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Posts Tagged ‘light’

Berkeley Strawbale ADU Cottage

Posted in Design Projects, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

This project was completed a a few years ago, but I realized I never posted any finished photos because I was waiting for the landscaping and an interior sliding screen between office and living room. I think it’s done now and I hope to stop by soon to see it.

John and I both would love to build more strawbale structures. The thick walls (In this case 24″ thick, but 18″ is common) are really great architecturally and the inside is so quiet and well insulated. It is wonderful to use a natural material that is an agricultural waste product to insulate. Lime plastered strawbale buildings are also very fire resistant.

This photo shows the builder, John McBride & the construction of the curved walls at the doors
A fun, colorful cabinet for books and entertainment system and the deep window seat to the right (needs it cushion still) You can see the finished curves at the doorway to left.
office window and desk built into the thick walls
Windows on the south side with concrete sills, golden lime plaster, and bright painted soffits I (& some AI ) added the garden in the foreground because this photo was taken before landscaping.)
no AI on the garden here 🙂
deep bathroom window
Tilework (Fireclay) and skylight (some temp plumbing that doesn’t match 🙂 for the observant. Plaster in the bathroom is clay plaster because of its humidity control and air cleaning properties.
Kitchenette – If I was an interior decorator I’d add a piece of art and declutter the counter a bit and Martha Stewart the corner shelves, but this is just a snap shot) Now, in Berkeley, a bigger refrigerator is required.

This is a screenshot from the concept model showing the windowseat and office, storage hallway, & bathroom
another screenshot from the concept model

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Translucent Floor

Posted in Design Projects, tagged , , , , , on May 15, 2024| 2 Comments »

I visited a ten year old project yesterday. This client commissioned me to design a translucent floor in her dark entry hall. There was already a skylight directly above.

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Vaulted Ceiling with Cedar Trusses and High Triangle Window

Posted in Design Projects, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 3, 2018| Leave a Comment »

The builder, Steve Coleman,  just sent me these snapshots of an almost finished 2-story addition in Oakland.  The high window faces east and morning light streams in.

The large room contains kitchen, living room, and dining area.

The roof has a pitch change at the eave (matching existing early 1900’s house) that is carried through to the interior.

Steve’s snapshot video of the white ceiling fan that disappears into the white ceiling:

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Copper cladding in the morning light

Posted in Found Objects, tagged , , , , , , , on April 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »

 

de Young Museum SF Main Entry in Morning Light

The main entry to the de Young Museum in the late morning – If only we all could afford skins of copper in custom patterns.

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White Painted Sheetrock with Exposed Fir Beams and Light Makes a Nice Space

Posted in Found Objects, tagged , , , on April 12, 2013| 1 Comment »

I was visiting my carpenter friend last week for lunch and got to see this project before the client finished moving in. The architect made a lot of nice moves in renovating this old house.  He vaulted the ceilings, opened up the space, and connected better to the backyard, Sunlight comes in through a few  well placed skylights, big south-facing french doors, and a high window in the hall. I am sitting in the front room and I can see the back yard at the end of the hallway. The hallway has to slice through the house at an angle to make this happen. Unusual geometries result from the angled hallway, but since they result from a purposeful  move they do not seem contrived.

IMG_2880

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