SERENDIPITY RISING: 2011

30 December 2011

STARTING THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG.....AND A JACK HAMMER

Peeling back years of alterations and reconfigures and now nearly down to its essence and ready to begin anew; this house project in Saint Helena is well underway. It is interesting to see the process in reverse, removing the skin and getting back down to the structure and then rebuilding the program and relationships of spaces. Views and volumes are opening up. Stay tuned.....

and best wishes for a healthy, happy, and very creative NEW YEAR!

04 December 2011

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

It is the thrill of the hunt. The realization/materialization of ideas stirred up in your head and then formed with hands with care. It is proportion, scale, material and texture and craftsmanship coming together to make something that was not there before and something that in some way sings. I believe that architecture is a language that speaks to you as you make it and also as you later experience it. Firmness, commodity and delight? Seems simple enough.

05 October 2011

TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

Momentum.....It is funny sometimes how a job delayed can wallow in some purgatory. And then the time comes to finish what you started and the energy that was denied re-ignites and is made whole. Had made this light fixture some time ago and had planned the bulb scheme but in the rush to get it hung had bypassed/put off some of the details. Now wired per intent it does the job and the light does shine brightly!

27 September 2011

AND SO IT BEGINS.....

SITE PLAN

EAST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

NORTH ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

The large strokes of the design are complete. The permit is in hand. Starting to rise in the hills above Napa is this family home. The site and the view are inspirations. The client and builder trainorbuilders.com are determined and inspired. Pieces and material from the old house will be re-used and find a new purpose.