About rand soellner

Home Architects design custom residences across the USA: small, medium, large and gigantic, all based on what our clients want. We work hard every day, with people just like you, to merge your desired lifestyle and land. If you want a lakeside cottage, a sprawling mountain castle or a suburban compact home, we can do it.

Reasons Why an Architect Should Design Your Home

Reasons Why an Architect Should Design Your Home is a substantial list that Architects who design homes can use to send to their clients to inform them of all the reasons why they might want to engage you as their Architect.  The link to this extensive online ArCH link is here:

Reasons Why an Architect Should Design Your Home

Just one more reason for Licensed Architects to join ArCH.

More Reasons for Architects to Join ArCH

This online article shines a light on the high ranking of the ArCH: Architects Creating Homes website on the Internet (10-24-2020).  Here’s a Google ranking image on Page 1 of Google: what happens when people type in; ARCHITECTS CREATING:

ArCHrank

 

What this illustrates is that only typing in 2 words into your browser : ARCHITECTS CREATING called up the ArCH website as #1 organic listing, just after the initial ad listing, and the #2 listing immediately after that: REASONS WHY AN ARCHITECT SHOULD DESIGN YOUR HOME.  In other words: the ArCH website is helping you market your architectural business, by proclaiming to the world the reasons why your potential clients should hire you.  Amazing.  Just think how much better it will be for you if you actually join ArCH.

ArCH is for Architects that Design Homes

If you are a Licensed Architect that designs homes, then ArCH (Architects Creating Homes) is the worldwide professional organization for you.  Click here to see how to join:

https://www.archomes.org/product/arch-membership

It’s surprisingly economical.

 

And the value received is worth thousands of dollars every year.  For instance, once you are a member, you can apply discount codes that allow you to purchase nearly all ArCHproducts for hundreds or thousands of dollars off of the retail price.  What products?  Check these out (at the ArCHstore):

ArCHstore

The favorites are often ArCHsuite™ and ArCHspec™ .

ArCHsuite contains ArCHspec, and many other useful software tools to help Architects run their practice.  And all of the softwares were created especially with residential architectural practice in mind.

ArCH also allows you to participate in conversations and contacts with other Licensed Architects who design homes from around the world and the USA.  Check it out.  ArCH gives any Architect who design homes a distinct advantage.

 

Why You Need the AOA

The AOA= the ArCH Architect-Owner Agreement.  This agreement was custom tailored over the course of about 30 years with the input of many Attorneys, focused on the business practice of Architects who practice residential architecture. While no agreement is perfect, this one comes closer than others out there in the world.  Check it out here:

Architect – Owner Agreement

This agreement comes as about 8 or 9 pages (printed front and rear = 16+/- actual content pages).  Many Architects over the decades have complained that other agreements from other large organizations try to be everything to everyone, and in so doing, their agreements become way too long and have strikeouts retained in the agreement to cause your client to question your modification of the agreement.  Not with the ArCH AOA: it is in MS Word.  No pesky “sticky” clauses that won’t go away.  No strikeouts being kept in the agreement.  You can tailor the agreement to suit your practice.  Many clauses protect you, as the Architect, with wording that you need to protect your practice.  About time.  the ArCH AOA.  By now and start enjoying your practice much more.

 

No Police = No Anything

ArCH normally remains silent on political agendas, but this issue compels us to shed some light on the implications behind this anarchist chant: “Defund Police.” Our viewpoint is that if there is no police, then that community where there is no police, dies a horrible death. What is meant by this?

Image Courtesy Pawell Janiak, Unsplash

Think it through. If there are no police to either protect the majority of law-abiding citizens in a particular neighborhood (and their businesses and homes and friends and family , then there will be no Fire Department and no Paramedic services.

Why?

Think about it.

If you are the Fire Chief, responsible for the lives and welfare of the brave men and women under your watch, are you really going to send them places where they could be hurt or killed by anarchists where there are no police to protect them while they go about their duties of putting out fires and saving innocent people endangered by fire? No you are not. You have a duty and responsibility to both your team and to the taxpayers that paid for the salaries and equipment under your sacred care.

