Our First Step in design process after studying the Project’s context and its surroundings, was to define each and every activity that was supposed to happen in the building at any time of night and day in a list. With a close study on the list we have developed a design program. Afterwards with taking site climate, cultural context and privacy considerations into account, we have developed the program into a basis, shaping the general geometry of the building, considering structure and functionality. In design process we have avoided unnecessary details and formalism (form without meanings). This building seeks a strong sense of place in its context, and it because this notion, it builds a firm connection to its surroundings. SABA Apartment’s presence in its context is of a dynamic kind, both inspired and influencing its functionality affected by the resident’s lifestyle. In this building the resident is an actor featuring in a scenario written by the architect and is well-aware of his needs and lifestyle, fulfilling them in SABA Apartment. In this building the border between inside and out has been designed in response to the cultural context of Iranian traditions emphasizing on a bold separation between interiors and exteriors in order to achieve privacy. In addition with taking its cultural context into consideration, the design develops consonant to the contemporary architecture trends. This transnational approach results in both dynamism and variety in façade changing each time according to the resident’s needs. The dynamism and control over the façade by the residents of the SABA Apartment is the result of the borderless design, which we believe is with no doubt one of the most interesting trends in the world of contemporary architecture, creates a virtual space, bonding reality and fantasy all together.

Our First Step in design process after studying the Project’s context and its surroundings, was to define each and every activity that was supposed to happen in the building at any time of night and day in a list. With a close study on the list we have developed a design program. Afterwards with taking site climate, cultural context and privacy considerations into account, we have developed the program into a basis, shaping the general geometry of the building, considering structure and functionality. In design process we have avoided unnecessary details and formalism (form without meanings). This building seeks a strong sense of place in its context, and it because this notion, it builds a firm connection to its surroundings. SABA Apartment’s presence in its context is of a dynamic kind, both inspired and influencing its functionality affected by the resident’s lifestyle. In this building the resident is an actor featuring in a scenario written by the architect and is well-aware of his needs and lifestyle, fulfilling them in SABA Apartment. In this building the border between inside and out has been designed in response to the cultural context of Iranian traditions emphasizing on a bold separation between interiors and exteriors in order to achieve privacy. In addition with taking its cultural context into consideration, the design develops consonant to the contemporary architecture trends. This transnational approach results in both dynamism and variety in façade changing each time according to the resident’s needs. The dynamism and control over the façade by the residents of the SABA Apartment is the result of the borderless design, which we believe is with no doubt one of the most interesting trends in the world of contemporary architecture, creates a virtual space, bonding reality and fantasy all together.

This 5687 sf home was a major renovation including significant modifications to exterior and interior structural components, walls and foundations. Included were the addition of several multi slide exterior doors, windows, new patio cover structure with master deck, climate controlled wine room, master bath steam shower, 4 new gas fireplace appliances and the center piece- a cantilever structural steel staircase with custom wood handrail and treads. A complete demo down to drywall of all areas was performed excluding only the secondary baths, game room and laundry room where only the existing cabinets were kept and refinished. Some of the interior structural and partition walls were removed. All flooring, counter tops, shower walls, shower pans and tubs were removed and replaced. New cabinets in kitchen and main bar by Mid Continent. All other cabinetry was custom fabricated and some existing cabinets refinished. Counter tops consist of Quartz, granite and marble. Flooring is porcelain tile and marble throughout. Wall surfaces are porcelain tile, natural stacked stone and custom wood throughout. All drywall surfaces are floated to smooth wall finish. Many electrical upgrades including LED recessed can lighting, LED strip lighting under cabinets and ceiling tray lighting throughout. The front and rear yard was completely re landscaped including 2 gas fire features in the rear and a built in BBQ. The pool tile and plaster was refinished including all new concrete decking.

This custom, high-performance home was designed and built to a LEED for Homes Platinum rating, the highest rating given to homes when certified by the US Green Building Council. The house has been laid out to take maximum advantage of both passive and active solar energy, natural ventilation, low impact and recyclable materials, high efficiency lighting and controls, in a structure that is very simple and economical to build. The envelope of the house is designed to require a minimum amount of energy in order to live and use the home based on the lifestyle of the occupants. The home will have an innovative HVAC system that has been recently developed by engineers from the University of Illinois which uses considerably less energy than a conventional heating and cooling system and provides extremely high indoor air quality utilizing a CERV (conditioned energy recovery ventilation system) combined with a cost effective installation. Lawrence Smith

This family in Chatham has been an integral piece of our business development. We took great pleasure in constructing this bluestone patio for them. We used all blue bluestone tiles, all sized the same and laid in a herringbone pattern. The sitting walls were faced with cultured stone veneer and capped with 2" bluestone treads. The custom rectangular fireplace is all gas and has an auto-start control box concealed on the side. The lava rock and blue glass pebbles give the fireplace a cool and modern feel. We had the fireplace and curved sitting wall tops custom cut to achieve the perfect fit. We installed LED strip lighting below the sitting wall caps to provide night lighting. The built-in grill station received a Soho Grey quartz counters. The finished product is a beautiful and modern outdoor living space. We wish this amazing family a lot of good times using it and want to thank them for everything they've done for us! #GreatWorkForGreatPeople

