May
2009
The Money Pit that Is American ArchitectureComments Off
When Mr. Aaron, a photographer known for his dynamic renderings of high-end architectural projects, purchased it but it was tearing out that prefab kitchen and building a new one from the ground up just last year that proved to be a household quagmire, something Mr. Aaron and his wife, Brooke Allen, had instead of a happy spring, summer and fall.
That a man who brings the buildings of the worldis most prominent architects to life in two dimensions he has worked for Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, Charles Gwathmey, Michael Graves and Robert A.M. Stern, and last month received a Collaborative Achievement award from the American Institute of Architects for their UPVC Sash Windows.
All the while, the couple and their twin 16-year-old daughters took their meals in the makeshift kitchenette they set up in the garage. It started in March, win a house competition finishing up in February, Mr. Aaron said.
The first contractor estimated it would be finished by June, Mr. Aaron said. He ended up walking away with pretty much all the money we had estimated and the kitchen only 60 percent done. We found other people, eventually. The estimate was $110,000. I guess if I was being polite, the final tally Iid say was around $200,000, but it was lots more.