📝 Quick Note

There’s so much we can do with this community—more open source plans, build kits, workshops....

I just created this 30 second survey to better understand how I can serve you and this community better. Would help me a ton if you completed it real quick 🙏 .

🏡 How to build custom architecture

You’re handed a blank canvas and told to paint. That’s a heavy request.

Each stroke of this acrylic paint is like a buck!
I’m not Picasso, where do I even start?
I’ve got it. Smiley sun in the corner.

When starting a custom build, there’s an urge to plan out every detail before beginning to avoid the architectural equivalent of this painting.

Do that, and the project never gets started.

There are hundreds of micro-decisions that go into a custom build. Choosing to tackle them all at once is too overwhelming.

For that reason, in all of my custom builds I’ve employed what I call progressive decision making. Here’s the recipe:

• Start only with the decisions that will determine the rest (size, location, form)

• Make decisions when you have to based on lead times for materials

Leaving the decision until the last possible moment is not indecision, it’s making the decision with the most context possible.

Are you really going to determine the wall colour before you’ve built the wall? Wouldn’t you rather hold up colour samples to the light once the walls are built?

Some decisions can’t be made as immediately as paint. Doors and windows can have lead times of 8 weeks or more.

Such choices need to get pulled forward so that when it’s time to install the doors you aren’t delaying the project by waiting on them.

Here’s a rough breakdown of the decision order in a custom build:

• Project location

  • Form (dimensions & shape)

    • Windows and doors

      • Utility connections

        • Building enclosure

          • Exterior finishes

            • Interior finishes

If this motivated you to just get started, here’s a guide I made for garden rooms that applies to just about any custom build:

The Treetops

Architecture worth sharing

An off-grid mountain home built out of simple, durable materials. Yes please.

It’s fascinating to see how energy aware he is since the house is not connected to city utilities. Robbie J Walker seems way more in touch with the sun and its seasons than your average homeowner — I think that’s the best side effect of living off-grid.

Reply with your favourite architecture and I'll feature it in an upcoming issue.

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Catch you next Thursday 🫡