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Residential Architect

Black Dog Architects Co.

Abington, PA

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About Black Dog Architects Co.

Thanks for considering Black Dog for your project.

Black Dog Architects Co. is based in Abington, PA and Silver Spring, Maryland, providing architectural design services for homes, additions, remodels, and light commercial renovations. I will work closely with you to make sure your project's needs and wishes are successfully met with a design that will compliment your home. I strive to make sure that the process is as enjoyable, and believe in good design that is energy efficient, appropriate to the property and to the client's needs, and provided at reasonable cost.

My website and Blogspot or Facebook pages will give you some information on some of my previous projects, as well as hints, advice, links and suggestions that I hope will be useful to you. I look forward to hearing from you! -Don

Location

Abington, PA 19001

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Reviews

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  • 5/5 stars May 27, 2011

    Black Dog Architects is thorough and complete. Don works within your time frame and budget. I've found he can easily share his knowledge of existing structure and architecture to the layperson, so that you, too, can see the vision of your new project. Don also has many excellent contacts in the industry and works with contractors who are competent and, more importantly - THEY SHOW UP!

  • 5/5 stars May 25, 2011

    We employed Don Marquardt (Black Dog Architects) to transform our "Plain Jane" 1950's ranch style home. For the interior he creatively designed our space to include the addition of a new family room and full bath, the reconfiguration of the kitchen, expansion of our dining room, and the relocation of a staircase and of the laundry area.
    On the exterior, the roof line was expanded, the front porch and entryway reconfigured. These features along with the addition of the dormer to allow for the new living room have changed the character of the house tremendously. The house feels updated and current. Plain Jane is long gone!
    Don's design includes thoughtful use of space, melding practicality with a wonderful aesthetic. We have had total strangers stop and remark about the amazing transformation. Recently, during a house appraisal, (no, we're NOT moving!) the appraiser complimented the design stating that the house looks terrific and that the current design feels as though it was always meant to look this way.
    Don was wonderful to work with- a true collaborator during the process. He always listened to our needs and allowed for our input along the way.
    I wish that I could post before and after pictures..they'd speak for themselves!

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Question and answer

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. A good architect should be able to work in a variety of styles or project types, and can bring the necessary team together to properly design your project and get thorough permit and construction drawings produced in a timely manner.

As principal, I have extensive experience with residential projects including new homes, renovations and additions, especially older homes. I also have experience with commercial and institutional projects as diverse as law firm interiors, bank, church and historical renovations and adaptive reuse.

What is most important is that you are clear on the nature and scope of your project and are willing to explore ideas and solutions that may vary from your preconceptions.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Are your registered/certified?
Will your experience and skills work well for my type of project?
What are the stages of a project?
Do you work in 3-D?
Where do we meet?
How do we communicate and share progress drawings?
What should I have ready to help you understand what we need?
Do you know or recommend any builders?
Do you provide design-build services (one-point responsibility)?
How do we start?

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. One of the most helpful activities you can do while considering or beginning a project is to collect images of things and places that inspire you. A nice article in the November ‘08 issue of This Old House illustrated this pretty well. The basic point was that there are a host of influences that we are all subject too, from early memories to a great vacation place, which set the stage for the character we are after in our design.

Keep in mind that the design should start with the big picture, and the details fill in later. A good design is a work in progress that evolves as we go along, and you may find that the initial pre-conceptions fall away as we progress! So, start with a gathering of influences and let the ideas develop naturally.

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