And what about those expensive fire trucks? Some of those cost $300,000 to $750,000 each. Is the Fire Chief really going to risk losing that expensive equipment to free-roaming thugs in communities without police protection? Do you really think that these same anarchists and criminals wouldn’t think twice about damaging or stealing those fire trucks? Take a look at what happened across America during May-June 2020 and see for yourself the destroyed fire trucks. So No Police = No Fire Department projection.

What about Paramedics? The highly trained medical personnel that drive to homes and buildings all over America when people have a life-threatening emergency, like a heart attack, stroke, or other horrible event that could cost people their lives, if they do not receive immediate medical attention. Once again: is the medical chief of operations for local Paramedics (often the same Fire Chief as the person responsible for the Fire Department) going to risk either their brave men and women or their expensive vehicles and equipment where there are no police to protect them? Where those communities are overrun by anarchists and thugs running crazy through the streets who make up their own rules from minute to minute? Don’t think so.
So: No Police = No Paramedic service.

And what about other “taken for granted” services and infrastructure that ALL communities don’t even think about?
Such as: sewers, potable drinking water, electricity and low-voltage systems like Internet. In a “no-police” community, do you think that any municipal or private business person or vehicle will enter such a lawless place to install or repair such utilities? Don’t think so.
Therefore:
No Police = No Internet.
No Police = No Sewers (at least: no repairs).
No Police = No Electricity (no repairs).
No Police = No Security Alarms (which depend on both police and Internet)
No Police = No Phones (no repairs).
No Police = ___________________________ (you fill in the blank).

Therefore: the anarchist political agenda to “Defund Police” is crazy, not thought-out at all and could destroy those communities that are politically “correct” enough to pander to a leftist agenda. Not recommended at all. Remember the 1981 Kurt Russell movie “Escape From New York”? It’s like that.

Winter coming

Hello ArCHmembers,

Winter 2019 is on its way.  We just had a gorgeous fall in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains.

 

ArCH hopes that all ArCHmembers will continue to thrive through the winter.  Used to be that business dried up in the winter.  No longer.  Live continues as does business.  Well-informed clients should engage Licensed Architects to design their homes during periods such as the coming winter, so that they are more prepared to build come next spring.

 

Please tell your friends who are Licensed Architects about ArCH, by emailing them this link:  https://www.archomes.org/product/arch-membership

Thanks.

Architects Beware of Scam

All Architects in the USA (and possibly the planet): beware a scammer who sends you an email in which he is illiterate and starts off with something like: “I WILL LIKE A 6BR/5bath MANSION WITH…” blah, blah, blah.  This person is trying to run a scam on you.

He demands that you accept credit cards and also has some lame commentary on his wife being in a wheelchair, or he is deaf, or some such other ridiculous reason for not being able to meet in person with you. Supposedly this is to make you feel sorry for him.  Don’t believe these things.

Many ArCHmembers have been approached.  Rand Soellner, ArCH/NC, said this person has been sending him his scam notices for the last 10 years.  DO NOT GIVE UP ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO YOUR FINANCIAL CONTACT DATA, like your credit card numbers or other secret information.  To get the pest off your case, demand information from him, such as his social security number, personal residence location, longitude and latitude of the project, and/or a $25,000 check made out to your company name, sent to your P.O. Box address to start work.  He’ll then go away.

ArCHdes 2018 Awards

This page represents the 2018 ArCHdes™
(Design Excellence Selection) awards.

ArCHdes2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year (2018) there were more entries than ever before, from all across the USA and world, reflecting ArCH’s global membership.  Wouldn’t your firm assert itself better if it was an Award-Winning company?  Each year, once a year, members of ArCH have the opportunity to become recognized for their good works.  You can’t win if you don’t enter. Remember: if you are a Licensed Architect practicing anywhere on the planet, you can join ArCH here:
Join ArCH

All of the ArCHdes winners represent a positive and substantial VALUE to the project Owners. In other words: the design of each Architect added Value to the project that would otherwise not exist.  One of the reasons for Architects to exist and to continue designing homes for their clients. No other entity provides this level of quality and value: an Architect.

