On a recent visit to Tucson, Arizona I saw this cool bridge for bikes and pedestrians over East Broadway Blvd . (If you zoom into the map and switch to satellite you can see the extent of it. It was designed by Simon Donovan. I also liked the bright blue bollards and railing. This particular color looks just right in the Sonoran desert, but Im not sure why. You will see the identical color in another post later this week. The painted steel mesh skin really looks like a snake – kind of like a dry, discarded snake-skin. The shadows created by the crisscrossing steel are also quite nice.
Archive for February, 2012
A Very Basic Addition for Two Teachers and Their Two Kids in Richmond
Posted in Design Projects, tagged fibercement, houses, passive solar, Richmond, value on February 15, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Sometimes the job calls for a very simple addition – bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, and family room all in less than 500 SF, plus a new deck on the south side. and energy efficiency upgrades throughout.
The roofline dictated the easiest place for the addition and the owners preferred a small master bedroom and a small study/ family room rather than a large bedroom. Adding a deck to the south off the kitchen and dining room seemed like an obvious way to fill in the corner (facing due south.) The fact that it has walls on two sides adds a bit of shelter from the wind.


The owners selected locally crafted light fixtures from Metro Lighting on San Pablo and many LED lights for the project.
Canivet Construction built the project on time and on budget (about 230/SF plus fixtures that the owner bought themselves.)
Painted Poplar Treasure Chest Underway
Posted in Design Projects, tagged box, boxes, color, ensign, furniture, paint, patterns, poplar on February 11, 2012 | 2 Comments »
This prototype is solid 1.125″ thick poplar. It also has box joint corners and a piano hinge.
I am using my old artist oils for this decorative paint job. I went to the art store for a new paintbrush and noticed that they now sell “water- mixable” oil paints. I am curious how those work.
Painted Treasure Chest
Posted in Design Projects, tagged boxes, furniture, process on February 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Rainscreen Siding and Serious Windows
Posted in Design Projects, tagged Fairfax, fiberglass windows, windows, wood siding on February 8, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
My clients in Fairfax are close to buttoning up the exterior of their addition. Pictured here are Serious Materials 725 Series fiberglass windows (well above average R-value for a window: R-6-R-7, depending on the type.) and wood siding over Homeslicker plus Typar to create a drainage plane behind the siding.
Good Design is Good for the Economy (Obviously)
Posted in Found Objects, Information, tagged garden, landscape, New York, plants on February 6, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
The High Line in Manhattan is credited with generating over $2Billion of new investment and the creation of 20,000 jobs.
Three Black Stripes on White Subway Tile
Posted in Found Objects, tagged black & white, color, Jack White, subway tile, tile on February 3, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Several Nice Railing Details
Posted in Design Projects, Found Objects, tagged copper pipe, deck railings, decks, guards, historical styles, holes, paint, painted wood, railing, railings, redwood on February 1, 2012 | Leave a Comment »




























