Luce Architects

Suburban Life Article

Christopher Luce — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:01:56 +0000

Suburban Life Magazine featured Luce Architects in their March issue in an article entitled; “Built to Last: Distinctive, artfully designed homes from Luce Architects blend beauty and function.”

Read the full article here.

Aesthetics Meets Function

Christopher Luce — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:26:21 +0000

I always wanted to be an artist, but my father, who worked for a regional builder suggested I follow a career path towards architectural design. His influence and my artistic tendencies, as well as the collaboration of the Luce Architects team, have led to a process, which blends the precision of a skilled architect with the artistic vision of the most imaginative designer. When I’m designing something, I’m thinking about the engineering in the back of my head. It’s a matter of blending art and function. I might go through someone’s house 100 times just so I know what it’s like to be in their shoes. I want to make sure that I get every turn and every angle just right in the design. Our goal is to exceed every client’s expectations.

Master Plan

Christopher Luce — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:21:13 +0000

Did you know Luce Architects offers an overlay of an existing property depicting its potential through a service known as the Master Plan? Most clients who chose this service are thinking about purchasing a particular property or renovating their home, and use the Master Plan to prepare plans that can be implemented in phases, while building in an overview of potential zoning and building code issues, as well as potential structural issues. It gives you, the owner, an opportunity to plan things in phases instead of hitting everything at once. When we lay them out this way, the homeowner knows what to expect, so they know what the venture is going to cost and can make a decision whether to pull the trigger and do the whole thing at once or in bite-size chunks. You’re in the driver’s seat.

Architecture as Therapy

Christopher Luce — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:19:49 +0000

Sometimes my role stretches from that of an architect and designer to a therapist of sorts as well. In going through people’s houses, and they explain what they want to do, you find that everybody has their own personality. A husband and wife tend to come at things from different angles but usually want the same thing; I’m almost a moderator to some degree. I like to get inside their head, for lack of a better term, and really learn how they live and determine what’s important to them. In this way each design becomes a matter of collaboration and leads to a finished product that surpasses the clients’ initial needs and desires.

Practicing Efficiency

Christopher Luce — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:15:54 +0000

With every design, Luce Architects practices efficiency in design and materials selection to optimize lighting, heating and other practical considerations. We concentrate on incorporating sustainable traits or “green” design, as it is more commonly known. It’s about the effective use of materials with as little waste as possible. We’re positioning every building and every window in a way that takes advantage of the wind and solar cycles, among other things. We also try to think very clearly about how the client will live within the space and design accordingly.

Newtown Home Renovation

Christopher Luce — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:07:28 +0000

In 2010, Luce Architects worked on the design and layout of parts of a Newtown house, effectively transforming two unused and uninhabitable spaces into communal spaces that could be the jewel of any home. The space above the home’s garage has become a comfortable yet elegant office and lounge area. The now-finished basement features a countertop bar that wraps around the back of the staircase and “feels like a Manhattan nightclub, blending transitional and traditional,” according to the client. “I’m big on function and design, and Chris’ layout definitely blends both.”

Blending the Design and Environment

Christopher Luce — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:58:05 +0000

One of our most recent award-winning designs, the Thornbury is located in Chester County. It references the French Manor style with a modern flair that can be described as both gracious and stately. With this design and with all our designs, we are very careful during the design process to put key elements on access, so there’s a progression with transition points along the way. In the Thornbury home, for example, you walk down one of the hallways and see an elliptical window that looks out onto an ornamental tree. That’s just one example of many. Every room takes advantage of the property and its surroundings. I would never impose the design on the property; it should be natural and subtle.

Happy Holidays!

Christopher Luce — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:49:26 +0000

Happy holidays from Luce Architects!

Coal and Ice

Christopher Luce — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:19:14 +0000

Christopher Luce recently spent some time looking into his ancestry and uncovered some old photographs from his family’s past, including the one above. In a time before modern luxuries like refrigerators and air conditioning, his ancestors sold ice from the truck pictured above; then later, began selling coal in the winter months from the same truck. Like his ancestors before him, Chris has used diversification in his own business providing residential, commercial and industrial architectural design, as well as interior design and green consulting services.

Our Appreciation

Christopher Luce — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:15:24 +0000

The staff at Luce Architects

As we celebrate another year of continued success, Luce Architects would like to express our sincere appreciation to our clients who have made it possible. Despite the fluctuation in the market, our firm has been able to thrive as a result of our diversity. Some of our latest projects include custom homes designs, renovations and additions, pool houses, office buildings, interior design for the home or office and art selection services. We are very proud of what we have accomplished and we would like to thank our clients for helping us to achieve this level of success. We look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.