The design style requested by the owners is Rotterdam Modern. Rotterdam, being Europe’s largest seaport, infers an industrial quality. Plus, with Rotterdam being completely rebuilt after WW II adds Modern to the mix. The primary layout has 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a...

A MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARIANNE GERDES Dear Thamby, Like so many of you, I've spent the last week reflecting on all that James Hubbell meant to his family and community, the world, and to each one of us. Your stories about James recount how he changed your...

Early in my career I had the opportunity advance my craft of timber framing. The timber is mostly rough sawn clear heart redwood from the owner's property. Very beautiful.Below, Corner 4x10 Top Plate. Allows for a pair of 4x8 corner posts, each with double...

C Residence, Bonny Doon, CANew home, Permit ready, 2345 sf. CZU Fire replacement With this tragedy came the hope for renewal. The program was to design a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath open plan home, stylistically Berkeley/Bay Area, assuring single level aging-in-place...

Thanks, in part to the pandemic, a keen group of Passive House practitioners, has put together an on line forum that makes most everythingPassive House broadly available. From the weekly Global Passive House Happy Hour and the Construction Tech Tuesday (just started)...

Been quite busy since our last post. Two significant whole house remodels with additions plus two new homes have been designed and are in for permitting. One of these is further along being under construction and is substantially complete. This while we all have been...

Our 4th Year!

Katy Hollbacher, who founded Beyond Efficiency provideing technical consulting services for high-performance buildings since 2009, beyondefficiency.us shared this post with me. I pass it on because she has refined wall systems that are the most effective to date for...

We were recently asked to restore Momka's House (see Work).   Having been rented for 40 years left its mark on the home. Upgrades include a new kitchen (see earlier post), mini split heat pump HVAC, LED lighting and more. For further details go to hinoki-house.com. It...

Another home I designed was recently on the market.  This aerial gives a wonderful overview: