Comments on: Cantoni Celebrates 25 Years of Contemporary Design and The Bugatti Grand Sport http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2009/06/26/cantoni-celebrates-25-years-of-contemporary-design-and-the-bugatti-grand-sport/ DallasDirt is a real estate blog with a focus on housing trends, realtor news, and photos of local fabulous homes from the editors of D Magazine Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:59:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mod-Life-Crisis http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2009/06/26/cantoni-celebrates-25-years-of-contemporary-design-and-the-bugatti-grand-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-6884 Mod-Life-Crisis Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:59:11 +0000 http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/?p=4172#comment-6884 Think you for listing all of the above. I am so glad to know of all the green features and thoughtful choices that went into the designing and construction of this home. I truly hope this property is marketed better with more mention of these things. That to me, and I am willing to suspect many others, is a lot more important than the design plan of the interiors, which doesn't even come with the house anyway. Think you for listing all of the above. I am so glad to know of all the green features and thoughtful choices that went into the designing and construction of this home. I truly hope this property is marketed better with more mention of these things. That to me, and I am willing to suspect many others, is a lot more important than the design plan of the interiors, which doesn’t even come with the house anyway.

]]> By: Ben Callison http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2009/06/26/cantoni-celebrates-25-years-of-contemporary-design-and-the-bugatti-grand-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-6865 Ben Callison Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:25:09 +0000 http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/?p=4172#comment-6865 I fully respect your opinions. The beauty of design is in its personal interpretation by the individual. In regards to the "green" sustainable initiatives that were incorporated into the home design here is a quick list of the major elements we incorporated: 1) Habitat for Humanity was invited out to tour the existing home prior to demolition to take any elements they desired. 2) We kept all the large old growth trees on the site and utilized their locations for shading the home by designing around them. The large tree in the front courtyard shades the large southern exposed window, the others help shade the Eastern exposure and second story balcony. 3) Initial sun studies massing on the site reinforced the long axis design on the site. This format minimized southern exposures and maximized the eastern sun for daylighting. The home requires little to no artificial lighting in the daytime. 4) All glazing on the project is a full 1" IGU system with 1/4" Low-E glass. 5) The exterior walls are all 6" studs allowing for a R-22 value to further minimize heat gain. 5) The flat roof utilizes a low albedo roofing system and the low pitch minimizes solar heat gain. 6) As much as possible we used regionally harvested and extracted materials to minimize transportation costs. 7) The tile selection was twofold. Mainly the tile was selected for its inherent beauty, which was reinforced by the amount of people asking where they could purchase it, but it also was a better environmental choice. Porcelain tiles are not susceptible to the staining and wear issues of natural stone and the process of manufacturing them is far more environmentally friendly than raw stone extraction. Also, I could not find any tiles, let alone linen textured porcelain tiles, on Ikea's site. 8) The A/C system was zoned to allow the occupants to turn down areas not in use for better efficiency. Our passion for good design is only eclipsed by our passion for sustainable design and this project was no exception. Sincerely, Ben Callison, LEED AP Feel free to email me if you have any additional questions regarding the home, I would be glad to answer them: bcallison@mohment.com I fully respect your opinions. The beauty of design is in its personal interpretation by the individual.

In regards to the “green” sustainable initiatives that were incorporated into the home design here is a quick list of the major elements we incorporated:

1) Habitat for Humanity was invited out to tour the existing home prior to demolition to take any elements they desired.
2) We kept all the large old growth trees on the site and utilized their locations for shading the home by designing around them. The large tree in the front courtyard shades the large southern exposed window, the others help shade the Eastern exposure and second story balcony.
3) Initial sun studies massing on the site reinforced the long axis design on the site. This format minimized southern exposures and maximized the eastern sun for daylighting. The home requires little to no artificial lighting in the daytime.
4) All glazing on the project is a full 1″ IGU system with 1/4″ Low-E glass.
5) The exterior walls are all 6″ studs allowing for a R-22 value to further minimize heat gain.
5) The flat roof utilizes a low albedo roofing system and the low pitch minimizes solar heat gain.
6) As much as possible we used regionally harvested and extracted materials to minimize transportation costs.
7) The tile selection was twofold. Mainly the tile was selected for its inherent beauty, which was reinforced by the amount of people asking where they could purchase it, but it also was a better environmental choice. Porcelain tiles are not susceptible to the staining and wear issues of natural stone and the process of manufacturing them is far more environmentally friendly than raw stone extraction. Also, I could not find any tiles, let alone linen textured porcelain tiles, on Ikea’s site.
8) The A/C system was zoned to allow the occupants to turn down areas not in use for better efficiency.

Our passion for good design is only eclipsed by our passion for sustainable design and this project was no exception.