 

THE ArCHdes2018 WINNERS:

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ACM Design PA
Asheville, NC, USA

Jury Comment:
This Architect, displays in all projects done by the firm, meticulous attention to detail, inside and out.  In the interiors, careful attention is made with the use of trim and materials, to boldly define spaces and impart elegance to the project(s). This is a seasoned design veteran, highly knowledgeable in the use of space, form, mass and materials.

Project: GREN : ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: wonderfully detailed Arts & Crafts cottage with sensitively scaled features, including shed-roof dormers.  Nice transoms.  Well detailed interior.  Nothing left to chance in these Architect’s designs.  Everything is designed and detailed to work properly and be part of the overall composition.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: KGHZ : ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comment: in addition to the other positive comments for this Architect’s projects, this guest house displays uncompromising attention to detail, like a jewelry box of “best features.”

 

ArCHdes2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project: MRHS: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: unexpected two-story glass wall with returns for a palatial grand piano playing experience, along with excellent views from other furniture arrangements.

 

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Craig W Isaac Architecture
Charlotte, NC, USA

ArCHdes2018

Project: #1: John:  ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comment: This project exhibits a nostalgic trip to yesteryear, with an experience eye to contemporary massing and detail.

 

Project #2:  Davis: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comment: This project is an amazing transformation: from a plain existing tract house to an expressive gable manor house the envy of all other homes in the community. The Architect’s capability to add a 2nd floor over existing space illustrates a master at work with his craft.  This Architect adds values to the homes he renovates for his clients.

 

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Dion Seminara Architecture
Queensland, Australia
Jury Comment: On many of this Architect’s projects, he continues to display an extraordinary ability to weave an unexpected swimming pool into the structure of his new additions.  He also displays, in every project, his trademark use of special large operable glass door areas, wherein the inside moves out and the outside moves in, psychologically doubling the perceived space in the home.  This gives his clients an unequaled sense of luxury and spaciousness.  This Architect adds a huge value to the homes he renovates and expands.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  Hamilext:    ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comment: as indicated in the overall comments for this Architect, here is one of his classic pool additions being woven into the fabric of the house and additions.  The result is a homeowner’s experience of opulence and views where none existed before.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  Hawqldr:     ArCHdes2018 award

Jury Comments: this Architect has the ability, in project after project to create new kitchen spaces in both renovated and new additions that expand the feeling of spaciousness and functionality, merging the public spaces in his residential projects.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  Morayreno: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: This Architect has the ability to raise even plain existing houses into the realm of architectural splendor with contemporary detailing as exhibited on this project, wherein his trademark folding exterior glass doors merge the interior with the exterior, turning the home’s spaces into a grand experience. This Architect delivers a tremendous added value to the homes he designs and renovates.

 

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HOME ARCHITECTS
Cashiers, NC, USA

 

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  Mountain View Meadow       : ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comment: Outstanding value design on a budget, that feels like an estate project costing 3x the price of this house.  This Architect knows how to provide a huge value to his clients, providing an upper-end design for a budget construction cost.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  South Carolina Lake House : ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Commenst: Spectacular lakeside estate mansion project with excellent views of the lake and successful incorporation of massive features such as a large swimming pool area, decks, porches, barn, master planning for future facilities and large motor court turnaround and parking.  Gorgeous design that fits the site in a grand manner.  Nicely executed post and beam details.

