Category: Design

Provincetown Residence Wins National Design Award

February 1, 2012

Residence in Provincetown Evokes Historical Past of Piers and the Town’s Boat Building Past

OLD TOWN, ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Michael Winstanley Architects & Planners is pleased to announce that they have won a second national design award from the Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) for their Private Residence in Provincetown, Massachusetts.  The Design Award of Honor was announced at SARA’s 55th Annual National Conference in San Diego, CA, late in 2011.  This was the firm’s second award from SARA at the event.  The first award was a Design Award of Recognition for 107 North West Street in Alexandria, VA; the firm’s offices.

The 3,000 sf wood frame residence was designed to evoke the historical memory of Provincetown Harbor, whose shorelines once boasted hundreds of piers jutting into the water, through the expression of the wood pier structure of the house.  The massing on the second floor is set back reminiscent of the industrial fish and storage sheds that sat on top of the piers.  The materials are predominately wood and copper sheet metal with stainless steel cables and couplings that are detailed with a nod toward the boat building industry that so dominated the fishing village at the turn of the century.

“We are very happy to be recognized by SARA with this design award and even happier that it was our second award,” says Michael Winstanley AIA AICP.  “The Provincetown residence was a great platform for us to express our design ideas.”

The Provincetown Residence also boasts numerous environmental attributes.  The south façade is predominantly glass and capitalizing on the passive solar gains in the winter while shaded by the second story sunshade in the summer.  Additional energy conservation design considerations include natural daylighting and natural ventilation.  The pier structure, much like its precedent, allows tidal surges, windblown sand and natural vegetation to migrate under and around the house without disturbing the natural ebb and flow of these systems.

The Society of American Registered Architects was formed in 1956 in Atlanta Georgia by Wilfred J. Gregson and is open to anyone who carries an architectural license.  The Credo for the organization is “Architect Helping Architect.”

 

Michael Winstanley Architects & Planners Studio Wins National Design Award

January 20, 2012

Design Reflects Firm’s Commitment to Multi-Discipline Methodology

 

Michael Winstanley Architects & Planners is pleased to announce that they have won a national design award from the Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) for their studio at 107 N. West Street in Alexandria, Virginia. The Design Award of Recognition was announced at SARA’s 55th Annual National Conference in San Diego, CA, late in 2011. The firm won two awards from SARA at the event. The first award was a Design Award of Recognition for the Provincetown Residence in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

The renovation of the semi-abandoned warehouse was designed to accommodate the architecture and design firm along with a commercial photography studio. In addition to being unusually sited on an alley and fire lane, having a footprint of 4,350 SF, 19-foot ceilings and a clear span of approximately 40 feet presented many challenges – poor daylight exposure, lack of insulation, restricted air circulation, and the need for a raised floor over the slab to house data and power sources.

“We are very happy to be recognized by SARA with this design award,” says Michael Winstanley AIA AICP. “The existing building actually lent itself quite well to our vision for both the open architecture studio and the photography studio.”

Our renovation of the building, with its new windows, has improved the neighborhood through its presence – and its “eyes” – on the alley. Neighbors have applauded this improvement and stressed how it has contributed to the safety of the community. The preservation of the building also contributes to the unique, historic fabric of Old Town.

The Society of American Registered Architects was formed in 1956 in Atlanta Georgia by Wilfred J. Gregson as is open to anyone who carries an architectural license. The Credo for the organization is “Architect Helping Architect.”