Building It: An Unheard-Of Housing Strategy
“The whole question about whether developers are greedy is irrelevant. The people leveling this charge aren’t honest. In Los Gatos and Lafayette, professionals making $250K a year are complaining about “greedy developers”. But they themselves are not producing anything tangible, like more housing. They are not contributing to the general welfare…”
– Sonja Trauss, BARF Founder
“Getting evicted is not the worst thing to happen – if you can easily find an equivalent place.”
– Laura Clark, Exective Director, GrowSF
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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David Ludwig: Artist, Architect, Tiny House Advocate
“Home is the nest we create for ourselves as a base for living. It provides us with safety and security – making a conscious and sub-conscious statement to ourselves and our community about our personal values… One is owned by one’s possessions when the acquisition, display, storage, and maintenance of possessions falls out of alignment with one’s self-image and life purpose.” (Photo: David Ludwig)
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Rock Whisperers: The Subtle Power of Incan Masonry
The Incas of the Andes had a special relationship with rock, which was key to their empire. Even today their masonry inspires awe, and perhaps fear. The Incas thought that rocks were people, with their own volition and personality. Inca stoneworks live on today, as monuments and often as foundations for later buildings.
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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David Winslow on the Guerrilla Urbanism of DIY Neighborhood Improvements
David Winslow of San Francisco’s City Planning Department talks about “living alleys” and walkable neighborhoods. “Home to me is a neighborhood where I can get basic needs met… Having a place to go outside of my own house… a corner cafe where they know me by name. It’s having public spaces that are functional and comfortable.” (Photo: green alley, Montreal, courtesy David Winslow)
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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Richard Rhodes: Master Stonemason Turns Sculptor
“Stone is one of the most uniquely expressive materials on the planet. As an artist, I strive to think through the material – classical training as a stone-carver gives a unique perspective, similar to doing my scales the way a pianist would. I consider myself a modernist now – but still grounded in a deep affection for, and knowledge of, the classics.” (Photo: Richard Rhodes)
by Rebecca Firestone with Mark English AIA
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The NEXT Conference: AIA San Francisco
Hosted in San Francisco, a city recognized as a leading hub for innovative design leaders and thinkers, AIASF NEXT is a great opportunity to showcase your cutting-edge ideas, projects, and practices that will impact the next generation of the architecture and design profession as well as the future of the built environment. Gathering the best […]
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Laguna Street Residence: A Victorian Re-envisioned
The Laguna Steet Residence by Mark English Architects is an extensive remodel and addition to an 1890’s Victorian home located in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood. The historically significant front facade was retained, and a modern home built within the existing shell
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Equity by Design Workshop at the AIA National Convention
At this years AIA Nation Convention to be held in Atlanta, Rosa Sheng and friends will be holding a half-day workshop inspired by the sold-out 2014 symposium, Equity by Design: Knowledge, Discussion, Action!
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Process: The Saratoga House
The Saratoga House, one of our current projects at Mark English Architects, first began its design development over two years ago. Understanding that having a new home designed and built is a big commitment, our clients wanted to take some time before making the final decision to move forward with the project.
