Multifamily Projects

A WELL ORGANIZED SPACE

Everything in its place. This applies to a building with well-considered storage designed to handle the stuff of our lives. But it also applies to the building itself. We seek to reduce and align the architecture to create a clarity of space and form. Nothing jutting out. No weird corners. Simple clean spaces that are easy on the eyes and the brain. We group together ‘solid’ program such as storage and bathrooms, so that the remaining spaces can be open, clean and bright.

A WELL ORGANIZED SPACE

Everything in its place. This applies to a building with well-considered storage designed to handle the stuff of our lives. But it also applies to the building itself. We seek to reduce and align the architecture to create a clarity of space and form. Nothing jutting out. No weird corners. Simple clean spaces that are easy on the eyes and the brain. We group together ‘solid’ program such as storage and bathrooms, so that the remaining spaces can be open, clean and bright.

The Blade

159 Fell St

VIEWS

With the dramatic topography of the Bay Area, impressive views are often possible and desirable. We seek to frame and maximize these profound views. But views are also more than the city skyline or the distant hills. Views can be intimate and personal; the perfect framing of a sculptural oak tree or the scene of your kids playing in the backyard seen from the kitchen sink.

VIEWS

With the dramatic topography of the Bay Area, impressive views are often possible and desirable. We seek to frame and maximize these profound views. But views are also more than the city skyline or the distant hills. Views can be intimate and personal; the perfect framing of a sculptural oak tree or the scene of your kids playing in the backyard seen from the kitchen sink.

28th Street facade

Social Space

Broadway Autorow

SEQUENCE

The experience of architecture is generally a dynamic one rather than a static one. We move through spaces, understanding them in motion, in relation to each other. Architecture is more like a film and less like a photograph. Knowing this, the sequence of spaces is very important, both functionally and poetically. That is experienced first, second, third? Is there both a formal (guest) experience of arrival and an informal (family) experience? How does the architecture affect our small daily rituals like getting up in the morning or sitting down to dinner? We work with our clients to understand and develop these narratives and make architecture around them.

SEQUENCE

The experience of architecture is generally a dynamic one rather than a static one. We move through spaces, understanding them in motion, in relation to each other. Architecture is more like a film and less like a photograph. Knowing this, the sequence of spaces is very important, both functionally and poetically. That is experienced first, second, third? Is there both a formal (guest) experience of arrival and an informal (family) experience? How does the architecture affect our small daily rituals like getting up in the morning or sitting down to dinner? We work with our clients to understand and develop these narratives and make architecture around them.

Neighborhood

South Van Ness

Aerial view

Urban Living

Modera JLS

Ombre fade

Uptown Oakland

Verticality

Guerrero House

GEOMETRY

Geometry can help to organize and inspire architecture. We believe in using a subtle touch when it comes to geometry though. Repeated strong forms like the square or the circle can get heavy-handed very quickly. Geometry is best when it is well buried within the architecture, read at a subconscious level by its users. Still, the resonant presence of true geometries can almost always be felt and elevates our experience of architecture. Some of the geometric and compositional elements we use are axis, symmetry, balance, rhythm, the golden section and repeating proportions.

GEOMETRY

Geometry can help to organize and inspire architecture. We believe in using a subtle touch when it comes to geometry though. Repeated strong forms like the square or the circle can get heavy-handed very quickly. Geometry is best when it is well buried within the architecture, read at a subconscious level by its users. Still, the resonant presence of true geometries can almost always be felt and elevates our experience of architecture. Some of the geometric and compositional elements we use are axis, symmetry, balance, rhythm, the golden section and repeating proportions.

Old is New

Ivy Residence

On the corner

Park Boulevard

Rehabilitation

California Street

Kitchen and Loft

Pixelated Cloud

Ninth Street