NEDC – Boston Architects who Build
Five-star specialists in sustainable luxury home design and construction
At NEDC (New England Design and Construction) we have been specializing in high end and luxury Architectural Design Build across Boston since 2005.
We have many wonderful clients who are thought leaders and professionals across a variety of fields — medical, biotech, business, sports and the creative arts. We work with each client from concept to completion to design and craft their dream home. In some instances this is building from scratch or more often as a significant remodel to an existing home.
We focus on sustainable design and a full-service platform honoring the legacy of the Architect as Master Builder.
If you are a Boston homeowner or potential homeowner considering a major home remodel, it can be quite confusing as to what professional one should seek. Do you need an architect? A contractor? What about an interior designer?
All of the above? None of the above? It’s a fragmented and confusing landscape in these times and candidly one can waste significant time and money by approaching this process without understanding its background and natural course.
There is a significant amount of false and erroneous information on the subject.
First of all, let’s define a basic term here: what is an “Architect.”
“Architect” defined:
The root of the word architect breaks down into “chief” or “master” (arkhi) and “builder” (tekton). Archi and tekton come from the ancient Greek language, which originated as far back as 3,000 BC.
The Architect’s true heritage is that of Master Builder—a legacy nearly lost in today’s industry.
When one traces this line of truth throughout history the following becomes evident: when one wanted a beautiful structure created in the built environment – ranging from a home to a cathedral or even a public work one secured the services of a Master Builder – an Architect. These professionals were one and the same.
A fully responsible professional who would take the project from its initial concept through planning, design and full construction.
This esteemed role was the Architect. It was an invaluable role and as such has been responsible for the creation of much of the beauty one sees across the landscape of earth’s built environment.
The integrity of this role as Architect / Master Builder was arbitrarily and intentionally fragmented in in the early to mid 1800s. It was a social push and a power push combined which fragmented the role of architect and introduced a warped curriculum onto the doorstep of academia.
The industry has been in a marked decline since this time.
I’ve extensively researched this subject and my first book on the matter was pre-released for World Architecture Day.
If interested, you can learn more here: BOOK: CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE’S AFRICAN ROOTS
How is this relevant?
So how does this apply to today? What is the answer to the question and quandary the Boston homeowner finds himself confronted with when seeking a major home remodel?
There are many concerns—of time, budget, planning, unforeseen conditions, and change orders.
This amounts to STRESS. And we fully understand this.
There is a simple solution to this—covered below as Architectural Design Build.
Here are the primary options a current homeowner in Boston is presented with when pursuing a major home remodel.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BUILD VERSUS DESIGN BID BUILD:
There are two primary approaches to a major home design and remodel. While this can be made very complex as a subject, the natural creative process is fundamentally simple. I will cover both here:
Design-Bid-Build is the process that has been introduced over the past 150 years or so whereby you as the client directly hire an architect to draft plans and design your project — to then have it bid out to multiple contractors seeking to win the bid and perform the project. This approach has been generalized as mainstream over the past decades and sold to homeowners, often creating client stress and potential loss of both client funds and time. This approach has many liabilities for the client due in no small part to the fragmented spheres of responsibilities which this system and method creates.
There is no single person or entity fully accountable to the client for the entire project’s success.
This single factor alone can create a host of problems for the client.
By default the client is ultimately responsible for both Architect and Builder as well as the ultimate success of the project. Thus one can have impractical and expensive design work, impractical planning, numerous change orders, shoddy craftsmanship, and projects which are off timeline and over budget. In the end, the client can be left damaged. You or a family member or friend may have experienced this in the past. We have many clients come to us after poor experiences with this approach.
Architectural Design-Build (also Design Build) is the natural approach to creation of the built environment and has been used for thousands of years to create many of the beautiful structures of earth. Architectural Design Build is the route of choice if one desires to save on time and money, reduce stress, and eliminate a fragmented sense of project responsibility in the people working for you.
