I have been sorting through old photos this week and was reminded of these cool lanterns by Coe Studios used on a Rockridge project.


I also came upon this picture of vine curtains that I took in western Massachusetts a while back.

Posted in Design Projects, Found Objects, tagged green building, lanterns, lighting design, Rockridge, vine curtains on June 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I have been sorting through old photos this week and was reminded of these cool lanterns by Coe Studios used on a Rockridge project.
I also came upon this picture of vine curtains that I took in western Massachusetts a while back.
Posted in Found Objects, Information, tagged birds, curtains, Dark Sky, green building, insects, lighting design, stars on May 9, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I was admiring the artistic way these rafter tails wrap around the corner at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley when I noticed the dark sky protection measures they implemented very economically with cut off black plastic waste bins. (and look at that black sky!) I recently updated my education on dark sky protection. I already knew that bright exterior lights are annoying to neighbors and that it would be nicer to see more stars at night, but I learned a few more reasons to avoid light pollution. So many nocturnal animals have their normal patterns disrupted by bright night time lights. Birds and insects in particular. I have a new love for curtains on windows to keep the interior lights from lighting up the outdoors. I had considered curtains mainly for privacy and keeping the sunshine out, but hadn’t worried about all the light that can spill out of a house when lights are on at night. Because LED lights use so little electricity the Earth’s light pollution problem is getting worse. It doesn’t cost very much to leave exterior lights on all night and this sometimes seems simpler than fancy lighting controls. Now I will be thinking of the nocturnal creatures as I plan my architectural lighting.
Posted in Found Objects, tagged lanterns, lighting design, petrolia, redwood, shingles on March 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Design Projects, tagged Berkeley, lighting design, small buildings on August 3, 2021| Leave a Comment »
I went up to check out the lighting installation at the little music studio. Cable lighting can look very 80s…but sometimes it works well and allows for a very flexible solution. Exterior lights are large arts and crafts lanterns. No photo of the pathway lighting…stay tuned for a few more photos soon.
Posted in Design Projects, tagged accessory dwelling unit, ADU, Berkeley, details, green, lighting design, process, small buildings on June 15, 2021| Leave a Comment »
First here is a 3d model we built as a schematic design tool. A few things changed and not all the details are there, but you can get a sense of the overall layout.
This one was a rebuild of an existing garage. (We had to rebuild it to meet the energy standards for habitable space, but we had to keep it the same as the garage in footprint, height, and roofline. ) The owners wanted to keep it simple…and kind of traditional. We think it turned out well.
The heating is a Fujitsu minisplit, the insulation is beyond code including slab edge insulation, lighting is all LED, high efficacy, & high CRI. A spot HRV keeps the air fresh even when the owners are out of town.
Posted in Design Projects, tagged addition, bathroom, Berkeley, indoor-outdoor, kitchen, lighting design, minimalist, nana doors, Oak, vaulted ceiling on November 14, 2020| Leave a Comment »
This one, built by Canivet Construction, was for a pair of architects. The design was driven more in the modern direction by their sensibilities.
Posted in Found Objects, Information, tagged Cranbrook, Eliel Saarinen, green building, lantern, lighting design, living architecture, plants, vines, W.T. Kirkman on June 1, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Cranbrook House Dining room light that can shine up and down or both. (Probably a custom design by Eliel Saarinen) Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Posted in Design Projects, tagged Berkeley, cabinets, details, doorways, lighting design, Oak, redwood, wood on January 21, 2019| Leave a Comment »
This recent full house remodel and additions in Berkeley turned out great. I don’t usually use so much wood, but it makes this house very cozy. More photos soon!
Posted in Design Projects, tagged angles, lighting design, Oakland, shou sugi ban, small buildings on April 2, 2017| 2 Comments »
Posted in Design Projects, tagged angles, art Studio, cedar, charred cedar, garden, LED, lighting design, Oakland, rainscreen, shou sugi ban, small buildings, tiny house, wood on January 30, 2017| Leave a Comment »