Our work with you begins by tuning into your needs, vision and decision-making rhythm, and getting to know each other and your property.
From the start we’ll promise to be curious, responsive and actively involved, to bring a thoughtful, balanced rigor to your project’s concept, design and details, and to be mindful of your site’s history and context.
Seasoned architecture professionals and enthusiasts, we offer you a full breadth of services to help you implement your goals of new construction, the enhancement of existing buildings, interior design and furnishings, and garden design. In working with us through the sequence of design, construction, procurement, and installation phases you will find that we bring a clear framework for understanding the process, which supports decision-making, budgeting and scheduling.
Our extensive record of streamlined, successful project approvals in communities all around the Bay should ease any concerns you may have. We initiate a strategy for your site that parallels each stage of the design process—handling any local complexities with patience, reason and a highly organized, collaborative approach that moves your project forward (…and a judicious dose of light-heartedness that keeps negotiations in perspective).
“They have a disciplined sensibility of approach to design and project approvals and were not willing to take face value answers that might limit the possibilities and keep us from achieving our goals. They continue to question from a technical design standpoint, and deftly maneuver your project through any issues.”
– Homeowner, Kentfield Remodel/Addition
“We’ve been through extremely challenging projects together and these two are very comfortable and adept at tackling it all…and they’re a joy to work alongside. From sizing up what challenges may lie ahead to painstaking care of the building and design during regulatory scrutiny, they make the process as easy as it can be. Through it all they are fantastic at the delicate balance of watching out for the clients’ needs while giving me the head room I need to do my best work, which allows our related designs to engage in a way everyone enjoys.”
Services
The typical phases of the architecture and design process are used to help organize the creative and documentation work. Each phase has a unique purpose in the overall process; in general, they occur sequentially, but it can be efficient to allow certain phases to overlap, especially at the latter phases. The duration of each phase varies depending on the complexity of the overall project, and you will be able to see the development of your design goals in the deliverables we present to you for approval with each step.
We’ve been providing architectural services since the day we opened our doors in 2006, and with excitement decided to enhance our services with interior design and garden design in 2020 and 2022 respectively. While nowadays we provide architectural, interior, and garden design services for most of our projects, not all of our projects have the need for interior or garden design scope, and thus, we offer these two services on an elective, as-needed basis. The following describes the process for all three scopes.
Programming
We start off envisioning and information collecting, to articulate a qualitative, realistic project program that will achieve your goals. We’ll spend time at your project site to collect and analyze feasibility information and perform a preliminary code and zoning analysis. And we’ll get organized for our work together, with tools including a preliminary project schedule, preliminary global budget, and help you choose the right team of consultants (structural engineer, etc.).
Schematic Design
Conceptual design on your project begins, taking what we’ve heard from you, together with the site and code information, to begin translating ideas into spaces, forms, and rough furniture layouts. We’ll present options to you for discussion and decision, with supporting information. We’ll also begin to discuss the appropriate team and budget to accomplish your goals, by helping select a pre-construction contractor for a preliminary pricing exercise.
Planning Approval
We are our clients’ advocate, with a strong track record of guiding projects through the planning approvals process successfully. Many, but not all projects require a planning approvals process by local governing agencies, which is sometimes challenging and/or a true exercise in patience. We do everything in our power to smooth the waters and diffuse stress for you in this phase.
Design Development
Once Planning Approval is complete, the project can now take real form as we develop your chosen design direction and guide you through a series of more detailed decisions. The first step is to take the overall look of the design to the next level of refinement, after which we delve into detailing—apportioning the layout, and honing-in on finish levels, material selections, plants, fabrics, and furnishings. With these decisions in place we coordinate the next round of work from your consultants.
Construction Documents & Building Permitting
This is the ‘heads down’ phase, when we are working hard to create the technical drawings and documents for your Building Permit Application and from which your contractor will begin to build, as well as coordinating the same from your consultants. After submitting for your building permit, we are on call to respond to any comments and clarification questions posed by agency officials, until your building permit is obtained.
Construction Contract Negotiation Support
At this time your selected contractor reviews the approved design along with the site information and decisions you’ve made to date and prepares their final construction budget and contract. We support this phase by ensuring that the team has a shared understanding of the design and project goals and assist you in negotiating your final construction contract.
Construction Administration
Construction begins. We continue our role as your guide from groundbreaking to move-in, and are on site regularly to co-host site meetings, act as your liaison with the contractor and consultants, oversee the project to make sure it’s being built per the design and specifications, and ensure that problems are addressed promptly and responsibly. Supporting the project as things progress, we help you understand the contractor’s requests for payment, continue to prepare detail drawings to assist the construction team with their work, and provide ongoing support with governing agencies as needed.
Furnishings Procurement & Installation
Simultaneously with the Construction Administration phase, we’ll begin procuring your selected furnishings so that everything can be in place on move-in day. We keep track of lead times, sequencing, storage, and organize final installation.
Garden Construction
Most often, construction and installation of your new garden will overlap only slightly with the tail end of the house construction process. This ensures that delicate new plantings remain safe from the heavier work of building construction and move-in. As with the Construction Administration phase described above, we remain in our role as your guide in coordinating with the construction team, ensuring the design is built per design.
Design for Wildfire Mitigation
Most of our projects are located in rural or Wildland Urban Interface zones, and over the years we’ve become expert in the field of wildfire-safe home design and planning. We understand smart detailing to minimize risk, and the available materials and technologies that help harden homes. We’ve also assisted clients with insurance company negotiations to realize optimal payout for building new homes post fire loss, helping ensure they can rebuild in the neighborhoods they love. Read more about wildfire-safe design in this interview with Andrew in the San Francisco Chronicle.