Fantasy Into Reality

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

SeptemberOctober 2008
Industry News

Fantasy Into Reality
Small Project Award Winner Brings Fantasy Into Reality

Masonry Design Magazine

West Chester, Pa.-based Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd., has won a 2008 Small Project Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The firm was one of just 14 recipients this year out of 158 competing projects.

Archer & Buchanan’s “Butterfly Window” project won in the Small Project Objects category. The ‘butterfly’ window was conceived, for a private museum, from some of J.R.R. Tolkien’s sketches and verbal descriptions of the Hobbit’s propensity to design windows that frame beautiful views while blending the materials and forms of wall, window and roof into a balanced composition: A marriage of form and function, according to the firm.

The tile roof and the supporting stone wall visually envelop the circular window that dictates their form. The window is crafted of solid mahogany with forged iron hardware. The semicircular, operable sashes are center hinged. Like butterfly wings, Archer & Buchanan says, they are delicate yet strong, beautiful yet functional. MD

Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

Chad Riley
Stone Savvy
MAP Partner
Read More
The New Equation for Masonry Profit: Predictable Hardware and Proven Data
July 2026

The masonry industry is built on tradition, but modern growth requires a shift from guesswork to absolute certainty. When we talk about the philosophy that you cannot improve what you do not measure, we are looking at the literal minutes and manpower lost

Erin Koets Shayne Sanders
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Owen Heimbach
July 2026

This month, the MCAA had the pleasure of speaking with SkillsUSA First Place Winner Owen Heimbach, a young mason just starting out whose enthusiasm for bricklaying is truly contagious. His passion for the craft was evident throughout our interview.

Justin Stengel
GEN NXT
Read More
Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →