ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers - (Page 31)

into a Building ing the research skills necessary to uncover the history of the buildings and understanding the codes that will guide design decisions. A curious, detective mentality is required to discover what is beneath the layers of these buildings. “A successful designer needs to understand the reasons why certain things were done the way they were at that point in time, and to recognize where changes or additions are not original to the structure,” describes Kathleen Beall, ASID, CID, of Beall Design Group, Inc., in Redlands, Calif. This level of construction knowledge will help the design team make intelligent decisions about what elements stay, what need to go and what can or cannot be done based on the nature of the structure. Additionally, designers need patience and persistence. “You have to be very tenacious,” admits Barsotti. “You work with contractors and government agencies who don’t always give you the answers you want.” Designers will often need to assert themselves in the process, standing up for what they believe is appropriate for these types of projects, and taking the time to ﬁnd the appropriate people to be on board with the ultimate project goals. “This work is not for the faint of heart,” describes Laura Bordeaux, ASID, of FX Design Inc., in Glastonbury, Conn. The Design Process While research and programming are a part of every design process, the information gathering and pre-design stages are especially critical to historic preservation projects. Designers need to understand the history of the building, the materials used in its construction and the suitability of the building to the client’s needs. “You really need to understand the building infrastructure,” describes Beall. “What the building was used for and the era of the building materials all impact what you can and cannot do. Narrow hallways, doorways and bathrooms the size of a closet all play a factor in if the building can even be used for the client’s intended purpose.” From a development perspective, many of the historic buildings are Barsotti’s third-ﬂoor ofﬁce features all of the original moldings as well as the original copper gas-ﬁre burner. The wood ﬂoors are new, and HVAC was updated throughout the building to adhere to local building codes. ASID ICON | NOV/DEC 2007 PHOTO: LOCKWOOD HOEHL 31 DESIGN: NANCY HOFF BARSOTTI INTERIOR DESIGN

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers

ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers Contents President’s Message Good to Know Innovations Breathing Life into a Building Designs for Senior Living On the Move Thinking Green Aging in Style Industry Inside ASID Grassroots ASID National Industry Partner Focus Showroom Advertisers Resource Guide Annual Articles Index

ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers

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