In my years doing remodeling projects in old houses in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is one thing I have learned: You never know what you may find when you start demolition. The older the house, the more likely you are to find weirdness. In today’s installment of “oh, […]
construction
27 posts
2021 Random Photo Series As a way of rounding out the year, I have decided to share 3 random photos from my phone each week, along with a discussion about why I took the picture. This might give you a sense of how I think and who I am. Random […]
2021 Random Photo Series As a way of rounding out the year, I have decided to share 3 random photos from my phone each week, along with a discussion about why I took the picture. This might give you a sense of how I think and who I am. Random […]
The house project in Benicia is progressing along nicely. Things slowed because of weather, but they are picking up again. In this video, shot last week, you can see how things are coming along. The designer for the project is Oregon Architect, Nir Pearlson. I am the local, California Architect […]
The new house project under construction in Benicia is coming along nicely. I visited the site with the client and the builder on Wednesday of last week. It was a beautiful autumn day, and the house looked great. All of the cladding is up and the doors and windows are […]
Continuing documenting the construction progress for this accessory dwelling in the Oakland Hills, I paid a visit to this project again this month. Things have kind of slowed down. The city is taking their time reviewing the fire sprinkler permit application. And the folks at EBMUD (the water utility) are […]
The pandemic is going to extend into 2021 or longer. It is possible that the thawing permafrost will release as yet unknown viruses on mankind. What can we do today to make our homes safer? There is one thing that you can today, with very little effort, to make your […]
In this video I explain how I see our current situation and why I think the virus is here to stay. I also talk about why some people will be able to retreat to the country. I predict that this will mean an increase in vacation home sales – and […]
One of the project’s in my studio is a new house in Benicia, California. It is a small, 800 square foot, 2 bedroom house. Follow me as I visit the site. Because of the shelter-in-place order, I haven’t been able to visit the site until recently. The builder has already […]
Many people think that once they have a permit in hand, they no longer need an architect. That could not be further from the truth. You need an architect during construction for many reasons. Just some reasons are: The architect is an advocate for the design – helping you and […]
You will often hear architects, contractors, and engineers talking about how a building is “to code”, meaning it complies with the building codes. We talk about it like it’s a good thing, something to be proud of. But is it? Not really. The building code defines the worst acceptable building […]
Continuing my series of videos about the architectural project process, we now come to Phase 5: Permits + Bidding! Woo hoo? This is my least favorite project phase. It is the phase where the design team (you and I) have the least control and influence. And it is the phase […]
I’ve written about this secondary dwelling unit in Oakland before. About a month ago I posted on the progress. This past week I stopped by again to check on the progress. Since the last time I was there, they have started on the underlayment for the green roof assembly, and […]
The 5th in my series of videos about the architectural project process, this video is about Construction Documents. Some still call them “blue prints”, but they are no longer blue. Some people think that this phase is the only thing that architects do. There are two common misconceptions about architects. […]
On May 30, 2020, for shopping centers in Emeryville, California were looted in the unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man at the hands of the police. On the morning of the 31st, I walked through two of the centers to see what kind […]
Continuing my video series about the architectural project process, here is video 4 in the series: What Is Design Development? Many clients want to rush through Design Development. There is the sense that we have to apply for the permit! But rushing this phase is a mistake. It is important […]
When you embark on an architecture project, no matter if you are renovating a bathroom, or building a new house, you are setting off on an adventure! Think of it as your own person Lord of The Rings – without the orcs. But, instead of trying to get rid of […]
Establishing the construction budget for your project is the FIRST thing you should do after you have decided that building or remodeling is the way to go. In this video I walk you through the 4 steps to establishing a construction budget. There is a little bit of math, but […]
Construction can be so stressfull. So many decisions! So many moving parts! How can you make it through the process without losing all your hair? Keep calm – and hire an architect! An architect is your guide through the tangled bureaucracy and insanity of the planning and building codes. It […]
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, so when prospective clients come to me with hopes of starting construction in only a matter of 2 or 3 months, I always feel a bit of pain. For those of you who don’t work in or around architecture, engineering, or […]