Sincerely,
Ben Callison, LEED AP

Feel free to email me if you have any additional questions regarding the home, I would be glad to answer them:

bcallison@mohment.com

]]> By: Mod-Life-Crisis http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2009/06/26/cantoni-celebrates-25-years-of-contemporary-design-and-the-bugatti-grand-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-6857 Mod-Life-Crisis Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:23:24 +0000 http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/?p=4172#comment-6857 I saw the Cantoni Axis House yesterday and was underwhelmed. Not. That. Impressed. I thought the "axis" design and concept was pretty interesting. Don't get me wrong, it's a very modern and sleek pad (would be fabulous for throwing parties), just not mind-blowing, and it is overpriced at $3.9 million. ALso, I can't help not to mention the flooring throughout the majority of the house. While Cantoni claims it is textured ceeramic tile, the plastic, resin like feel and sound is odd. I overheard a couple mention that if they "didn't know any better, it seems like something you'd find in Ikea". Ouch. Cantoni is focusing so much on the concept of how the Axis House is designed for "artful living", how this house, unlike most, was "built taking into consideration the design plan for the interiors of the home". However, the mention of ammenties and construction that went into this home is grossly lacking. These are some of the things serious potential buyers want to know about. Were there not any green features incoroprated into this home? If so, there isn't any mention of it. That I feel in this day and age, is something that should be taken into "consideration". While the furnishings do really help create an ambiance and work to help reinforce the Cantoni brand (all the furnishings btw, can be purchased separately in conjunction with the artwork and electronics for an additional $300k) that would not be the selling factor for most for this home. What would bother me is the unknown future of the older, traditional house next door. Most likely it will eventually be bought and scraped. I would be wary of spending this much on a home with no idea of what will be built next to it in the future. A truly fantastic house will sell itself - it doesn't need any gimicks to help create a buzz. It is any coinidence that the entire first paragraph of your article is devoted to the Bugatti that was on display for the opening reception? I think not. Oh, and as far as this listing being a kudo for Linsey Barnes - that's an easy one. Linsey is Pogir's wife. Pogir being not only one of Cantoni's top design consultants, but also the owner Michael Wilkov's cousin. Linsey's only listings that she ever sold were 2 homes in Valley Ranch around $300k ea. in 2006. She is not that experienced in the luxury housing market and just recently moved over to Briggs from Virginia Cook - not doubt thinking the BF clout will help in the marketing of this home. I am very interested to see what this home eventually sells for and how long it sits on the market. Why in the world would Michael Wilkov already start another similar project? The smart thing would be to see how well this one does before attempting to duplicate it's success (or lack of it, as I'm afraid it may turn out to be). I hope Michael doesn't take a bath on this one.... I saw the Cantoni Axis House yesterday and was underwhelmed. Not. That. Impressed.
I thought the “axis” design and concept was pretty interesting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very modern and sleek pad (would be fabulous for throwing parties), just not mind-blowing, and it is overpriced at $3.9 million. ALso, I can’t help not to mention the flooring throughout the majority of the house. While Cantoni claims it is textured ceeramic tile, the plastic, resin like feel and sound is odd. I overheard a couple mention that if they “didn’t know any better, it seems like something you’d find in Ikea”. Ouch.

Cantoni is focusing so much on the concept of how the Axis House is designed for “artful living”, how this house, unlike most, was “built taking into consideration the design plan for the interiors of the home”. However, the mention of ammenties and construction that went into this home is grossly lacking. These are some of the things serious potential buyers want to know about. Were there not any green features incoroprated into this home? If so, there isn’t any mention of it. That I feel in this day and age, is something that should be taken into “consideration”.

While the furnishings do really help create an ambiance and work to help reinforce the Cantoni brand (all the furnishings btw, can be purchased separately in conjunction with the artwork and electronics for an additional $300k) that would not be the selling factor for most for this home. What would bother me is the unknown future of the older, traditional house next door. Most likely it will eventually be bought and scraped. I would be wary of spending this much on a home with no idea of what will be built next to it in the future.

A truly fantastic house will sell itself – it doesn’t need any gimicks to help create a buzz. It is any coinidence that the entire first paragraph of your article is devoted to the Bugatti that was on display for the opening reception? I think not.

Oh, and as far as this listing being a kudo for Linsey Barnes – that’s an easy one. Linsey is Pogir’s wife. Pogir being not only one of Cantoni’s top design consultants, but also the owner Michael Wilkov’s cousin.
Linsey’s only listings that she ever sold were 2 homes in Valley Ranch around $300k ea. in 2006. She is not that experienced in the luxury housing market and just recently moved over to Briggs from Virginia Cook – not doubt thinking the BF clout will help in the marketing of this home.

I am very interested to see what this home eventually sells for and how long it sits on the market. Why in the world would Michael Wilkov already start another similar project? The smart thing would be to see how well this one does before attempting to duplicate it’s success (or lack of it, as I’m afraid it may turn out to be). I hope Michael doesn’t take a bath on this one….

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