from the studio.
Zeroing in on the location: The existing house was built on the top of one of the many round and gentle (who said "gentle"?) hills of Columbia County. Here's some history about this patch of land: Lincoln bought 30+ acres in 1978 from John Colbert. Colbert's family purchased the land in 1865 from Samuel Allis. The deal between Lincoln and Colbert was discussed and drawn up on Colbert's front porch: so much down, 6% interest, pay off in three years, payments made directly to John. The two gentlemen drew up the agreement together, signed it, and shook hands. Interesting how things have changed, ain't it? It's something to think about in these worrisome times when the deals we make get sold and passed around until we don't know who we're dealing with. There's something refreshing in hearing the story about business that's handled face to face, conscience to conscience.
Anyway, the winding driveway leading from the main road to the house is a half mile up. It's too interesting a drive in the winter, so we decided to place the new studio at a critical turn halfway up the drive. Noah and Gerry helped us with placement by considering sun, aesthetics, energy efficiency, and sound proofing. The predominance of shale forced us to push the studio location up the hill about 120 feet from the proposed site. Richie, the guy putting in the septic, drive, and foundation (and the the person who has spent many hours at the site) advised us to move back 50 more feet for many good reasons. The septic/leech field tested best in our original location for the building. I like the new location since the structure will be less conspicuous from the drive and will get even more eastern and southern sun.
Lessons learned: get input from all sources (face to face advice!)when determining location: the architect, the builder, the people who will be putting in the septic, well, foundation, friends-family-neighbors, the electric company and/or solar company, and shake up your own thoughts with these varying perpsectives. So far the person who has spent the most time at the site is Richie who is putting in the foundation, the drive, the well and the septic. He has been working everyday, seems without a break, from 7AM-4PM. Two weeks ago he proposed that we move the site even further back to catch more sun, gain more distance from the leech field, and have access to a better driveway approach. He was right. However, some perspectives will be less than objective: for example, parents who think your site should be closer to their house or your neighbors who think you should consider a permanent site in Brazil.
View to the house from the leech field
The leech field
Pink surveyor's flags mark out the new site which
has been pushed uphill... further south.
Driveway and leech field are now below.
