THE 2006 HC&G IDEA HOUSE

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A native of Coral Gables, Florida, architect Steven W. Semes knows firsthand how a residential area succeeds on the merits of careful planning and architecture designed for the long haul.

Semes, who received his graduate degree at Columbia University, holds the Francis and Kathleen Rooney Chair in Architecture at the University of Notre Dame. His work experience at leading architectural firms in New York over the past 30 years has given him a vast pool of resources and contacts in the industry.

The houses on the tree-lined street have been designed to evoke the shingled summer colony houses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Idea House, at 7 Calf Creek Court, is a hybrid of the Shingle and British Arts & Crafts styles. It has a recessed porch, bay windows and a sweeping roofline. The interior features a fireplace alcove in the living room, a double-height great room with a fireplace, private balconies facing the water off of the bedroom suites and a cabana adjacent to the pool. Mabley Handler Interior Design is overseeing the project in addition to designing the great room. Through the summer, we'll track the progress of the house on this page.

What to look for in a Planned Community after you've approved of the gourmet kitchen

• Houses with individual designs by a licensed architect.
• A thoughtful master plan that lays out the lots with an eye towards activities.
• Strong bones in the individual landscape design and a pleasing surrounding streetscape.