Every once and awhile I have to get off the old house care kick and opine about the state of things. Since the 1970’s, experts have cautioned the lack of trades training will someday have a profound impact on the…
Timber Frames
We live in a culture of impatience and instant gratification. But for the first European American settlers, nothing was instant. When the Pilgrims finally landed in Plymouth of December 1620, they were hungry, weary, and desperate. They arrived without a…
Rhode Island and the 4th of July
This 4th of July I am thinking of why we save old buildings. I am fortunate to live in Rhode Island, which is one of the most architecturally diverse states with buildings spanning from 1680 to the modern day. Many…
Designing to Fail
I have often wondered why windshield wipers don’t last longer. We have the technology to send stuff into outer space, but cannot make an everlasting wiper that can remove bug splats, tree droppings, or water. Architecture and building components have…