Archive by Author
Allison Arieff: Urbanism and Bay Area Housing
“Instead of stopping new housing, we should be focusing on better neighborhood planning, better integration of housing near jobs and transit and better programs for creating economic opportunity… A city shouldn’t bend over backwards to let a company come in and add thousands of new jobs without both parties working to figure out how to house those thousands.”
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Beaux Arts Fantastic
This exquisite, wearable scale replica of the San Francisco Civic Center was conceived and completed as a collaborative effort in under 3 weeks. “The mere thought of showing up to the ball with just a nice dress and a mask wouldn’t do… We wanted to challenge other designers to do more of this at next year’s Beaux Arts Ball,” said the team. “We did this to showcase our abilities to think outside of the box, and show our peers and colleagues what teamwork can really do. We enjoy what we do, we like who we are. Our team has the right combination of creativity and heart.”
(Image courtesy of Unisource Solutions)
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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MASP: A Brazilian Masterpiece
Mark English on Lina Bo Bardi:
“Her building is one of a kind… heroically sized in every way: the biggest span, the most prominent location. It’s a brave building, amazing and gutsy.… I don’t like overly designed, overly gestured work. In MASP, the building has a sweeping sense of movement, but also a neutral feel. The art is the star, not the building.”
(Image: Mark English Architects)
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Inclination and Evolution: A Stair Design
This central staircase rail went from glass, to steel, and back to glass again, in a design transformation aided by hand sketches, computer renders, and actual as-built appearance at the job site. Image: Mark English Architects
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Desert Modern Walking Tour: Palm Springs
The simplicity of Desert Modern architecture finds a natural home in Palm Springs, California. Image: Mark English Architects
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Skylight Case Study
Late-breaking waterproofing concerns arise on a job site, after construction is already underway. The power of hand drawing aids in a quick exploration of a crucial building detail, avoiding potentially costly change orders down the road. Image: Mark English Architects
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Sao Paulo, Brazil: Modern Buildings and Climate
In countries where energy costs are high, buildings rely less on high-tech conditioning and more on simple features such as brise soleil to create natural shade. The Modernist gems of Sao Paulo show how climate response can be both inspirational and livable. Image: Ciccillo Matarazzo pavilion, Mark English Architects
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Understanding Complexity at a Glance: Hand Drawing as Tool for Technical Communication
Hand drawing is not just a holdover from architecture’s pre-digital past. Even today, hand-drawn sketches are an indispensable tool for communication, problem-solving, and rapid exploration of new ideas. Greg Corbett, Architect at Mark English Architects, shares hand drawing techniques for creating 3D illustrations during project development.
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Craig Hamburg: Developer, Citizen, Urbanist
“I’m disappointed that housing is so often treated strictly as a commodity… Designs should be impactful, not relying on cheap materials or bloated buildings. Developers aren’t the same as speculators. Developers are in it for the long-term…
“Context matters, too. My vision for San Francisco is to have great public transportation with higher density around the transit hubs, and get more cars off the road.”
(Photo: 400 Grove St., San Francisco by DDG, design by Fougeron Architecture)
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