 

ArCHdes2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  Glenville Renovation            : ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: Incredible transformation of a plain, older country house into a contemporary mountain mansion.  Skillfully designed new addition and renovation features allow for wheelchair access throughout, and a new elevator, interior spacial connections, totally gutted and new walkout basement, helicopter landing pad, exterior ramps, extensive site works including a new palatial entry gate complex and building system upgrades throughout, along with successful mold mitigation.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  Alabama Mountain House    : ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: Project adroitly designed a large mountain style home overlooking a grand water/mountain view from on high.  New swimming pool with hot tub waterfall, 3 car garage/shop, extensive 2nd floor loft with guest bedrooms, palatial master suite on main level, large rear porches overlooking main view and pool, from motor court/parking area with boulder fountain, Architect designed over a mile of new roadways and security entrance gate areas with mountain style detailed gates and other features.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  Virginia Farm House            : ArCHdes2018 award
This apparently humble country cabin from the street transforms into a luxury multi-floor estate house at the rear, with a walkout basement level, and large glass areas and porches providing views of the owner’s farm acreage beyond.  An enclosed “bridge” connects the main house to the garage, providing a home office and laundry/pantry directly next to the kitchen in the main house.  A county cottage gable-roofed front porch greets visitors.  The garage is angled to break up the apparent mass of the house from the front.  Copper roofing accents roof pop-outs.  All glass is carefully shaded from the summer sun. All in all, a remarkable design for a country house with appeal.

 

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Kurt Krueger Architects
Los Angeles, CA, USA

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  #1: Sunset Residence:  ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: This Architect knocks it out of the park again.  His firm carefully plans the movement of the entry sequence into his projects, along with unexpected and dazzling features like exterior gas-fueled fire pits and carefully scaled features, like the entry slabs and gravel, to yield a feeling of elegance using ordinary materials.  This Architect creates internal views with large glass areas, plantings, courtyards, exterior living areas and other features when there are no naturally occurring views.  This firm adds considerable value to their projects.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project:  #2: Ocean Front Walk: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: spectacular waterfront home. Architect takes advantage by designing 2-story glass walls facing the water.  Logical and beautiful.  Who wouldn’t want to live here?  Incredible.  Classic contemporary residential architectural in a grand manner.  But once again: this Architect accomplishes all this splendor with humble materials, like painted drywall.  Minimalist railing details help keep views transparent across deck.Architect adds value to their projects by virtue of their designs enhancing and framing the natural features.  Functional furniture and cabinetry placement insures flow-through views to the exterior from even deeper within the interior.

 

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Larry Folk Architect, LLC
Pataskala, OH, USA
Jury Comments: consistently across this Architect’s projects, there is first, an obvious intention to fit in with the surrounding neighborhood, however, the attention to detail is remarkable and sets this Architect’s projects on a higher level, transcending mere home building and elevating his projects into the realm of architecture.  His interiors are outstanding, and unrelenting in detail and his use of plentiful rear windows provides an pleasant surprise to both owners and visitors to his homes. 

 

ArCHdes2018

Project 1: Parade Home:  ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: as indicated in the overall comments: this Architect’s attention to detail elevates this home from a mere house into architecture and with good functional purpose: such as shed roof features shading and framing glass below, giving it a sense of place while performing a valuable service.  This architect provide added value to his projects.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project 2: Westbrook:       ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: as stated in the overview comments for this Architect, plentiful glass areas in the rear of his homes provide natural light and views.  Also, features like coffered ceilings define interior spaces while providing a feeling of elegance, several notches above most neighborhood houses, while providing a sense of place for built in lighting, which has been carefully planned on the ceilings.  Floor plans with open space planning (as seen here with living and kitchen spaces merging) make his project feel larger.  Other windows over the rear cabinets are a creative touch, making that wall appear more transparent and helping the kitchen to seem more open.

 

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One World Architecture
LaMesa, CA, USA

