Frequently Asked Questions

Who started HomeDesignResource.com?
Rick and Barb Burt are the founders of HomeDesignResource.com.

Rick is an architect who holds an undergraduate degree in studio art from Middlebury College and a graduate degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota. He has worked in architecture offices in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Maine, and now has his own architecture studio in Newcastle, Maine, Richard Burt Architects. Early in his career, Rick taught architecture classes at the Boston Architectural Center, and he has continued this interest in the teaching of design. Rick has worked as principal-in-charge on a variety of projects including churches, libraries, inns, dormitories, dining halls, office buildings, and private homes. He has also been principal-in-charge of major renovation projects, including the complete renovation of the Maine State House.

Barb has an undergraduate degree from Boston University and a graduate degree in education from Harvard University. A classically trained musician, Barb has studied the "master artist/student" relationship model found in arts education. She is also a proponent of teaching methods that are informed by an understanding of diverse learning styles. Barb has designed, written, and edited thousands of pages of student-centered curriculum materials. Teaching and learning continue to be her passion.

If we sign up to participate in your telephone design dialogues or to receive your newsletter, will you share or sell our contact information?
Never. We will not give your personal information away to any other person or organization.

How would you describe the HomeDesignResource.com philosophy?
Homes are much more than flat drawings of floor plans on a piece of paper. We live our lives within their shelter, and designing a home is a physical and emotional as well as an intellectual process. By exploring your needs and wants through a variety of exercises in a variety of media—workshops, videos, downloadable articles and podcasts, telephone conversations—we help you gain a thorough understanding of how best to solve the design requirements of the home you envision.

Is there any particular style or type of home that you advocate?
No, we leave those decisions to you. We can help you make good design decisions within the style of architecture that you have chosen.

I'm very interested in "green" design. How much time do you spend on that topic in a workshop?
The overarching framework behind the philosophy of the HomeDesignResource.com workshops is environmental responsibility. During a workshop, we spend time examining the best use of your site, carefully analyzing your needs and wants, and discussing appropriate materials and other issues of sustainability. We don't look at "green" design as a separate topic; it is an integral part of the process.

Do I need a background in art or design to participate in a workshop?
Absolutely not. We assume that you're interested in these disciplines but that you may not have any formal training. Our workshop curriculum will take you through a carefully planned series of simple and fun steps. If you have studied art and/or design, you will enjoy practicing some of the ways of thinking that you learned earlier.

How many people attend a workshop at one time?
We limit the workshop to no fewer than two projects and no more than four projects in one session. Each project can have one or two people working on it. The workshop tuition is per project, not per person. There are never more than eight people involved in a workshop session.

Where are the workshops held?
Sessions are held in the studio of Richard Burt Architects Newcastle, Maine. We may occasionally offer workshops in other locations and welcome your suggestions of additional workshop sites.

What is included in the workshop tuition?
Your tuition includes: pre-workshop orientation; group and private consultations with architect Rick Burt; unlimited coffee, tea and snacks during the workshop;.continued connections with HomeDesignResource.com via our website and e-newsletter; and invitations to attend conference calls on various topics for workshop graduates. Usually all materials needed during the workshop are included; ocassionally there is a materials fee.

How is attending a HomeDesignResource.com workshop different from hiring my own architect?
We know that the intensity of focus and the extent of personal involvement you will give to your house design over the course of the workshop is well beyond that which is typically accommodated in a traditional client/architect relationship. Our curriculum has been specifically developed to give you a direct route toward realizing your dreams. No one listens to and understands you better than you do. We have developed unique tools you will use to uncover and implement your own ideas in an environment of support and gentle guidance. You'll find our process to be more fun and less stressful, and you'll have more control over your design for a fraction of the cost of traditional architectural services.

How can I be sure that I will design a house I can afford to build?
This is an important question. An early planning component of any building project focuses on project cost. We have a number of resources to help you will learn why the actual construction cost of a building is only a portion of the overall project costs you need to plan for. You'll also learn how to establish a construction cost target which is right for you and how to monitor this target throughout the design process by the use of appropriate design strategies and planning tools.

I live in a climate very different from that found in Maine. Does that matter?
We relish the diversity presented by a variety of environmental issues. We welcome projects from anywhere in the world.

What technology will we use in the workshop?
The workshop curriculum is based on hands-on, sculptural, three-dimensional discovery of design solutions. We find that two-dimensional home design computer software significantly limits creativity. Instead of staring at a computer screen, you'll find yourself doing a lot of gluing, cutting, shaping, pasting, stacking, folding, sketching...

What if, at the end of the workshop, I feel that I'd like additional professional support as my house is being built?
You will automatically be supported in a number of ways, as part of your workshop tuition: the website is a great place to post questions and receive answers from Rick; you'll qualify for free attendance at conference calls organized around specific topics of interest to people in the midst of a building project; and you receive an additional two-hour consultation with Rick as part of your tuition. But if you feel that you need further support, we can help. Whether you need detailed construction drawings or someone to keep watch over the construction phase, we have many options available for you to consider. If you'd like more information about these options, please feel free to ask.

A group of us are interested in designing a community building. Can we come as a group to a HomeDesignResource.com Workshop?
Because we want to ensure that the quality of the workshop experience is very high for each participant, no more than two people per project are admitted to a regular session. However, we are keenly interested in working with larger groups and believe that the workshop process results in an extraordinary outcome for community projects. In fact, architect Rick Burt honed the workshop process through years of working with building committees on libraries, schools, and churches. If you would like to explore this option further, please contact us.