People often ask me where I get the ideas for my award winning houses. Most of it comes from my own passion for form, but it also comes from the greats that have gone before me. Frank Lloyd Wright has been an inspiration for me from the beginning of my career, and he continues to amaze me today.

During the course of his life, he designed over 1000 buildings. He had a philosophy he called organic architecture, which compels the architect to build according to the land around the structure.  When you look at Fallingwater (1935), possibly his most iconic building, you can see how the house practically grows out of the land, interacting with its surroundings so gracefully. This is one of the reasons I like to stand on the site with my clients before I start a build: to feel the landscape, and show my clients my vision for their house in its natural setting.

Wright wasn’t just an architect, he was an artist. He was a genius. When you look at the body of Wright’s work, every building is different from every other one. As industries and habits changed, he changed with them. His career spans the industrialization of North America, and his houses reflect that cultural shift.

One of the reasons I have so much respect for him is that he was never content to just build a house. He was always trying new things, always innovating. Towards the end of his career, another architect characterized him as being “an old amateur” and Wright responded “I am the oldest.”

He was so far ahead of his time, that the average builder still works as if Wright hasn’t even happened yet. The current climate in the building trade is to make one-size-fits-all houses that conform to the common denominator without depth or personality.

So many houses don’t belong to their owners. They’re missing the detail, the artistry every well designed house should have. The idea of an organic house, of a unique structure that belongs to the land around it may still be a rare thing in this industry, but it isn’t at Vineyard.

I take my inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright. I see the love, care, and attention to detail in everything he built, and I work every day to put that same attention to detail in the houses I build for my clients. When I design a house for you, I’m creating your space, your experience of home. Frank Lloyd Wright didn’t take that lightly, and neither do I.

Last Fall I designed a waterfront house in Vernon, Canada with an air pressure vacuum elevator. Since then, I get a lot of questions about the installation, cost, and advantages of vacuum elevators.

Whether or not to put an elevator on your property is a question of lifestyle and personal preference. This article should help you decide if a vacuum elevator is for you.

In comparison to traditional elevators, vacuum elevators are easier to install and cheaper to maintain. The car fits up to two people, standing, and holds up to 450 lbs.  It moves up and down using air pressure created in the top section of the tube. The resulting imbalance makes the cab rise to the upper floors. When the elevator is called down, air is let out of the lower section as it’s drawn into the upper section in order to descend smoothly to the ground at a rate of 30 inches per minute.

In the event of an emergency, or a power outage, the elevator automatically descends to the ground floor by letting the air depressurize at its own pace, unassisted by the upper chamber. This means that, if a person were using the elevator and the power went out, they would be taken slowly and gently to the bottom of the line. The elevator also has brakes at the top of the cab that are set to engage within two inches if the pressure seal is broken. Every elevator has an alarm system, emergency ventilation, door safety switches, and mounting and wiring options for a telephone.

To date, over 300 vacuum elevators have been installed in homes and boats around the world. Because the floor supports the entire weight of the system, there’s no need for cabling or excavation, nor do we need to create a hoistway. This makes the system ideal for renovations, and residential builds. Vacuum elevators increase the value of your home, but if you can’t stand to part with yours, it can easily be taken out and transported to a new home.

The one thing a lot of people ask is whether or not the elevator will fit a wheelchair. Sadly, the answer is not at the moment. The company that makes them is working on a model that will be able to accommodate something that size, but it isn’t finished yet. There is room for a small chair for those of us who would prefer not to stand, or for whom standing can be a problem.

If you are thinking of including an elevator in your build or remodel, I’d be happy to talk more about my and my client’s experience with their vacuum elevator. It may be just the thing you’re looking for.

Give us a call at 250.878.9411 or email me at craigmohr@vineyarddevelopments.com

So you’ve decided to build a new home, or remodel your current home. It’s a big project, but it doesn’t have to be daunting, provided you know the right questions to ask at the start. When a client comes into my office with these five things, I know we’re getting off on the right foot.

1. An Idea of what you want

I like to think of myself as a guy with a lot of great ideas, some of them have even won awards but even my best idea can be made better with your input. This is your house, your castle. It should be everything you want. It’s okay to bring pictures, magazines, drawings, even video clips you play on your phone. Everything is important when you’re building a new home.

2. A list of what you like and dislike about your current house

It’s important to know what you want, but it’s also important to know what you don’t want. Think of the home you live in now, or homes you’ve lived in in the past. What works for you in that space? Which rooms are easiest to live in? What doesn’t work? What do you miss about previous houses.

3. A list of potential trouble spots or concerns

It can be hard to think of these things when we’re in the initial stages of planning for a new house. These are the questions that come to you while driving down the highway, or halfway through dinner that can be so difficult to recall in a builder meeting. Before, and after our first meeting, I like to tell my clients to write these thoughts down so we can address them right away. This can be anything from bike rack clearance on garage doors, to which rooms will have which views of Lake Okanagan.

4. Names of preferred vendors

If you have any specific vendors you want to work with, bring a list with you. Frequently we already have relationships with these vendors, and can work with them to get you exactly what you need for your new house.

5. A point of contact

We like to think of this person as the designated family representative. They’re the one with all the research. They know about features, materials, measurements, and requirements. They’ve heard all the requests from spouses, partners, children, family and pets, and they know what’s going in the final plans. This is the person we want to be able to get in contact with throughout the build.
Building or remodeling your home is an enjoyable process, one we at Vineyard are happy to help you with.

Give us a call at 250.878.9411 or email me at craigmohr@vineyarddevelopments.com

Oranj Dance & Fitness Studios

It is my pleasure to write a letter of reference for Craig Mohr of Vineyard Developments. Craig designed and built both of my fitness studio and I cannot begin to describe the professionalism and quality that Craig brings to his work. Craig is upfront with both finances and timelines, he communicates very well and can bring any vision to reality.

The quality of Craig’s work is impeccable and his attention to detail is second to none. Not only was Craig part of the design and construction of my Kelowna studio, he also assisted in my Fort McMurray studio. In Fort McMurray we encountered many unique construction challenges that Craig had to contend with. Craig dealt with these challenges in a timely manner and enabled the studio to be a one of a kind facility.

I would highly recommend choosing Craig for any design and building project. I look forward to working with Craig in the future.

Sheila Chutskoff – Owner of Oranj Fitness

Small company.

We are a small company dedicated to exemplary design concepts and construction techniques. As our client, you have our undivided attention and the detail-oriented eye that comes with taking pride in everything we produce.

Start-to-finish service.

At Vineyard Developments, we have the full-circle design knowledge and construction expertise to take your project from the first meeting to move-in day. Designer, project manager, builder and sales person – we are all of these things. Our clients benefit by having a consistent point of contact and a common thread of understanding through each phase of the project.

Added value.

Our expertise helps us give you functional housing and interior detailing suggestions to maximize your budget and space through each phase of your project. This value-added Engineering is built into every project we do. We love to share both our creative and practical solutions with clients, especially when it helps optimize their budgets. We pride ourselves on inspired, original exteriors and functional, irresistibly livable interiors.