Manayunk design Archives - Myers Constructs, Inc.

Myers Logo & Hurricane We recently received a call from a homeowner in an area of metro Philadelphia that is a notorious flood zone. In fact, this property owner told us his Schuylkill River waterfront property has been flooded out three times during the past five years alone! This homeowner called us after learning that his insurance company was going to “total” his house unless he could find a way to renovate to flood-proof it. His goal is to be able to power wash the debris away after any future flooding and quickly get back to living. That kind of solution is common at the shore, where we see houses on pilings and with blow-out walls on the first floor. However, the following elements are at play here:

This house is in a historic area, so The Philadelphia Historic Commission will need to approve the homeowner’s plans.
The home abuts neighboring houses, so engineering a solution has to take into account the neighbors, as well as the load when the water and mud come through.
The zoning/use allowed for the building requires plan approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Because it is a waterfront property, the Environmental Protection Agency is going to want a say in what solutions are developed and approved for construction.

This is one of the most complex projects we have seen in recent memory because so many disciplines need to be on the same page at the same time in the same space. Adding to the intricacy of this renovation are any potential government regulations for lead, asbestos, watershed protections, neighborhood, city, and engineering issues for structure or unusual circumstances, and so on. This is in addition to the usual various systems that have to be designed and worked into the residential space — such as electrical, water, sewer, and HVAC — and, of course, it has to be a great-looking design that stays on budget.

During our 30 years in this business, we have learned that we like complicated stuff like this because we find it interesting and exciting. This is exactly the type of puzzle we enjoy solving.

studio

We often receive requests to design spaces that integrate our customers’ professional work into their homes. These spaces dedicated to our clients’ needs to work, play, and be creative in their homes are sometimes single rooms, entire floors, or even entirely separate buildings! Not only do these studio spaces minimize costs by avoiding the need to rent space elsewhere, but they also maximize home and family time — a win/win, all around.

Shown here is a his-and-hers art studio that we created at our clients’ Manayunk residence. As the photos reveal, the interior finishes of these studios — such as hard-wearing plywood walls and floors, and a simple HVAC system — were chosen with the intent of making them true work spaces. During the design phase of this project, we really focused on getting the desired amount of natural light in the right orientation. Both studios have skylights, so creating the proper pitch for the roof was critical in order to capture the northern light. In the second studio, the view to the exterior was equally important because it was a focus of the artist’s work. We also did some behind-the-scenes rough-in work to allow for an easy future bathroom addition. We find that this small amount of extra planning pays off for our clients for years to come.

In another three-story mixed-use property in Fishtown (see the previous news item), we are in the planning phase of creating a residential rental unit, a commercial rental unit, and an apartment and studio space for the property owner’s use. As part of that workspace, we will be installing kilns that the owner will use to fire her works of art. We are working closely with this client to ensure we have the proper technical specs for her equipment and the necessary electrical infrastructure to make her space as safe as it is visually appealing.

Renovation Challenge: Flood Zone

The Art of Studio Design