green building
See our blog for new projects, announcements, and all things TMS Architects.Eco-Friendly Steps to a Zero Energy Home
Looking for ways to follow a more eco-friendly path? Working towards the end goal of having a zero-energy home — that is, a home that uses the same amount of energy as it produces — involves a lot of careful planning. However, jump on board the tips below, and you’ll quickly see smaller energy bills, shrinking water bills, and more.
Read More
Eco-Friendly & Smart Designs for Homes In Colder Climates
Warm weather is nice, but there’s something about a snowy landscape that is so enchanting. Nothing quite compares to the way it sparkles in the sun and glows in the moonlight. Colder climates can make for picturesque scenery, but they can also leave you with ice damns, slippery stairs, drafty interiors and – a homeowner’s nightmare – burst pipes. Homes that are located in regions with colder climates come with unique challenges. With these challenges, however, come opportunities for smart, sustainable home design. With winter still underway, here are some of the colder climate design ideas that we find inspiring.
Read More
Harness the Power of Passive Energy in Home Design
Passive home designs work with the environment rather than against it. By taking advantage of location, orientation, and local climate, a passive home is designed to maintain comfortable temperatures while reducing energy consumption.
Read More
A Preview of Oppportunity Works New Building!
The mission of this extraordinary organization, Opportunity Works, is “Empowering people with disabilities to experience the freedom to live, work and enjoy a valued role in society and TMS Architects is proud of the role we have played in their new building under construction in Haverhill, MA.
Opportunity Works is a private, not-for-profit corporation serving more than 216 men and women, ranging in age from 22 years to 75 years, who come from eighteen Merrimack Valley and North Shore communities in Massachusetts. The agency operates with a staff who bring a broad range of experience in working with people with disabilities. OW is headquartered in Newburyport and currently leases a satellite facility in Haverhill , MA. However, this facility does not meet the specific requirements of the Opportunity Works community and it was decided to design and construct a custom facility in Haverhill to meet their needs.
Read More
What You Need to Know About Hardscaping
Hardscaping is an excellent addition to any home or commercial property in need of an uplift or boost in value. There are many considerations when developing a plan for your project, and working with an architect is a great way to ensure your money is well spent and that your project will not cause damage to your home’s existing facade.
Read More
LED Lighting: What the Craze is All About
Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, are semiconductors that emit light when voltage is applied. Although they’ve been around in limited form since the 1960s, it wasn’t until the last decade that they gained in popularity as an energy efficient lighting source. With a high light output and a wide range of colors available, LEDs are now used for both general and targeted lighting.
Read More
Sustainable Architecture 101: The Utility of Salvaged Wood
An important facet of sustainable architecture includes using building materials that are not harmful to the environment, as well as reusing materials whenever possible. Salvaged wood can be upcycled and used in many applications that meet both of those criteria. Considering the beauty, uniqueness and historical quality of reclaimed wood, you should not overlook its usefulness.
Read More
Sustainable Architecture: Has the Smart Home Arrived?
Smart technology is undoubtedly on the rise. First, it was smart phones and TVs, now it’s smart homes. These homes are designed with high tech features and advancements that bring safety, comfort, convenience, style — and now — efficiency to a level that was unfathomable just 10 years ago.
Read More
What is the Future of Home Design?
This question was posed to TMS Architects by one of loyal “correspondents” who has followed our work for several years. His question, in its entirety went as follows:
> “If you don’t mind me asking, this is kind of an open-ended question, but I’ve been thinking about it lately since I’m seeing the home design/engineering process first hand.
>> In short, what do you see in the future of home design? Not in terms of software, but in terms of overall design trends?
>> It’s been fun viewing and studying your designs for all this time and seeing how your designs progress as the months and years pass! I’m sure you’ve seen so many trends that have come and gone, but overall, I think traditional design is here to stay, albeit with different design trends.
>> I just hope there are people in my generation that will be able to design such wonderful homes since you probably won’t be designing forever.”
Read More