Comments on: 12/03/10 – Toronto – Large Single Family >2500 sqft

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:34:35 +0000

The 9300 East Florida development in Aurora CO has a 3 bed condo with attached parking. Nothing provided on the site, site plans, green features… It is not walkable.

I thought the plan worked but the organization could have been better. I would not take all the extras on the entry hall and make that area dining and the other living. The front entry was poor and the back decent. I like how they incorporated the closets in the smaller bedrooms. We also see a utility room with laundry. Here is an L kitchen with an island I said no to that however. That refrigerator should have been placed better (maybe where the pantry is?). Mid America Mom

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:02:34 +0000

A three bedroom and two bath unit in the Dry Creek Crossing development outside of Denver. The dining space suffers form being in the hallway. The second bedrooms are a bit small and that hall may have been worked a little different for a better result? The master bedroom layout needs organization help. Mid America Mom

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:53:10 +0000

WOW outside the downtown area of Denver this had a 69 so I gave them Yes for walk. No mention of green and no site plan.

This is a wide plan that has much to offer. Kitchen in the dark back and living toward the front. The master bedroom you cannot see into the bath from the bed though I wish they flipped the door on the closet or moved it toward the entry. Kitchen is a U and space to move. Balcony can handle a few chairs! The dining is too tight with the breakfast bar there. The laundry is in the bathroom and no place to put a basket down. The entry suffers from the entrance to the kitchen. Mid America Mom

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:25:06 +0000

Another more reasonable priced plan that is fast. They are playing up the green and location. However it is not walkable.

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:57:46 +0000

Same builder as Blue Sky. oh they have a commitment to providing entry level homes at a good price. Problem is delivering a good design. They did give us one bath in a 2 bed unit and though it is a bit large I am giving them the point for trying. Laundry is almost in the kitchen :( Mid America Mom

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:48:58 +0000

The other plan at Blue sky makes me feel blue. Angled kitchen. The living space is hard to understand and has circulation all over. Dining is again too small and bathrooms a bit too much. The laundry has its own room which is about one of the best parts of this plan. Mid America Mom

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:35:59 +0000

Blue Sky in Erie CO Walkscore was 9 LOL. This is a non split two bedroom plan that is wide. Bedroom closet in one is quite large and the other needs help with its angle. The laundry is in a closet in the bedroom hall near bedroom doors. The master bath vanity and tub are too large. The dining is too small. The larger patio cannot fit much with that door there. The fireplace and TV area was a nice thing and the kitchen is passable. Mid America Mom

By: Richard J

Richard J — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:55:15 +0000

100/100 walkscore!

By: Joti Singh

Joti Singh — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:53:50 +0000

Missing enviro point, kitchen and entry also no gos.

By: Joti Singh

Joti Singh — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:52:53 +0000

Pretty good unit.

By: Alejandro

Alejandro — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:50:57 +0000

Major organizational problems here. The long hall at the entry is a real problem as is the location of the main bath right next to the kitchen. The rooms are not bad, but the overall design is flawed.

By: Alejandro

Alejandro — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:50:16 +0000

A very large unit with some really exuberant curves – I don’t like the plan – but it scores well on the Slow Home Test. The organization is weak as there are a lot of halls given the massive size.

By: Richard J

Richard J — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:48:51 +0000

unfortunate column, no outdoor space, no site plan, no env. info, good location.

By: Joti Singh

Joti Singh — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:45:33 +0000

The rotunda shaped living room will have a lot of wasted space and the diagonal entry into the unit creates awkwardly shaped bathrooms and limits the functionality of the guest bedroom.

By: Joti Singh

Joti Singh — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:43:39 +0000

Good room by room unit

By: BradW

BradW — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:36:05 +0000

Interesting architecture, nothing mentioned regarding eco-features, unit has west and north exposure. A flex space could be dining/study/bedroom. The minimal entry is a problem but otherwise not bad…

By: Catherine Taney

Catherine Taney — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:55:52 +0000

This is the first plan that I have reviewed with a 45 degree angle that I actually think works OK. Bedroom number three is the only one that really suffers in this plan.

By: Catherine Taney

Catherine Taney — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:54:24 +0000

This seems like a reasonable plan. All the spaces seem to make sense. I am not a fan of the angled wall at the entry, but it seems to be a minor point in the overall organization. Only thing missing was the enviro-features.

By: orangeopolis

orangeopolis — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:51:31 +0000

Both of the bathrooms in this unit are ensuites. This means that guests have to walk through one of the bedrooms. Not very nice! Also the terrace is too small to bother with.

By: Claudette N.

Claudette N. — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:38:58 +0000

The unit is not that small to have so many “small space” problems: single sided kitchen, bedroom without any window, laundry that opens into the living room and the list goes on.

By: Matilde

Matilde — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:37:20 +0000

A big unit with some supersized features. The kitchen really suffers in its location and has to work around a very unfortunate structural column. The dining room is a joke – are those some sort of “faux” columns to define the space?

By: Matilde

Matilde — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:36:29 +0000

Things get off course right at the entry in this plan. I feel the kitchen is too large for the size of the unit and the island is oddly far too small. The entry right into the kitchen is a bad detail.

