Architectural Tutorial: Cupola

Is it pronounced "queue-pola" or "coo-pola" or "cup-ola?"  To-may-toh, to-mah-toh.  Either way, what is it?

Officially defined by good 'ole Merriam-Webster, a cupola is simply "a small structure built on top of a roof."  The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture defines a cupola as "a dome, especially a small dome on a circular or polygonal base crowning a roof or turret."  However, these days, people have used the term "cupola" to define structures that aren't necessarily dome shaped.  

Here are a few examples of Visbeen-designed homes with cupola's perched atop their roof...

There is another type of roof-type structure that has often been grouped under the term cupola but is actually a little different.  A monitor is a raised structure running along the ridge of a double-pitched roof, with it's own roof running parallel with the main roof.  The long sides of monitors usually contain windows.  It has been said that these structures were named monitors because they were often used on the rooflines of larger estates, especially lake or oceanfront residences, so that someone could monitor what was going on around the home from an aerial location. (I'm hearing "The British are coming! The British are coming!" in my mind right now.  Maybe Paul Revere wouldn't have needed the midnight ride if he had a nice monitor to sit in.  Just a thought.)

So, "queue-pola" or "coo-pola?"  Either way, they add a bit of architectural interest and a lot of whimsy to the roofline of a variety of home styles.

Professional Builder Magazine just put out their list of 101 Best New Products in the housing industry.  For the last year, Professional Builder has featured these newly introduced products on the pages of it's publication and the readers have spoken.  The list contains products in the following categories: Windows & Doors, Exterior Products, Interior Products, Outdoor Living, Structural/Insulation/Housewrap, Mechanical/Electrical and Construction Tools & Equipment.  There are definitely some cool new goods out there these days!

Professional Builder's 101 Best New Products

By Professional Builder Staff

August 22, 2013

Among the hundreds of building products introduced by manufacturers during the past 12 months and featured on the pages of Professional Builder, the readers, through responses and inquiries, selected these standouts as the 101 Best New Products for this year’s annual review. Products that could impact your business are grouped in the following categories for your convenience:

Windows and Doors

Exterior Products

Interior Products

Outdoor Living

Structural/Insulation/Housewrap

Mechanical/Electrical

Construction Tools and Equipment

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Michigan Blue Magazine: Great Lake Story, Ch 4 and Cover Feature

Although for us Michiganders, summer really just arrived over the last couple weeks, the calendar shows that we are on the cusp of a changing season.  September is just around the corner and the Fall issue of Michigan Blue Magazine has arrived!  This beautiful issue is brimming with dazzling autumn stories we had the pleasure of being a part of...

Great Lake Story, Chapter 4: Stunning sunsets, the sound of waves and kids on the beach, the feel of wind on the shoreline walks -- its easy to see quality of the life on Lake Michigan.  But quality of craftsmanship, like these glacier-made waters, goes deep beyond the surface of what's seen.  Designed by Visbeen Architects and built by Mike Schaap Builders, the story of the Emmett continues.

Crafting Home (Cover Feature): Last fall along the fringes of northeast Kent County's crystalline Silver Lake, a modern-minded couple replaced an outdated tear-down with a new year-round home that blends practical ingenuity and unhindered views with a new take on contemporary style.  This beautiful home from our design portfolio was awarded the AIBD's Global Choice Award as part of the American Residential Design Awards last month.

Intrigued? Check out these articles here...

For ease of reading, click here to view the full articles on our website.

Millenium Park Lodge

The Millennium Park banquet hall is the ideal addition to public park space. This venue is a conceptual design meant to compliment its outdoor surroundings, using natural materials and a cabin-themed aesthetic. The wrap-around porch allows for natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, no matter what the weather is like on the day of the event. Indoor and outdoor hearths add a homey feel to the locale. The expansive event hall is complimented by state-of-the-art catering kitchens, a full-service bar, and beautiful bathrooms.

Cabin Life: Dreams on Paper: Lockbridge

Cabin Life's October issue is out (that's right, October!) and features our modestly-sized plan, the Lockbridge, in their Dreams on Paper section.  This beautiful cabin offers space for everyone in an easy-living timber-frame design. Read on for floor plans and details on this beauty.

For ease of reading, click here to view the full article on our website.

Ottawa Shores

It's a beautiful day for the beach.  Wouldn't it be grand to have in this cozy cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan?  Commence daydreaming....

Chicago Office Tour

Visbeen Architects and GMBArchitecture + Engineering partner to service a wide variety of residential, commercial and higher education clients, creating custom & luxury solutions for all. In response to rising numbers of clientele in Chicago, our firm sought out space for a satellite office in the city. The acquisition of a newly renovated loft on Michigan Avenue brings the high quality services of Visbeen and GMB close to home for Chicagoans. Contract Interior designer, Josh Tremblay IIDA, will also use the office to reach out to local clients, making this extension a full-service hub for architecture and design in the Loop and in Illinois.

The loft is located in the revitalized South Loop on a strip of the famous avenue known as "Motor Row," being home to the country's first automotive factories. Situated on the third floor of the historic Kelly Tire factory building, the firm's live/work space was designed around the existing structure, utilizing exposed brick and original support steel beams. The factory's abandoned elevator shaft now serves as a bedroom loft. The ambience is rustic and sophisticated, with character to match this historically industrial district of Chicago.

The downstairs work space features a high-tech conference area surrounded by artful Visbeen renderings, along with a large desk for drawing and design workshops. State-of-the-art amenities can be found in the kitchen, which sits adjacent to the media room. The loft was outfitted by Crestron with a custom automated system, which syncs multi-media, climate, and light controls to digital panels throughout the space. iPhones and iPads can be docked in the wall to control the system along with the touch-screen TV in the kitchen.

Clients will find the space welcoming and inspiring as they meet one-on-one with the designers from the talented teams at GMB. The loft is also ideal for open houses, group meetings, and parties. Visbeen Architects and GMB Architecture + Engineering are enthusiastic about offering their award-winning design abilities to the greater Chicago area. 2251 South Michigan is where it can all begin.