This French/English country-style stone house and two timber-framed barns sit on a 100-acres with views of Mount Mansfield and the neighboring pastures. The shape and arrangement of the buildings develop a theme of embracing outdoor rooms and creating vistas. The stone house features solid stone window and door surrounds and a slate roof. A vaulted 2-story great room sits between the master suite wing and the south bedroom wing. The family room-kitchen area opens to a glass conservatory with a stone fireplace soaring above. A round breakfast nook nestles inside a turret. On the lower level is an indoor pool capped by a sky-filled conservatory. The house features advanced low-voltage controls and mechanical systems. An English style timber-framed car barn and woodshop comprise the inner driving court. The house features a super-insulated shell and high tech heating system. 17,500sf/1625m - 7 bdrm/double suite living + 4000sf/371 Car Barn + 3200sf/300m Wood Shop

This French/English country-style stone house and two timber-framed barns sit on a 100-acres with views of Mount Mansfield and the neighboring pastures. The shape and arrangement of the buildings develop a theme of embracing outdoor rooms and creating vistas. The stone house features solid stone window and door surrounds and a slate roof. A vaulted 2-story great room sits between the master suite wing and the south bedroom wing. The family room-kitchen area opens to a glass conservatory with a stone fireplace soaring above. A round breakfast nook nestles inside a turret. On the lower level is an indoor pool capped by a sky-filled conservatory. The house features advanced low-voltage controls and mechanical systems. An English style timber-framed car barn and woodshop comprise the inner driving court. The house features a super-insulated shell and high tech heating system. 17,500sf/1625m - 7 bdrm/double suite living + 4000sf/371 Car Barn + 3200sf/300m Wood Shop

This stunning home is located just above the beach in the desirable Rio Del Mar neighborhood in Aptos. My client poured her soul into the remodel which took the home down to studs. She has impeccable, contemporary taste and the home is a piece of art. We needed exquisite landscaping to tie the outside to the inside. Deeply contrasting and textural foliage-based design, copper gutters, and gorgeous light sconces now set off this contemporary gem. For the steep back hillside, we opted to do a hillside restoration and chose plants that existed in coastal terrace ecosystem prior to development. We removed tons of invasive iceplant and the whole hillside now buzzing with hummingbirds and pollinators, in addition to framing the ocean view with an undulating tapestry of plants. You can actually see spouting whales from the deck!

Second floor hall study with clerestory windows into hall bath. This custom, high-performance home was designed and built to a LEED for Homes Platinum rating, the highest rating given to homes when certified by the US Green Building Council. The house has been laid out to take maximum advantage of both passive and active solar energy, natural ventilation, low impact and recyclable materials, high efficiency lighting and controls, in a structure that is very simple and economical to build. The envelope of the house is designed to require a minimum amount of energy in order to live and use the home based on the lifestyle of the occupants. The home will have an innovative HVAC system that has been recently developed by engineers from the University of Illinois which uses considerably less energy than a conventional heating and cooling system and provides extremely high indoor air quality utilizing a CERV (conditioned energy recovery ventilation system) combined with a cost effective installation. Lawrence Smith Photography

This French/English country-style stone house and two timber-framed barns sit on a 100-acres with views of Mount Mansfield and the neighboring pastures. The shape and arrangement of the buildings develop a theme of embracing outdoor rooms and creating vistas. The stone house features solid stone window and door surrounds and a slate roof. A vaulted 2-story great room sits between the master suite wing and the south bedroom wing. The family room-kitchen area opens to a glass conservatory with a stone fireplace soaring above. A round breakfast nook nestles inside a turret. On the lower level is an indoor pool capped by a sky-filled conservatory. The house features advanced low-voltage controls and mechanical systems. An English style timber-framed car barn and woodshop comprise the inner driving court. The house features a super-insulated shell and high tech heating system. 17,500sf/1625m - 7 bdrm/double suite living + 4000sf/371 Car Barn + 3200sf/300m Wood Shop

A unique project just finished for homeowners in Maribel. A three car garage and “presentation” room with an indoor wheelchair ramp was added to an existing two-story home to meet the special needs of the residents. Braun’s residential designers worked with homeowners and Hardrath Improvements to develop a very detailed plan for the project. What resulted was a spacious, 3-stall heated garage with an extra large, wheelchair accessible floor area for safe, easy car loading/unloading. A temperature controlled connecting room with a wheelchair ramp was added between the garage and the house with an extra wide garage entry door, providing room-to-room access without ever having to be outside. Construction was completed by Hardrath Improvements. Braun Building Center provided the design blueprints, and products including all lumber, sheathing, trusses, GAF - Roofing, CertainTeed vinyl siding, Alliance windows, Waudena Millwork exterior doors, and Larson Storm Doors.

