Archive for 'Work/News'

KA Connect 2011

Mark English recently spoke about the use of Social Media in a small architectural practice during the KA Connect 2011 conference held in San Francisco. KA Connect is a community of AEC professionals driven to transform the way the industry creates, captures, and shares knowledge.

Thursday, June 09, 2011 | Mark English, AIA | Add a Comment

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Modern Pied-a-Terre

A project from Mark English Architects was recently picked up on both The Contemporist and Houzz.com. Over a year and a half, Mark English and associates Greg Corbett and Sloan Kelly, transformed this upper storey apartment from a humdrum 1960s shoebox into an oval-shaped theatrical experience – sexy and elegant. Interior designer Gary Hutton chose the furnishings that perfectly complemented the architecture.

(Photo by Matthew Millman)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 | Rebecca Firestone | Add a Comment

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Ask an Architect at Miele’s San Francisco Showroom

You’ve been dreaming about expanding your home for years now, but haven’t committed yourself to working with an architect to explore what could happen. Or maybe you’re just curious about what architects actually do. Now’s your chance to ask all the questions you want, with no obligation – and take a cooking class on Miele’s state-of-the-art equipment at the same time.

Monday, January 17, 2011 | Rebecca Firestone | Add a Comment

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Squinting at the Light at the End of the Tunnel

This is the time of year when wealthy individuals begin to consult with their accountants and financial advisers to assess how their investments have performed in the past 12 months. Although financial advisers are rarely advocates for spending, this year may reveal a modest exception.

A few potential clients with recovered investment capital are ready to allocate a bit of their money to re-boot dormant or deferred projects. These individuals are, just now, receiving news from their advisers. And these individuals may, in turn, begin to call you to revive dormant projects, or to discuss new projects that might begin in 2011.

Monday, December 06, 2010 | Michael Bernard | Add a Comment

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Design Alert: Potential China Scam

It sounded too good to be true – an invitation to build a large office tower and sustainable housing project in China. But when several architects discovered that they’d signed on for the same identical piece of work, everyone smelled a rat. No one has lost much money, yet. So the mystery is, why?

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 | Rebecca Firestone | Add a Comment

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LA Modern House Tour in Los Altos Celebrates Richard Neutra

Coming up on Saturday, October 16 from 10-3pm is a special event for fans of Modernism – the 2010 “LA Modern” homes tour sponsored by the Los Altos Community Foundation. The upcoming tour includes several California Modern homes besides the Neutra house designed in the same spirit: light, airy, rigorous and clean, with an acceptance of natural materials as well as modern industrial techniques.

Monday, September 27, 2010 | Rebecca Firestone | Add a Comment

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Re-structuring Your Design Firm During a Recession

“In this prolonged recession, we have two choices, it seems: We can hibernate for a number of years, like Rip Van Winkle, waking conveniently to a new world. Or we can make the time to consider new business development strategies that highlight our firm’s value and that put us closer to new projects. Concurrently, we can consider ways to improve our ability to stay abreast of trends in technology and practice.

The reality of global outsourcing is likely to change the nature of firms of every size. Our day-to-day tasks may shift from directing in-house staff to one where we review outsourced documents for design and code compliance. Can you fit in, and if so, how?”

Thursday, September 23, 2010 | Rebecca Firestone | Add a Comment

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Talk to an Architect on September 11-12

Have you ever wanted a chance to ask an architect about your home? Maybe you’ve got some new idea and want to know what’s involved in making it happen, or maybe there’s just one thing you’d like to change but you don’t know how. Well, if you live near San Francisco and you’re planning on doing the San Francisco Living: Home Tours, then you can also bring your photos, idea books, sketches, and questions to the “Talk to an Architect” booth at the Home Tours headquarters.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 | Rebecca Firestone | Add a Comment

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Billing and Client Communication

“We need to increase our value with our clients as service providers, and part of providing good service is to show a clear-headed understanding of money,” advises Michael Bernard. “Use the contract to convey established billing practice,” advises Bernard. “The contract is the memory of the project, with all parties signatory.”

What should be shown on the invoice? “Sometimes the owner gives us an invoice template,” says Bernard. “I attach this invoice to the sub-consultant agreement so that the sub-consultants can see how the information they provide to me is in turn provided to the client.”

Thursday, June 10, 2010 | Rebecca Firestone | Add a Comment

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