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Bud Adams, Old Town Architect

said on April 25th, 2011 filed under: Old Town Architecture and History, Old Town People

Photo Courtesy of Adams Associates Website

There is probably not a block in Old Town without one or several homes worked on by architect Robert “Bud” Adams of Adams Architects. An Old Town resident since 1980, Mr. Adams knows and loves Old Town and its historic buildings. When it comes to Old Town’s homes, Mr. Adams is part magician, finding and designing space where there was none; part historian, knowing just the right way to restore and renovate while still respecting a home’s past; and part house whisperer, taking neglected homes and turning them into classic beauties.

Here’s what he had to share with me during a busy week this spring:

Where were you trained?

BA: A child of the 60s, my family was always driving though the eclectic neighborhoods of Washington. This whetted my appetite for drawing house plans as a child. I studied History at Clemson, and earned a Masters of Architecture at North Carolina State. Right out of school I worked for 10 years with noted Washington architect Arthur Cotton Moore.

Why did you decide to become an architect?

BA: The experience of architecture is universally fascinating. As a child I pleaded with my mother “to see every damned old house”. The smell of concrete and fresh sawn lumber is perfume to me. I love the combination of art, technology and working with people.

Estimate how many projects you have worked on in Old Town.

BA: Over 20 years Adams architect has designed over 400 projects. There isn’t a block in Old Town that we haven’t worked on several houses, occasionally for several owners over the years.

What are the biggest challenges in Old Town houses? How do you address them?

BA: Appropriate changes to historic houses are our forte. We have a very high approval rating with the Board of Architectural Review. Probably the mathematical limitations of zoning codes are the trickiest first step – but it is just math! Fitting a design into the envelope is the fun part.

Scale, quality and detail are clearly important to you. Why does this matter so much?

BA: Working in a historic context with a limited inventory of houses requires everyone to be conscious of quality. It’s best to do it right the first time. The value added to a house with good design has more value ultimately to the residents and for resale when that time comes.

Do you recommend someone live in a home first (if possible) before renovating to see how it “lives”?

BA: Each project is different. We customize our services depending on the clients needs – whether for immediate changes to a newly purchased house, or plans fermented over time. We are trained to make logical decisions quickly – and see design opportunites sometimes outside of the clients’ view. But first we listen carefully to our clients. Then we hunker down and analyze the project before preliminary designs.

How do you recommend clients prioritize their wants and needs if the project exceeds their budget? What should dollars be allocated to first?

BA: We often start with a “wish list” including every possible dream. Sometimes a master plan can accommodate phased construction and improvements. An architect may see a different solution the owner hasn’t considered. Often the logistics of construction dictate the order of a renovation or addition – like starting with the plumbing on the top floor first! We review the reality of construction budgets at each check point of design. My objective is proceed only with the work the client can afford.

How long have you lived in Old Town? What do you like best about Old Town?

BA: I grew up in Washington and visited Old Town as a child when Portside and Market Square were my mother’s destinations. My family has lived in Old Town since 1980 when we bought what seemed like a miniature house renovated by Polly Hulfish. We were green before we knew what that meant. Living close to the grocery story, drug store, schools, and my work always suited us.

What is your favorite building in Old Town?

BA: My favorite building is our house. A true “fixer-upper”, the house was leaking at every surface and needed everything. After 18 years as a “victim of my profession” the house was finished with an addition that included the most beautiful room in Old Town: my living room. It was on the cover of Traditional Home and featured on a TV show Homes Across America. We live in that room.

What are some of your other favorite neighborhoods?

BA: I’ve always been drawn to the old neighborhoods of every city. I love old trees, old houses and the atmosphere that age adds to a place. I’ve lived and worked in Georgetown and on Capitol Hill. During school I visited Charleston and Savannah for many parties. This spring I’m visiting New Orleans for the first time. Everyone says I’ll love it!

What is your favorite period of architecture? Who is your favorite architect?

BA: The 19th Century embraced so many eclectic styles. From the Federal to Greek Revival, through all the revivals and Aesthetic movement – all the way back to a return to Classicism! The work of William Lawrence Bottomley not only embraced the mid-Atlantic venacular but other styles – with architectural grace and balance.

What is your least favorite period of architecture?

BA: Prehistoric caves. After that I’m easy with everything.

You have been in business for thirty years. Have you seen many changes in architectural trends?

BA: We’re happily returning to a period of reasonably sized houses. Being frugal at heart people now appreciate our work in small spaces: efficient use of space.

Are we starting to move away from McMansions?

BA: No More McMansions! They seem like dinosaurs to our eyes now. The size of the house should suit the size of the family unit occupancy. We don’t need closets that are larger than small bedrooms. We don’t need two story entrance halls – houses shouldn’t look like university buildings.

What would your dream project be? (Pick anything in the world!)

BA: I’d like to design an addition to the White House, and some small tweaks here and there! It should reflect the best of our country including architecture and design since 1950.

“Sympathetic additions” mentioned often in your brochure — what does this mean?

BA: Although historic preservation philosophy asks that additions to historic buildings be clearly defined, I think in some cases, like Dulles Airport, the new parts of a building can successfully look like part of the original plan. Another successful strategy is the look of a house that has been added onto over the years – with hyphens, porches, changes in roof-lines. I prefer that the additions in any case be reflective of the time of the house’s original construction, or thereabouts.

Your company is a full service company, offering residential, commercial, renovation, new construction design, staging. One item that popped out to me, as a Realtor, is your Pre-purchase assessment. Tell me more about this.

BA: Quite a bit of our work involves feasibility studies for clients prior to purchase of a property. We study all parameters of a project including any zoning restrictions. Cartoon sketches help a buyer see their image of a property more clearly. We work in harmony with technical home inspectors and general contractors who both contribute to the evaluation of a property.

What would you tell kids who think they might want to be an architect someday? What should they study?

BA: We encourage young people who are interested in architecture. Architectural training helps people think logically with problem solving. The ability to draw, explain, coordinate, and present things is especially valuable to visual learners. There are so many new technological directions coming up including “green” design that will help people live better in the future. I’ve never been to a party when someone didn’t say to me “I wanted to be an architect”. If you have the passion you will make it!

For a link to Adams Architects’ website, click here.

posted by Ginny Brzezinski

This entry was posted on Monday, April 25th, 2011 at 9:00 am and is filed under Old Town Architecture and History, Old Town People. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.