By: Rita H.

Rita H. — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:27:38 +0000

This unit is really hampered by the introduction of the 45 degree angled wall into the plan caused by the unit’s awkward location in the building. This is a corner unit that should easily be able to accommodate the program of two bedroom and two baths without the need for the odd angles. The outdoor living space is too small for any function and the master bath and walk in closet are both really cramped.

By: Rita H.

Rita H. — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:26:42 +0000

The biggest problem with this unit is the organization. The use of the 45 degree wall to “open up” the space in the center of the plan just messes it all up. Case in point is the view of the toilet from the kitchen, The kitchen feels too far back from the main space. The laundry at the front door is also a problem. The individual rooms are well done – they just need to be better organized.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:23:18 +0000

Only missing the environmental component.

By: Preston

Preston — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:13:17 +0000

This is a fairly rambling corner unit with a lot of wasted space. I would put the dining room where the family room is. The entry is too small given the size of the unit. The seating area next to the kitchen is just silly. Overall, the major room by room points are OK. The private spaces in this unit will suffer from their proximity to the main elevator shaft thanks to all the noise.

By: Preston

Preston — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:10:49 +0000

This unit is really quite terrible. It is the curse of being a middle unit. The architect is trying to do something interesting but this falls short and the result is a bunch of spaces that don’t work at all. The deck is too small to be used, the kitchen island is really useless, the dining space can only fit a really small table and the bedroom has no window and a terrible angled wall that makes the bed placement awkward. The study is a notch in the wall – it looks too small to even hold a lap top!

By: Preston

Preston — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:08:49 +0000

A good “U” shaped corner unit with an inset deck space. The only real issue is the “study” space which is by the front door and laundry area – that is not great.

By: Preston

Preston — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:05:52 +0000

A fairly good plan – I only worry about the door swing to the deck – I feel it would make the dining space awkward with a table. I also couldn’t give the siting point(s) because without a site plan, it’s impossible to tell where this unit is in the building and which direction it faces.

By: Claudette N.

Claudette N. — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:57:06 +0000

The entry, kitchen and dining spaces are the real issues here. The kitchen is too tight, the dining room is just circulation (no wonder they don’t show furniture) and the entry is well, just a door!

By: Claudette N.

Claudette N. — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:56:17 +0000

Not much to say here, the plan is not “bad” but it really leaves me feeing empty – it all seems sort of average.

By: Braden

Braden — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:52:47 +0000

I took off points for the bedrooms because the master walk in closet is so badly designed – it will look like a mess from the bedroom at all times without a door. The dining table is also really obstructionist where it is located.

By: Braden

Braden — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:51:25 +0000

Awkwardly shaped with terrible organization, this plan has a bad kitchen and an almost useless dining space that is really just circulation.

By: orangeopolis

orangeopolis — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:47:32 +0000

Hmm…Very similar to the Unit D from the Which House Should I Buy? segment yesterday. Save for the lack of environmental performance (and this is only because I couldn’t seem to find any info on features). Also, the orientation of the balcony is south facing. Great unit, I would love to see some interior views.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:30:43 +0000

Nice plan with a great outdoor space – my only complaint is the dining space is too small.

By: orangeopolis

orangeopolis — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:29:58 +0000

Another good plan with a dining space that is too small. Too bad about the HVAC build out in the corner of the dining room – that is very problematic.

By: BradW

BradW — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:59:06 +0000

Residences 3,9,15 overlook a private park and on towards downtown Denver to the southeast.

Located in Riverfront Park, The Park | ONE Riverfront offers 18 stunning new loft residences overlooking either Commons Park or Downtown Denver. The city views will be preserved indefinitely as this development lies directly in the Union Station ‘view corridor’. From this location, it’s an easy walk to the Plaza and retail shops, or across the street to Glass House and the new Riverfront Athletic Club, only accessible to Riverfont Park residents.

Out the front door is Commons Park with miles of walking & biking trails along the Platte River and over the Millenium pedestrian bridge is historic Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo), with its endless array of restaurants, pubs, museums and cultural performances.

Designed by 4240 Architecture, the building exterior features and abundance of glass, ultra modern design, and it’s own private outdoor park.

By: BradW

BradW — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:53:54 +0000

Residences 5, 11, 17 overlook Commons Park to the northwest.

Designed by 4240 Architecture, the building exterior features and abundance of glass, ultra modern design, and it’s own private outdoor park.

By: Alejandro

Alejandro — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:30:54 +0000

I scored it the points for organization as the circulation is quite well done even though I feel the proportion of the spaces is not right-the bedroom spaces are as large as the living/dining spaces and I think this is too bad. The only other major problem is that the kitchen is too small for the size of the unit-the Antero unit from the same building has a much better and well proportioned kitchen even though the unit is smaller. The laundry in the front entry closet also loses a point.