This French/English country-style stone house and two timber-framed barns sit on a 100-acres with views of Mount Mansfield and the neighboring pastures. The shape and arrangement of the buildings develop a theme of embracing outdoor rooms and creating vistas. The stone house features solid stone window and door surrounds and a slate roof. A vaulted 2-story great room sits between the master suite wing and the south bedroom wing. The family room-kitchen area opens to a glass conservatory with a stone fireplace soaring above. A round breakfast nook nestles inside a turret. On the lower level is an indoor pool capped by a sky-filled conservatory. The house features advanced low-voltage controls and mechanical systems. An English style timber-framed car barn and woodshop comprise the inner driving court. The house features a super-insulated shell and high tech heating system. 17,500sf/1625m - 7 bdrm/double suite living + 4000sf/371 Car Barn + 3200sf/300m Wood Shop

Shoreline WA Smart Pergola Design-Build Project Project Overview In Shoreline, WA, our team successfully completed a design-build project featuring a state-of-the-art smart pergola. This innovative outdoor structure was custom-designed to enhance the client's residential space, blending modern aesthetics with advanced technology to create a functional and luxurious backyard retreat. Scope of Work Design Phase: Collaborated with the client to develop a tailored pergola design that complemented the existing landscape and home architecture. Incorporated smart features such as automated louvered roofing, integrated lighting, and climate control systems. Construction: Executed a full build, including site preparation, foundation work, and pergola installation. Utilized high-quality, weather-resistant materials to ensure durability and low maintenance. Smart Technology Integration: Installed a user-friendly control system allowing remote operation of the pergola’s features via smartphone app or voice commands. Included adjustable slats for customizable shade and ventilation, as well as energy-efficient LED lighting for ambiance. Landscaping Integration: Coordinated with landscapers to seamlessly integrate the pergola into the surrounding environment, enhancing the outdoor living experience. Key Features Automated Louvered Roof: Adjustable slats for optimal sunlight and weather protection. Smart Controls: Wi-Fi-enabled system for remote management of lighting, louvers, and optional heating elements. Sustainable Design: Eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient components to minimize environmental impact. Aesthetic Appeal: Sleek, modern design with customizable finishes to match the client’s style. Outcome The Shoreline smart pergola project was completed on time and within budget, delivering a versatile outdoor space that the client can enjoy year-round. The integration of smart technology elevated the functionality, providing convenience and comfort while adding significant value to the property. The project received high praise for its craftsmanship, innovation, and seamless blend of form and function. Location Shoreline, WA Project Type Residential Design-Build

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

This family in Chatham has been an integral piece of our business development. We took great pleasure in constructing this bluestone patio for them. We used all blue bluestone tiles, all sized the same and laid in a herringbone pattern. The sitting walls were faced with cultured stone veneer and capped with 2" bluestone treads. The custom rectangular fireplace is all gas and has an auto-start control box concealed on the side. The lava rock and blue glass pebbles give the fireplace a cool and modern feel. We had the fireplace and curved sitting wall tops custom cut to achieve the perfect fit. We installed LED strip lighting below the sitting wall caps to provide night lighting. The built-in grill station received a Soho Grey quartz counters. The finished product is a beautiful and modern outdoor living space. We wish this amazing family a lot of good times using it and want to thank them for everything they've done for us! #GreatWorkForGreatPeople

A small backyard pond is a great way to turn a drab backyard into a relaxing oasis. As you can see from this small backyard pond project installed in Lancater, PA. This backyard pond project included installation of a Aquascape Ecosystem 8’x11′ Pond. The pond installation included low voltage underwater lighting and automatic dosing system. Automatic dosing systems help to maintain optimum water quality in your pond. Existing landscaping were the pond was to be installed was transplanted and reinstalled after pond construction was complete. The secret behind building a low maintenance water feature is to develop a working ecosystem in your pond. A mechanical skimmer filter on the left of this diagram holds your pump and skims the surface of debris. The pump then transfers the water through a flexible PVC pipe to the biological biofalls on the right. With the help of beneficial bacteria the biofalls will clean the water and return it to the pond via the waterfall. The plants and fish work together to control excessive algae blooms. The gravel unlike a smooth pond liner provide surface area for beneficial bacteria to break down organic waste on the pond floor.

This family in Chatham has been an integral piece of our business development. We took great pleasure in constructing this bluestone patio for them. We used all blue bluestone tiles, all sized the same and laid in a herringbone pattern. The sitting walls were faced with cultured stone veneer and capped with 2" bluestone treads. The custom rectangular fireplace is all gas and has an auto-start control box concealed on the side. The lava rock and blue glass pebbles give the fireplace a cool and modern feel. We had the fireplace and curved sitting wall tops custom cut to achieve the perfect fit. We installed LED strip lighting below the sitting wall caps to provide night lighting. The built-in grill station received a Soho Grey quartz counters. The finished product is a beautiful and modern outdoor living space. We wish this amazing family a lot of good times using it and want to thank them for everything they've done for us! #GreatWorkForGreatPeople