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Banuu:           Concept Design ArCH award
Jury Comments: while appearing to be an initial concept design, this has an interesting barn-like industrial feel to it: a single main shape housing all interior spaces, which surely will help control costs and contribute to a feeling of interior spaciousness. Then, the 2-1/2 story glass wall opens to an exterior stone-paved patio.  Architect is adding value to their designs with simple approaches like this.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Island Court:  ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: Spectacular high-profile Cubist European Modernist flat-roofed California approach. Delightful 3D corner pop-outs provide tremendous interest to this project.  This treatment continues at other corners and on lower elements, exploding various areas on the surface of the main box.  Very architectural and contemporary.  Gorgeous spiral stair in one exterior space leading up to roof and obvious use of roof for exterior living.  Artistically, this is on the level of Mondrian, in three dimensions.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Jones:            Concept Design ArCH award
Jury Comments: interesting and compact concept design.  Clear definition of entry-public side and rear private/view side.  Simple but thoughtful arrangement of spaces.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Kunau:           ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: Spectacular multi-story vertical house in a hillside.  Careful attention to the various stairways and integration with the topography of the site.  Interesting change of materials on various wall planes at different levels.  Nice lower slope shed roof profiles.  Striking modern design with interior spaces exploding with large glass areas to showcase hillside views.

 

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SWALLOWTAIL ARCHITECTURE
Summerville, SC, USA
Jury Comments:This Architect has an amazing depth of design capability.  The firm’s work displays the solid ability to handle historic renovations along with contemporary projects and everything in between.  We believe this Architect can handle any type of residential project successfully. 

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Gallery House: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: This project has an inviting and comfortable-looking entrance stair sequence, leading up and into a classic modern stucco box on 3 levels.  Simple design maximizes exterior views with sliding glass doors, including toward the water to the rear.  Roof top is utilized with the flat rood and perimeter railings.  Appealing lighting inside and out.  Simple details yield good value added by Architect.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Historic Summerville Renovation: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: this Architect’s versatility is evidenced by the fact that they can not only design 3-story contemporary projects on Big Water, they also can design sensitive historic renovations like this project.  The careful and measured use of historic railing pickets, scalloped porch fascia and decorative rafter tails at the top level provide a sense of history that appears like this house has looked this way for a hundred years.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Luxury Low Country House: ArCHdes2018 award
Exciting features in this design, such as the swimming pool designed as part of the exterior spaces close to the home.  Mastery of rich details such as infinity edge, stone, copings, posts, rafter tails, fascias.  Interior spaces impeccably designed by this Architect.  Attention to detail everywhere.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: New Orleans Reimagined: ArCHdes2018 award
This creative project includes both modern and historic features and materials.  Architect successfully solves the main living floor being on the 2nd level to to Floor Plain requirements, with a front stair and landing arrangement.  Expressive metal roof elements.  Incredible water park at rear pool for children.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Outdoor Living Renovation: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: Creative expansion of exterior living areas to bring the inside out.  Successful project working with the constraints of existing structural elements.

 


Brandt Hay Architect
Celebration, FL, USA

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Castle Pines: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: Once again, this Architect displays his ability to design large Florida mansions with swimming pools and outstanding interiors.  In this projects, the approach sequence is carefully handled, in the transitional walkway up to the home front door.  The interior provides high-profile features such as the rounded bath element, large open kitchen and substantial glass areas open to the outdoor pool area and view.  Exterior is restrained and simple, providing value to the Owner.

 

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Yardstick Studio, LLC – Architecture
Denver, CO, USA

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Clay: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: This Architect periodically submits a historic type of project, often due to urban Denver requirements regarding historic areas in the city.  Once again, the Architect has successfully solved this design requirement and provided a handsome house on a limited site, that looks likes its been there for a very long time, but that happens to have been well-cared for over time.  Nice exterior remote entry steps and retaining wall planter.

 

ArCHdes2018

Project: Highland52: ArCHdes2018 award
What makes this house so remarkable is the smaller photo of it during the winter.  You ca really begin to understand how this creative long design merges well with the mega land topography.  Lots of glass and architectural features provide views to the breathtaking scenery.

 

ArCHdes2018

 

 

 

 

 

Project: Saddleback: ArCHdes2018 award
Jury Comments: spectacular multi-level mansion on mountainside.  Remarkable features, like a 45’+/- tall central atrium with natural light and views due the large glass areas, responding appropriately to the incredible views.  Architect obviously is capable, detailing project for a variety of conditions stair-stepping the massing down the mountain slope to foundation walls and stonework.

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