Architectural Design Build is a model that stresses single-source accountability with the creative design, planning, and remodel executed start to finish by one firm.
Architectural Design-Build in Boston is currently being turned to by professionals, families, and individuals as the cutting edge of efficiency, aesthetics, practicality, and accountability when it comes to designing and remodeling a home. This approach packages architectural design and interior design services with artisan-level building and remodeling services. This natural synthesis makes for a simple, efficient, and accountable creative process followed by a streamlined and responsible build phase, reducing cost, time of execution, and client stress throughout. With the Architectural Design Build approach, the client is dealing solely with one fully accountable firm.
New England Design and Construction specializes in Architectural Design Build with a specific focus on sustainable luxury homes. We are extremely mindful of environmental impact and passionate about project efficiency and client comfort.
Here are two examples of beautiful whole-home custom design and remodels we have done in Cambridge, MA:
CAMBRIDGE BESPOKE TOWNHOUSE WITH FOUR-STORY FIREPLACE AND CUSTOM BUILT IN LIBRARY
Clients purchased this Mid-Century Modern townhome in Cambridge and wanted to update the finishes, the kitchen, all bathrooms, and create a feature in the 42′ high center ceiling area with a new custom four-story fireplace. Clearly a challenge!
NEDC’s custom Architectural Design Build included the following:
- All wood railings were replaced with custom steel
- All stairs were refinished
- We designed a custom built-in library with sliding ladder for library/office space
- A full bathroom on second floor was designed and crafted
- A Master bathroom was designed and built on top floor
- A 42′ concrete fireplace was designed and built that also function as the main chase for a new high velocity HVAC system
- A new custom kitchen
- A new wet bar with wine fridge in basement.
- New basement flooring
- A new deck off the back and new windows
SCANDINAVIAN CUSTOM WHOLE HOME BEAUTY IN CAMBRIDGE
This custom project was a complete gut remodel to the studs, re-working the floorplan top to bottom and crafting a warm, unique and truly beautiful family home during Covid.
The family chose an Architectural Design Build approach with NEDC to take advantage of a more detailed finish selection, complete project guidance and the inherent advantages of having a company provide turnkey service. This family became believers and some of our biggest fans. They were a true joy to work with.
The Macdonald family finds beauty in Scandinavian minimalist style. The home is 1300 SF or so necessitating the need to make the most of the space. Our Designers were able to add a second bath on the second floor, so the children were provided a separate space distinct from the primary en-suite.
In the words of this wonderful Cambridge family:
“NEDC did a gut renovation of our house. The process with them was amazing from start to finish. From our first meeting with the president, Dave Supple, who inspected all corners of house and talked about our goals, to the wrap-up of the punch list with the project manager and lead designer, everything went exceedingly well.
The process began with a series of broad design options and price ranges, then settled to one primary design during which we refined all the details and finalize the budget; then we moved onto all the material, appliance and finish selections, which is also done hand-in-hand with NEDC’s designers.
Once construction began, we had a weekly meeting with the project manager to discuss what had been done the prior week and what was coming. This allowed for timely course correction.
The project was completed on time – maybe even a bit ahead of schedule, I don’t remember, despite some COVID permitting setbacks – and at the budget that was set at the end of the design process. We were very happy with NEDC.”
As can be seen, each space is a beautifully designed and crafted environment, exactly to individual client taste. The experience of Architectural Design Build is extremely different as we can value engineer in the planning stage, saving the client funds and arranging a construction process that is smoothly executed to completion on time and within budget.
Architectural Design Build is the answer for Boston home owners seeking a major home remodel who desire a project free of stress which completes on time and on budget while attaining an artisan level of craftsmanship and build.
We Are Architects Who Build
Love,
David Muniz Supple
e. dave@nedesignbuild.com
This is a short film we recently produced showing the true history of Architect.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEDC 2022 BOSTON HOME REMODELING COST GUIDE!
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