Caught this video the other day. Mary Colter was the architect responsible for this beautiful structure. http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/on-the-trail-grand-canyon-architecture/ Mary Colter was the visionary designer behind the Grand Canyon’s most recognizable buildings. Drawing on ancient Native American structures for inspiration, Colter (one of a handful of female architects in her day) created buildings that blended in with… Read more »
Did you know that the size of a window opening is based on getting firefighters or other emergency escape and rescuers into or out of a house, with their equipment? In California egress is now often referred to as “Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings”, in cases of a fire or other hazards. And it is most… Read more »
The natural grade at the front of the house, where the master bedroom is located, was 6 feet above the finished floor, which didn’t leave enough wall space for meeting the code requirements for light and ventilation. The building code requires that a habitable space shall have natural light area of not less than 8%… Read more »
I don’t usually do book reviews but came across this and it really was a good read, especially if you like architecture. Brunelleschi’s dome construction for the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral in Florence was literally decades in advance. The proposed dome was considered impossible to build and he built it! Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a… Read more »
It is a challenge to do “rooms down” when there isn’t enough headroom below the main floor. Ideally you want to get high enough ceilings in the basement to create space that is comfortable to live in. 8-foot ceilings are not enough to do this. 9-foot ceilings are much better. So we needed to stay… Read more »
As a recent guest on the Entrepreneur Radio Show, I shared my story on how I got into business, became an architect, and try to inspire others who might want to be entrepreneurs, too. My 5th grade teacher, without knowing, inspired me to consider a path in design. I had roots in construction, as… Read more »
For many San Franciscans, the Twin Peaks Tunnel’s last stop at the West Portal station is just a spot on a map. If you have a chance to hop off the train at Ulloa Street, you’ll find an urban village full of hidden gems. Check out the 1944 street shot –some places don’t change much!… Read more »
The Westgate house was originally built in 1926, in the vicinity of Monterey and Westwood Heights. Nine years prior to this, the Twin Peaks Tunnel was built and created a very important connection between east and west San Francisco. The service through the tunnel evolved from streetcars in the beginning, and then into light rail. It definitely made getting… Read more »
There are some considerations in using smart control technology. Some of the items you can control are not that important to control. Do you really have to remotely feed your Koi pond? Do you really need to have 24/7 security cameras to check out your attic? And with the internet of things there are always… Read more »
The key to a robust small home is Bluetooth wireless. The wireless connect is what gives you the ability to control remotely. As long as your app on your smartphone can connect you have control. When I do a remodel I can incorporate smart controls. It does usually take some wiring and with the walls… Read more »