Architects' choice

Residential Architect, April, 2004 by Nigel F. Maynard, Shelley D. Hutchins

there's no Web site yet where architects can vet products by the ratings of other architects. We need an "epinions," a "cnet," or an "amazon.com" for building products. No one wants to take a chance on a product untested in the real world--not when your clients' good opinion and safety is riding on your spec list. That's why, every year, we go to the experts--you--and ask for your best bets. And here they are.

fourgeron architecture

San Francisco

Anne Fougeron, AIA

www.fougeron.com

french fusion

Fiberstone cuts marble, granite, or onyx as thin as 3 to 4 millimeters and then fuses it to tempered, extra-clear glass to form a translucent stone. Fougeron selected white onyx for these cabinets in her own home, but she's looking forward to using the French product for an exterior wall. The company also suggests the diaphanous sheets for work surfaces, illuminated ceilings, doors, light fixtures, and shower partitions. Fiberstone, 011.33.4.72.91.54.54; www.fiberstone.com.

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pane relief

Fougeron appreciates the flexibility of Profilit's modular, U-shaped panel. Cast glass channels in extruded aluminum flames can be installed for long or tall spans without added supports. Low-E and solar control variations reduce heat and UV transmissions, while transparency levels can be altered with tinting. Double glazing increases sound and thermal insulation properties. Fougeron includes it in projects such as this one because "we find it to have an important scale." Westcrowns, 910.579.4441; www.westcrowns.com.

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expert forgery

Dennis Luedeman does custom metalwork and fabrication based on architects' designs and concepts. Fougeron values his ability to comprehend the aesthetic she wants and transform it into a functioning piece. "It's a collaborative effort that frees us up to do other things," says Fougeron, who calls upon Luedeman's skills for everything from massive window walls to finer points like this art gallery detail. Dennis Luedeman, 510.658.9435.

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lerner | ladds bartels

Providence, R.I.

Christian J. Ladds, AIA

www.llbarchitects.com

about face

When LL B seeks a high level of exterior finish, the firm often specs milled reverse board and batten. Ladds says, "This siding detail, with its refined shadow lines, can be used to distinguish the more formal components of a composition." By replacing some of the boards with glazing, Ladds generated narrow, vertical voids in a symmetrical sequence for this Jamestown residence. Liberty Cedar, 800.88CEDAR; www.libertycedar.com.

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clear winner

Cetol TGL is a highly transparent exterior finish that won't obscure the color and grain of natural woods. Available in either a satin or gloss, the product is also water repellent and UV resistant. Sikkens, 866.SIKKENS; www.sikkens.com.

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unglazed looks

Despite their name, quarry tiles are made, not quailed, from a mixture of natural ingredients including clay and shale. Metropolitan Ceramics fires the tiles at temperatures above 2,000 degrees for low absorption rates and high tensile strength. The unglazed tiles are ideal for heavily trafficked or wet areas. Metropolitan Ceramics, 800.325.3945; www.metroceramics.com.

dream beam

Engineered lumber combines the strength of steel with the look of wood, says the maker of Paralam. Ladds likes the aesthetic, economic, and load-bearing virtues of the product in such spaces as this curved circulation spine. The engineered beams span longer runs and withstand higher stresses than traditional sawn lumber. American Pole & Timber, 800.460.8627; www.american poleandtimber.com.

frank welch & associates

Dallas

Frank D. Welch, FAIA

www.frankwelch.com

bayou bricks

St. Joe Brick Works has been hand-pressing Louisiana clay into wood molds for 113 years. Welch likes the distinctive iron pyrite flecks and shape of the brick. In this project, he chose light hues with matching tinted mortar that's applied flush for a monolithic look. Four sizes and two pavers are offered in 14 color blends including full range and light rose. St. Joe Brick Works, 985.863.6161; www.stjoebrickworks.com.

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flexible finish

"The elastomeric acrylic finish has expansion resistance and doesn't stain or mildew, which is important in Texas humidity," says Welch of Senergy fiber-reinforced, hard-coat stucco wall systems. Available in 3/8-inch to 7/8-inch thicknesses, the systems can be retrofit as well as used in new construction. The company makes 15 wall systems including their new Cement-Board Stucco. Senergy, 800.221.9255; www.senergy.cc.

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sheen stealer

Berridge standing seam roof gives Welch another weapon against the unrelenting Texas climate. The company's fluoropolymer resin coatings protect the panels against ultraviolet radiation and carry a 20-year guarantee against cracking, peeling, and fading. Welch usually selects a heavy, zinc-coated steel finish. "I like the monochrome look of the dark blue-gray color and that it's flat without any sheen." Berridge, 800.231.8127; www.berridge.com.