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.




CONCRETE SLAB FLOOR WITH HYDRONIC HEATING


THE BOARD FORMED CONCRETE COLUMNS LOOKING WEST


SLAB AND COLUMNS


LOOKING WEST


DETAIL OF BOARD FORMED CONCRETE COLUMNS


VIEW TO HOUSE FROM SITE OF POOL


DETAIL OF COLUMN FORMS
FUTURE CEMENT WASHED BBQ/OUTDOOR KITCHEN DOORS?


SOUTH WALL


FORMS ON COLUMNS


BEGINNING OF VIEW FROM OUTDOOR KITCHEN/DINING


VIEW OF ADJACENT VINEYARD JUST BEING PLANTED