LOONEY RICKS KISS ARCHITECTS
Memphis, Tenn.
lrk.com

Project name: Southern Living Magazine
Idea House Tucker Bayou
Project location: WaterSound, Fla.
Square footage: 3,544
Total project cost: $886,000

Located in a traditional neighborhood development along the Gulf Coast, this 3,544-sq.-ft. cottage combines the comfort of an empty-nester/second home with features that suit the versatile lifestyle of today’s families. The exterior design goal for this home by Looney Ricks Kiss Architects in Memphis, Tenn., was to respect and preserve the existing vegetation and natural surroundings as much as possible; thus, naturally complementing and connecting the home to the site. The interior goal of the home’s design was to accommodate the ever-changing size and shape of the family while keeping the home relaxed, as well as elegant.

Keeping the idea of site preservation in mind, the building design utilizes modular construction. The house was 80 percent complete upon arrival to the site and the seven boxes were assembled in one day. The modular aspect of the project was utilized to achieve the design intent vs. compromising the design. With great attention to detail and the desired finished product, the typical preconceptions of a modular home were disproved.

This home was designed to meet the target market’s lifestyle, and level of detail and finish it requires. It is comparable to other custom and high-end homes in the region. The house’s modular construction saved time, typical construction waste and also allowed the home to be placed on site without damage to the surrounding landscape and environment.