By: Alejandro

Alejandro — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:29:52 +0000

Not a bad plan. This unit is well organized, I wish the entry was larger and this could have easily been done if the overly generous kitchen was just a bit smaller. The dining space is too small and this is really evident with the furniture layout shown on the marketing plan. The only other major problem is the washing machine in the front closet-this seems to be a common thing in Denver and is really not a great idea to have the laundry machines with your guest coats.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:25:15 +0000

Mixed results in this unit. The organization is poor – the access to the master bedroom/ bathroom is odd. The biggest problems in this unit are the laundry machines located in the entry closet (with all the guest coats!), the “study” space is nothing but a closet, there is no dining room and the proportion of the segmented bathroom with the huge toilet area is very strange. Overall, this is disappointing work from such a well known architect (Daniel Libeskind).

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:16:38 +0000

OK – this is where things start to fall apart. The first unit in this building that I looked at was well designed in spite of the angled walls. This unit is completely damaged by the odd geometries. Most of the interior spaces are severely compromised to the point of being unlivable. The biggest issues are organization – just look at the relative proportions of the spaces – there is no hierarchy. Some questions I would ask the architect to explain include: why is the water closet in the master bedroom so big? Where would you place the bed in the master bedroom and then what would you do with the rest of the space? Why is the kitchen so small? Where do you put the dining room table? Why is the master closet bigger than the kitchen? And most importantly, why is there a giant column in the center of the living room? This unit is a mess.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:15:04 +0000

I have to be objective on this project and follow the Slow Home Test, but I don’t like this project even though it scores really well. I’m not a fan of angular architecture that doesn’t seem to be about anything other than an architect’s whim – in this case the angles don’t seem to serve a purpose, but all the room by room points get full marks. My only real design critiques are that the coat closet shared with the pantry space is annoying and I worry about the lack of windows in the living and dining space. Also, the master walk in closet has too much floor space, otherwise things seem to be working well.

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:04:34 +0000

Another angled unit from Museum Residences across from the Denver Art Museum. This is FAST. The unit looks south but that is over a street and to a surface parking lot. The entry is to the too small kitchen. The master has a tiny window in the corner and the space is HUGE. It’s toilet space in the bath is a bit large. The second bedroom suffers from the angles. The living and dining space is LONG and I wonder how much light will get back into the unit. The living and dining space has an elephant in the room- a horribly placed structural (I assume) pillar. Where do you put everthing with that? I would not suggest anyone buy this unit or entertain one from this building. Mid America Mom

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:55:21 +0000

The Museum Residences of Denver is right next to the newest addition at the Denver Art Museum. This unit has all the feel and angles too! Most of the living space and one bedroom look toward the addition. Great walk score.

So many issues. The entry is large with angles and no closet to speak of. Wasted space near the kitchen and in the entry. The second bedroom would be hard to place a bed,the closet sticks out, and you have a small amount of window light. The master room I cannot tell exactly where the bed is to go and either way looks too narrow. Where to put the living and dining furniture would be hard as we have no focus or help to determine. The laundry is in a small closet (and this is over 2000 sq feet sorry NO). The kitchen is OK though they need to ditch the angles on that island. Surprisingly we have baths that are not supersized. Mid America Mom

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:33:05 +0000

Another from Northcreek. This unit will cost you $1,710,000 and it is FAST.

Issues: long angle on the outside wall causes problems all over. The living angle with the fireplace makes for odd placement. The dining is squeezed between the kitchen and a pillar. The balcony has no room as it is a triangle. The master is huge and with a weird angle on the closet. The second bath shower door looks to be an issue with size and swing. There is no defined entry. What passed was walk score (100), parking, laundry, kitchen. Mid America Mom

By: Mid America Mom

Mid America Mom — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:20:08 +0000

Expensive downtown property at 1,281,000
Wow- walk score is 100! The property faces east, next to a drive and two story commercial lowrise, and nothing on GREEN. The plan is good except the study has no window and there is some dead space near the master bedroom door (No to Organization).

By: Paulina

Paulina — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:24:08 +0000

Considering that it’s only 440 sq ft, this unit isn’t horrible. However, the bedroom lacks a sense of enclosure, there isn’t a proper space to put a dining table, nor is there even a balcony either (I hope the window is operable!). The door swing on the bathroom would most definitely have to change, and the entry is right into a kitchen that is way too open. The only storage is for clothes next to the bed, and I don’t think that’s enough. Oh and there’s no laundry. Hmm…

By: Braden

Braden — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:20:37 +0000

My biggest concern here is the fact that the two bedrooms are on opposite ends of the unit, and the living kitchen and dining space are just fit in as a kind of widened corridor that connects the two bedrooms (or the master to the entry if you prefer to look at it that way). So the living room is undercut by the circulation route, and the kitchen is marooned is the dark corner. The second bathroom is off too since the shape of the room means you can’t close the door once you get in! Nice dining room though. And the entry is good too.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:07:19 +0000

The main issue with this unit comes from the massive amount of circulation space. Seriously. There is easily a bedroom’s worth of wasted space adjacent to the powder room and kitchen! The master suite is absurdly oversized, and the so-called optional door is cause for a laugh. And then on top of all of this waste, you get a den without a window and shared with the entry, mechanical and laundry spaces. The two stupid balconies are just for show. This all just completely overshadows the fact that the kitchen living dining and bathrooms are all well proportioned, high quality spaces.