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A Two-Story Addition in Berkeley with Pointy Roofs

October 5, 2011 by sarah

John and Sam have been framing up a two-story addition for my friend Scott (another architect). Its starting to look like something!

Big corner windows

The existing house is a cute little pointy-roofed cottage in a row of cute little pointy-roofed cottages. Scott’s design continues the theme, but adds his own modern details. (Both architectural and for energy performance.)

All the twinner houses in the row have flat roof sections in the back. This was a cost-saving measure in the original design. Scott’s addition leaves this flat roof section alone for future solar panels…but returns to the 12:12  pitched roof for the addition.  

I can’t wait to see the stairwell finished. It is going to bring a lot of southern sunshine from above into the lower floor family room.

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Shimmery Glass Tiled Walls with Moroccan Tile Floor

October 3, 2011 by sarah

Emma Lee Photograph via Remodelista

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Foundation Underway for a Small Addition in Richmond, California

October 2, 2011 by sarah

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Jack White on Design

September 30, 2011 by sarah

Dwell Magazine interviewed my favorite musician, Jack White, about his design inspirations, philosophy, and plans to get back into furniture and upholstery.  Here is the link. 

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Kids Like Lofts

September 29, 2011 by sarah

There is something really nice about climbing up a bookshelf ladder to a cozy loft and looking down on the party from above. (photo by Joma Jones)

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A Few More Manhattan Photos in the Evening

September 28, 2011 by sarah

I spent Monday traversing Manhattan studying (loosely) the evolution of building technology over the last two centuries.  I was hoping that I could get a peek inside the Chrysler building, one of my favorites, but visitors are only allowed a few steps into the lobby. The facade patterns created by the windows and wall between is very elegant: vertical lines in the middle and horizontal bands around the corners. The base is more decorated with chevrons and circles and rectangles, and then the glorious top! The Cloud Club once occupied several floors of the crown. The small triangular windows make for a rather inglorious space on the inside.

The lighting in the lobby is very architectural.  By this I mean that it is integrated with the structure so that is helps define the space with areas of light and dark.  

James Maher has some better photos of the lobby on his website. Here are some more photos and information about the building.

I made it to the High Line, on the other side of town, in time to take a few picture at sunset.

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New Chief Architecture Critic at New York Times Focused on Practical Human Concerns

September 27, 2011 by sarah

Michael Kimmelman is the new chief NY Times architecture critic. His debut architecture review, In a Bronx Complex, Doing Good Mixes With Looking Good, is a critique of a new housing development in the Bronx, NY.  He calls the building handsome, but focuses more on the practical aspects of the design. It does sound like a nice place to live.

Here is another review of the review with photos.

Here are some words from Michael Kimmelman about his visions for his new job.

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Brooklyn Federal Savings Bank Blue and some other Blue in Brooklyn

September 26, 2011 by sarah


This building caught my eye because of the bold color choice that seemed unusual for a money-lending institution. The simple bright blue base complements the brick patterns above that are reminiscent of Native American designs. This shade of blue reminds me a bit of Mexico. I find the overall effect to be bold and quite pleasing…but I imagine that many might consider the blue too bright for such an application.

Below are some other shades of blue in the same neighborhood. This blue door is rather jarring with the red brick and dark trim. I’m not sure the “mexican blue” above would be any better for this house.

This blue is softer and has a bit of grey-brown mixed in. It reminds me of colonial American houses and New England.

and another blue door that is a bit more subdued and softened with white and grey.
Personally, I am actually not a fan of blue paint with red brick in any shade, bright or soft.

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Arvo Pärt & Snøhetta Collaboration – To a Great City (Stillspotting)

September 25, 2011 by sarah

Yesterday I had a unique tour of seven architectural treasures of NYC with music by Arvo Pärt. The architectural selections were made by a team from Snøhetta. Follow this link for more information on the artistic intentions and the weather balloons.

The first stop was the Magazine at Fort Jay on Governors Island with ethereal music based on a poem by Robert Burns. It was hot and humid outside, but cool in the stone tunnels. The  music played simultaneously from speakers in stone cave-tunnels of different sizes and shapes and the acoustics were what you’d expect in an underground stone tunnel, but varied depending on where you were in the space.

We were not allowed to take photos inside the Woolworth building, but it was wonderful to sit on the grand staircase in the lobby of this 1908 Skyscraper and take in the beautiful space with wonderful gothic details and listen to “the full orchestral and choral settings of In Principio” with “dramatic brass sections relieved by a pulsating rhythm and stoic pace of the choir, representing the balancing act that is common in Lower Manhattan” (from the guide pamphlet)

The final site was the unfinished 46th floor of 7 World Trade Center. The raw unfinished space and 360 degree views were accompanied by two pianos playing Hymn to a Great City.

The recently opened World Trade Center Memorial (With entry pavilion by Snøhetta)  and the multiple simultaneous construction sites adjacent were visible to the South.

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Bird-Friendly Building Design

September 15, 2011 by sarah

The city of San Francisco is close to passing new regulations for new or modified buildings to reduce danger to birds. This document outlines the hazards and some solutions.

The most dangerous buildings are those next to lush parks with a lot of windows facing the park.  It might seem like a hard sell to eliminate windows facing parks for the sake of a few birds, but the solutions are things like screens and external shading devices…and less glass….which are all good things for many other reasons.

It is also important to reduce light pollution because this can disorient birds flying at night. Less light pollution is also a good general practice.

Read more about the San Francisco Planning Department’s Progress on the issue here.

The New York Times published an article on this topic today.

I once had a dove crash into my living room window. The neighbor saw the incident and claims that the dove was being chased by a hawk.  It was very sad to find the little bird dead on the window sill.

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Last night I had a drink at the top of the tackiest tall building in San Francisco

September 9, 2011 by sarah

Do you recognize it? Its actually pretty cool from the inside. (Not the greatest photos, I know)

Here it is on the outside:

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Sparkly Concrete

September 7, 2011 by sarah

Its hard to get a good photo of sparkly concrete, but I’m sure you’ve all seen it on a sidewalk somewhere. Some people call it “urban sparkle”

A few years ago I tried to find out how to make it for my own house. I tried mica flakes, but it didn’t shimmer like I was hoping. Recently I searched the internet again and found several sources for sparkly sprinkles to add on top of still -wet concrete:

Sparklegrain
“Sparkle Grain is an eye-catching, black or white sparkle, concrete finish for interior or exterior concrete surfaces.  Specifically designed for light to heavy usage on sidewalks, steps, ramps; in shopping centers, houses, garages, and stores; and in wineries, schools and public buildings.
Sparkle Grain also adds slip-resistance to concrete, which also means increased wear resistance compared to untreated concrete floors.”

US Concrete Materials LLC

“Concrete Shake-on to produce a decorative, glitter surface that is hardened, non-dusting, and non-slip.”
(Also for “General purpose polishing, lapping, blasting, compounds, vitrified and resinoid wheels, primarily for grinding and finishing non-ferrous and non-metallic materials.”)

Next time I’ll be ready!!!

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