Let’s talk about cork. What do you think about when you think about uses for cork? When I think of cork, I immediately think — wine. What a wonderful material to keep delicious wine in its bottle. What could realistically top (no pun intended) keeping wine safe while letting it … Read More
THE STRUCTURE BELOW THE SKIN A building’s structure is typically hidden away once the ‘skin’ goes on, just like the skeleton of a person. It’s fundamentally important to how a building stands up and takes the weight of the people and their goods down to the ground, even while the … Read More
(where’s Colin Jost when you need him?) This week our dear friend Jean asked for an update on our construction. Have there really been no blogs since the one on heat pumps a couple of weeks ago??? Sadly, no; not because nothing is happening, but because so much is happening … Read More
FOUNDATIONS – WHERE THE BUILDING MEETS THE EARTH Every building – except maybe those mythical structures we designed in architecture school that were supported by ‘skyhooks’ – is supported by the ground. The part of the structure which actually touches the soil and which anchors the ‘superstructure’ above is the … Read More
One of our clients in Los Altos for whom we designed a major residential remodel made the wise choice to deconstruct the existing home instead of simply demolishing it. The wood framing, bricks, fixtures, etc. can be reused and not just recycled. While deconstruction costs a little more than standard … Read More