Building the Rapson Greenbelt 2 in the Hamptons

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My goal starting in August 2003 was to look for a humble little weekend retreat on the East End of Long Island, aka the Hamptons. Simply a place to decompress from the confines of living in Manhattan; the only requirement was that it had to have at least four walls and a roof. As fate would have it, for many reasons, I decided to build instead of buying an existing house. Being completely new to the concept of building a house, I had no firm ideas about architecture or layout. All I knew was that it would have to be cost-effective (i.e., modular) while visually/spatially interesting. Trying to stick with the modular concept as much as possible, I was at first merely content with conforming to the status quo- the much-dreaded two-story traditional. But fate and coincidence steered me into the direction of modernism. This is the story of how a non-modernist found his inner modernist.

I'm not dead... yet! — by Ed — posted on 03-05-2007 00:01 — 0 comment(s) —

• Building

Sorry for being absent... I have been busy! The finish line is finally within sight!

Happy trails... — by Ed — posted on 12-20-2006 20:12 — 5 comment(s)

to you...

Leaning, leaning... — by LiveModern Webmaster — posted on 11-05-2006 02:22 — 3 comment(s) —

• Building
• Financing

The major autumn push I had hoped for never materialized. Well... it sorta materialized. In fits and starts. But it's been frustrating in the same way that it's frustrating getting stuck on the ski lift and watching other skiers whizzing by below in vapory trails. Still... every day is a new learning experience and a new opportunity to tweak this or to re-think that. Slow and steady is the course from here on out. No miracles needed.

Tipping Point — by Ed — posted on 09-20-2006 09:33 — 5 comment(s) —

• Building

There is nothing like a building project to make time fly at warp speed, where time is measured in increments of weeks rather than hours or even days. "I can start next week." "I'm on vacation this week." "It will be finished by the end of next week." A week doesn't seem to be such a big deal until you realize that there are only four of them in a month. And only three months in a season, four seasons in a year, etc. This time last year seems like last month, when enthusiasm and optimism seemed to be an unlimited resource. This year I sense that the enthusiasm and optimism tank is a bit under half-full, largely replaced by sheer angst and impatience. And unfortunately, the pace is still stuck somewhat in a state of evolution. Still, I have that little flicker of hope that I am finally at the crest of a long, slow gradual climb and that I am now teetering on the edge of a massively productive snowball of events happening in rapid succession. Fasten your seatbelts; it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Wind in my sails — by Ed — posted on 08-13-2006 00:55 — 12 comment(s) —

• Building

For a person so used to instant gratification, this project has been the ultimate test in patience. Each and every step forward is a little miracle unto itself and it makes you appreciate everything else that has been accomplished, albeit, very slowly. And after drifting around the Sargasso Sea of virtually suspended animation for the better part of a year, I can finally feel the Gulf Stream at my back. Albeit, with a hurricane or two tossed in for good measure. Don't you just love weather analogies?

Stick a fork in me — by Ed — posted on 06-13-2006 11:07 — 23 comment(s) —

• Building

Although I usually consider myself to be a pretty tough cookie, the past couple of months have been probably among the most trying of my life. Things blowing up on the homefront, personal front and especially the professional front. Oh, and there was also this little modern house project that I've been working on for the past couple of years that is/was stuck in a serious rut. At my darkest hour, considering how everything else had kind of imploded, I considered (for a few nanoseconds) selling off this surreally difficult project... but the moment passed. Indeed, insanity ultimately prevailed.

Curtailed by Curtain Wall! — by Ed — posted on 04-07-2006 09:56 — 19 comment(s) —

• Building

Although I was expecting the project to move along in fits and starts, even at my most pessimistic I couldn't have anticipated that things would come to a screeching halt. Starting in the fall, my main objective was to get closed in so that work could progress through the winter months. I figured that, by initiating the curtain wall project in October, I would be closed in shortly after the beginning of the new year. Well, it's April, and I'm still not closed in! Boy did I turn out to be the April fool here. Well, on the bright side of things, at least I no longer have to worry about being able to work through winter. Spring done sprung!

Water Off a Duck's Back — by Ed — posted on 02-05-2006 11:38 — 18 comment(s) —

• Building

This is just a quick mini-update since the last post. But it has been a challenging couple of weeks, to say the least. The push is on, but I've been beset with exterior trim issues, a totaled car, and budgetary concerns. I've spent a couple of restless nights fretting about the unknown, fretting about finances and the feeling of being stranded without a car. But then I keep reminding myself how worry is such a useless emotion. Everything happens for a reason- good or bad, so this is all just one more lump I had coming to me. I just have to let this all happen and get past it- like water off of a duck's back.

The Rain King — by Ed — posted on 01-24-2006 21:06 — 13 comment(s) —

• Building

What happened to the last three months of my life? I feel almost as if I blinked and early Autumn suddenly became mid-winter. I also feel like it has been a steadily productive period, yet, at the same time, from the outside, it doesn't seem like a whole lot has progressed. I suppose much of the time was spent waiting patiently. Waiting for quotes. Waiting for windows. Waiting for the snow to melt. Waiting for the holidays to end. Waiting for the free days when I am able to visit the site to check on things. And it almost seems like I bring the rain with me every time I visit. I am the Rain King!

Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard — by Ed — posted on 10-02-2005 12:32 — 4 comment(s) —

• Building

Sorry, Paul McCartney, I couldn't resist the plagiarism. But I couldn't think of a more appropriate title for this entry. Things are definitely moving ahead, albeit, with a lot of wasted effort, mistakes and re-work. I am upbeat and eager about my house, but at the same time, I feel a knot in my stomach every time I go out to the job site. What now?

It's goin' up, up, up, up... — by Ed — posted on 09-08-2005 20:30 — 11 comment(s) —

• Building

After the first floor Superior Walls were craned into place in July, another lull settled in. However, now that some pesky structural/engineering issues have been solved, things are moving ahead in earnest. The wonderful, unusually dry, summer weather has also been a blessing.

Summertime... and the livin' is sloooowwww...... — by Ed — posted on 07-31-2005 21:31 — 2 comment(s) —

• Building

After the elation of having the site excavated and the basement walls craned into position the week before Memorial Day, the momentum came to a virtual standstill. I am now resigned to the notion that this project will go through fits and starts and will take as long as it takes. DISCLAIMER- this entry has lots of pictures.

The foundation is in! — by Ed — posted on 05-24-2005 21:39 — 6 comment(s) —

• Building

Despite the threat of an impending Nor'easter blowing in from the cape, the foundation set, according to the crew, was as good as it gets.

D-Day: East Coast Style — by Ed — posted on 05-17-2005 12:32 — 1 comment(s) —

• Building

Okay, it's not quite as dramatic as amcelroy's Glide House set, but the building phase of my house project is about to begin...

The calm before the storm... — by Ed — posted on 04-23-2005 13:06 — 0 comment(s) —

• Building

The building permit has been received. The lot is staked out. The excavator is on notice. Now I am just waiting on the final price and contract for the Superior Walls. An eerie calm has set in, yet there are still lots of details to address...

The Verdict Pt. 2... and miscellaneous other updates... — by Ed — posted on 04-05-2005 12:22 — 3 comment(s) —

• Building
• Permitting

And the verdict on the building permit is...

Concessions — by Ed — posted on 03-01-2005 13:32 — 1 comment(s) —

• Building
• Permitting

The building permit application submitted in January came back with a number of issues. What was supposed to be a simple of process of making notations here and there has resulted in some potential concessions...

And the verdict on the building permit is... — by Ed — posted on 02-04-2005 10:09 — 3 comment(s) —

• Permitting

...

Details, details, details... — by Ed — posted on 01-18-2005 20:20 — 10 comment(s) —

• Building

In early October 2004 I entered an agreement with Wieler Homes to build the Greenbelt 2 house. Ron the builder and I looked over the stock plans and began to ponder the reality of modern building and about building on-site in general. The devil is in the details!

The Backstory- to the Future! — by Ed — posted on 01-14-2005 23:53 — 12 comment(s) —

• Building

My two-story traditional modular house project was now up in the air due to a conflict with the modular manufacturer. I had a weekend to think about the future of the project- whether to try another modular builder or to do something else entirely...

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