A little architectural fun in Pittsburgh (Input needed)

Alright, I bought a house at an auction.. Paid a whopping $3500 bucks for it.. The cool thing is its a four story home sitting on top of a large hill over looking downtown Pittsburgh. The home can be seen from the freeway and I feel its a great candidate for a "Modern" remodel.

Any one familiar with Pennsylvania knows the architecture is mainly early 1900's Colonial or Victorian. This particular home is a simple rectangle and would be an easy exterior remodel.

I am interested in covering the front brick with either stainless or corrugated metal and paint the sides a flat pastel color. I want people driving along the freeway to be drawn to it so I thought a bright yellow steel (non load baring) structure on the front and another bright color roof over a second floor balcony. I added frosted glass privacy on the balcony because a hot tub on a snowing night overlooking downtown would ROCK!

I made a simple drawing and plan to use sketchup and draw something a little more professional..

I am posting pics for your input! If anyone wants to contribute a drawing or photoshop with your ideas I would love to get different input. I am not asking for free architectural drawings just wanting artistic people to show me their ideas. If I use them you will get full credit for design and of course this house will be the official f-chat Pittsburgh crash pad.. I don't plan to live here just keep it for when were in town.

Input please! I will scan my drawing and add it later this evening.

Jason
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I'm 16 so certainly not a pro but I'm artistic (more in the fashion, metalsmithing & jewelry area though ). I'm better at interior design vs. architecture but I have a few ideas, however if you really want it to be noticed then, yes a bright or pastel color would probably work. Really interesting house. I like it. I'd like to see your drawings and such so I'll check back later. Also really interested to see other peoples ideas...

 

sounds like a fun project! sadly I have zero architectural ability, but check out this thread:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144633

also check out dwell magazine (www.dwell.com) and the like for some good ideas. keep us updated!

 

wait... you paid $3500 for a house.... NICE!

 

Oh yeah! Pittsburgh is the mecca of unwanted properties..

 

$3500???? Congrats on the purchase! I hope there isn't a catch somewhere, like a heating that requires ten times the price of the building to be renewed! Unfortunately I have nothing of value to add, but I'd love to see the view you have from your future hot tub

Edit: Thinking about it, I might have a proposition. You talk about a steel structure, maybe some diagonal element that would connect the upper left of the building with the lower right, optically "supporting" the balcony and being continued with new stairs to the front door...?

 

Yeah I like that idea... I will put to paper your idea...



Here is the drawing I made last night, excuse the lameness I am not an artist...
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Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, B-

Now, paint the proposal or the unaltered structure Steelers, Pirates or Penguins colors.

 

You said it was visible from the freeway...

The building proportions aren't all that different from a Tanqueray bottle.

Paint it up to resemble one & I bet you could pull in at least half of what you paid for the place in advertising revenue each month!

At the very least, you'd certainly get some attention...
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hastily skp-up-ed...
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$3500....??! Good find, great look.

Personally, I could give you a better classical/traditional idea than a modern one.

However, your best "bang" is going to be with a contemporary-modernist approach using inexpensive/durable materials creatively.

Some of the sketches contibuted so far look good.

 

James, amazing! that looks cool. Thank you for your input... By any chance did you use sketchup software for that elevation?

 

Hey Scott, The house is over 100 years old and to go back to the original "Row House" look would be preferable but since the home was "updated" in the 80's removing most of the original charm and features I thought as you stated, Bang for the buck.. I feel with little money the outside could be transformed into something different for this area.

Other than commercial there are few "Modern" designs here. I am not planning to flip this house but to keep it, its literally 2 miles from downtown with the stadium, cool restaurants, waterfront etc. So I thought I would have some fun with it.

 

yes to sketchup .... up to v.7.0 now ...

btw: since I'm acclimated to left coast property prices, 3500 seems insane .... makes you my kind of client tho; having spent "nothing" on the property, you can now spend $$$$$$ on the remodel ;--)

Tritone

 

LOL, I feel that way as a builder too, many people have requested bids on remodels and you would think since they purchase properties so cheap they would spend some dough on the remodel?? I am finding that not to be the case..

The properties are cheap for a reason, little expendable income here it seems...

Maybe if I do this house up I can use it as advertisement for some construction work, at least until I go back to Texas in two years...

 

Speaking of Left Coast properties, do you know the house on I-5 heading South between Encinitas and Del mar that's super modern? It seems to spiral up to the sky? I used to live in Del Mar in the 80's and that was my dream Miami vice style house

 

...and then they run out of bucks at the end of the project and want you to "cancel the Italian ceramic tile and just get something from Home Depot?"

Definitely a yes to using it as an advert for your work; you don't have to be too specific as to the location.....close ups & interiors only ;-)

Re; Cali house; don't know it, been gone from Cali many years. Might be a shooter on another thread here who find/shoots many cool LA places.

I'll be watching for your posts during construction...........

 

That here is a 5min job.... I am not an architect yet but in some years.... I would do something like this here....ok that plan here will looks very old in some years but I would do something with a lot of old stonework and wood.
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Josef,
Beautiful stone and concrete work.. I am sure that design would be very expensive Thanks for your input and idea, I appreciate it a lot!!

 

OK I just put my design to sketchup and want your opinions.. For fun I am hoping to show all construction on this thread and follow the project through completion..
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looks good! like the plexiglass awning. is there a way you can add more windows or sliding glass doors to the balcony?

 

I will add a glass french door to the balcony instead of solid door.. I think that would look better...

 

Jason -

Put a couple of slightly arched roofs over the 2 upper windows, and a red carpet rolling out from the front door and I see a happy face! LOL
Hope you do post pics as you build.

Tritone

 

Hook up the pendulum thing on a pivot so it can blow in the wind. Be sure the far end of the arc doesn't coincide with where somebodys head would be if they're on the balcony.

 

I like it.

I like it.

Jason, what is the state of the interior? Obviously it'll be part of the remodel, just curious at how bad/decent/good the inside is?