots of help from  Keith Covington and others. Interior design was by Laret Casella- then with the Anderson Design Studio. Good photography was done by Shannon Fontaine and Donna Yancey, bad photography by me!

Updated: Tudor Style Home By Burke Coffey Architecture Design Inc., Under Construction in Princeton Hills, Brentwood, Tennessee

Houses in the Annandale Development, Brentwood, Tennessee

Here are a few houses that we designed that are located in the Annandale Development in Brentwood, Tennessee. Every house must be of a traditional vernacular according to the development guidelines, and each plan has to go through a rigorous review process before permitting and construction can begin. Each of these homes were constructed by Castle Homes. Check out their website as well at: http://www.castlehomes.com/  and see the other plans we have in process for some other Nashville area developments.

A Few More Pictures of the Nelson / Bloch Gallery from our O'more College of Design Field Trip

Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas- A Visit to a Masterwork

I visited Thorncrown Chapel recently with a small group from the O'More School of Design, which is in Franklin, Tennessee. I hadn't been to Thorncrown in some 15 or so years, and was excited to visit what is one of my "top 10 buildings of all time". If you have never been there- and especially if you're in a business related to the fields of Architecture or Design- you should plan a trip. I can't even begin to describe the elegance and power of this tiny structure- it has the feel of delicacy that I have seen on no other building- and a humility that gives reverence to God and Nature.

It is nearly impossible to take photographs that even come close to capturing the essence of this place, and it definitely has a sense of place that belies its physical stature. Here are a few photos that fail miserably at the task of trying to define Thorncrown.

As much as I enjoyed the architecture, there were parts of the experience that were not quite as enjoyable- and I thought I was the only one feeling a bit of a letdown with my experience there- but on departing I found that everyone in our group felt similarly to the way I did. It seems that on my previous visit, I was allowed to move around and enjoy the context of the building. This time the path was quite prescribed, and I don't mind that as much as I mind the signage that seems to compete with the building. There was also a bit of "merchandising" that was occurring inside the doors of the chapel- this bothered me a lot. The Minister there was selling her CDs, and even got up to play a song or two, and although she was very good, I thought it sent the wrong message. I doubt E. Fay Jones, the Architect, ever intended for there to be anything competing with the nature outside of his structure, or the view of it from inside. The Minister's music was also piped over the speakers- a totally unnecessary intrusion on the space. There was no sitting in silence. There were also extraneous items strewn about: extension chords, ladders, folding chairs, bibles with an image of Thorncrown embossed on their covers, and cheesy instructional signs telling you where you can't go and what you can't do.

I'm sure these signs were found to be necessary intrusions ( probably because of overactive architecture fanatics like me! ), but why not have signs that complement the structure? The firm that designed the structure is just over in Fayetteville- I'm sure they could come up with something to honor the memory Fay Jones, and work nicely with one of his masterpieces.

All that said, don't put off going to the chapel based one group's quirks and biases- the design has way too much power to be defeated by little trifling bits of schmaltz. I still have it in my "top ten", and I don't see that changing any time soon- they just need to get the money-changers out of the temple, so to speak.