1.22.2007

Rue de Harris Armstrong

What a fitting way to start things off with this Harris Armstrong designed home that just came on the market. The home is identical in to the one up the street that I toured close to 2 years ago with Toby.

With 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, it's listed at $230,000. View the listing here.













Vacant, the house feels more spacious than furnished and this one has the addition of a step-down room off the living room and kitchen that opens up the main floor.


If you've not been through this cul de sac in Kirkwood, it's worth a Sunday afternoon driveby. Take Manchester to Woodlawn and head south. Woodleaf Ct is the first left you can make off of Woodlawn. The 10 homes in total are all Armstrong's design. His specs for the neighborhood and correspondence with the builder are apparently on file at Wash U.















2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have friends that live in the area and have one of the only 2 story versions in the neighborhood. Thanks for the great review and information.

Anonymous said...

Just came across your blog, very cool. I live in Ridgewood and own the home to which you have posted a link to lottalivin.com. I may be able to clarify some of the construction details on these homes for you:

These were actually desinged by Burton Duenke and Ralph Fournier. Their plans were available through Better Homes and Gardens. The other architects you mentioned in your link reference the home of another member of lottalivin. I believe this was one of the first developments by Duenke.

The light switch issue is probably a result of adaptations incorporated by other owners. Originally, these homes were wired with low voltage push button switches. This sent a signal to a relay panel (located in utility room) that activated the switch, and was accompanied by an audible "buzz". A dial in the master bedroom allowed you to control lights throughout the house. For example, you could turn the lights on in the kitchen from the bedroom. Quite innovative for the time!

In terms of some of the quirky executions of finishing details like the trim, they are a bit odd. I have strong suspicions that a great majority of the components of these homes were pre-fab. In my garage, the exterior wall construction is exposed, and there are actually "panels" of 2x4's between the supporting posts. The interesting part is that the studs in these panels run horizontally rather than 16" on center vertically, which would be more conventional. Also, the header beam above the garage door is labeled "house #40" in pencil. Another unusual detail not typically found in traditional frame construction. Imagine if all the trim, window frames, wall panels, etc. were milled or built off-site. It would be much easier to assemble if you used only butt joints rather than mitered.

Hopefully this isn't too much info. I do love these homes as well (including my own!) and hope that your blog can encourage others to see thier potential.