Nestled amidst a neighborhood of single story bungalows in Venice, California, the Solar Umbrella Residence boldly establishes a precedent for the next generation of California modernist architecture. Located on a 41’ wide x 100’-0” long through lot, the Solar Umbrella addition transforms the architects’ existing 650 square foot bungalow into a 1900 square foot residence equipped for responsible living in the twenty-first century. Inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House of 1953, the Solar Umbrella provides a contemporary reinvention of the solar canopy—a strategy that provides thermal protection in climates with intense exposures. In establishing the program for their residence, which accommodates the couple and their one child chose to integrate into the design, principles of sustainability that they strive to achieve in their own practice. The architects carefully considered the entire site, taking advantage of as many opportunities for sustainable living as possible. Passive and active solar design strategies render the residence 100% energy neutral. Recycled, renewable, and high performance materials and products are specified throughout. Hardscape and landscape treatments are considered for their aesthetic and actual impact on the land. The Brooks Scarpa Residence elegantly crafts each of these strategies and materials, exploiting the potential for performance and sensibility while achieving a rich and interesting sensory and aesthetic experience.

Nestled amidst a neighborhood of single story bungalows in Venice, California, the Solar Umbrella Residence boldly establishes a precedent for the next generation of California modernist architecture. Located on a 41’ wide x 100’-0” long through lot, the Solar Umbrella addition transforms the architects’ existing 650 square foot bungalow into a 1900 square foot residence equipped for responsible living in the twenty-first century. Inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House of 1953, the Solar Umbrella provides a contemporary reinvention of the solar canopy—a strategy that provides thermal protection in climates with intense exposures. In establishing the program for their residence, which accommodates the couple and their one child chose to integrate into the design, principles of sustainability that they strive to achieve in their own practice. The architects carefully considered the entire site, taking advantage of as many opportunities for sustainable living as possible. Passive and active solar design strategies render the residence 100% energy neutral. Recycled, renewable, and high performance materials and products are specified throughout. Hardscape and landscape treatments are considered for their aesthetic and actual impact on the land. The Brooks Scarpa Residence elegantly crafts each of these strategies and materials, exploiting the potential for performance and sensibility while achieving a rich and interesting sensory and aesthetic experience.

A tiny Cambridge garden was a blank slate after renovation of the house which needed foundation overhaul, leaving the site barren and criss-crossed with utilities, easements, and constraints. The client needed basement access, trash and bike storage, utility access, a private sitting area in the rear with access to the kitchen, and temporary parking which needed to be partially hidden from the road per neighborhood guidelines. We employed several small space strategies to shoehorn this complex program into a very small city lot, proving once again that there are no small projects. Columnar trees provide a scrim that brings the tall house into scale with the narrow walkway to the rear neighbor. Tight hedging provides a low privacy screen for the sitting area. Small statured evergreens for the corner of the lot and to screen utilities but ensure that mature growth will not overtake the space. A layered corner planting provides year round interest and seasonal color. Dry shade perennials keep water use down and protect the basement from foundation planting overwatering. A team of skilled artisans helped with various aspects of the job, including stonework by Christophe Peter Stonework, planting by ZEN Associates, Inc., Fence and carpentry by McDonough Fence, trash enclosure by The Carpentry Shop Co., General Contracting by Jonny Clifford of White Sands Construction Company, outside paint color and house light fixtures by Phillip Miller, Metal work by Joseph Mirabile, Maintenance by ZEN Associates, Inc.

Nestled amidst a neighborhood of single story bungalows in Venice, California, the Solar Umbrella Residence boldly establishes a precedent for the next generation of California modernist architecture. Located on a 41’ wide x 100’-0” long through lot, the Solar Umbrella addition transforms the architects’ existing 650 square foot bungalow into a 1900 square foot residence equipped for responsible living in the twenty-first century. Inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House of 1953, the Solar Umbrella provides a contemporary reinvention of the solar canopy—a strategy that provides thermal protection in climates with intense exposures. In establishing the program for their residence, which accommodates the couple and their one child chose to integrate into the design, principles of sustainability that they strive to achieve in their own practice. The architects carefully considered the entire site, taking advantage of as many opportunities for sustainable living as possible. Passive and active solar design strategies render the residence 100% energy neutral. Recycled, renewable, and high performance materials and products are specified throughout. Hardscape and landscape treatments are considered for their aesthetic and actual impact on the land. The Brooks Scarpa Residence elegantly crafts each of these strategies and materials, exploiting the potential for performance and sensibility while achieving a rich and interesting sensory and aesthetic experience.

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

Acton, MA 2008 sq ft varies Visioning, programming, concept design, schematic design, construction documentation and construction administration The HingeHouse project was the result of a unique partnership between an independent architect and a pre-fabricated home manufacturer – a partnership among the first of its kind in the country. Today, many pre-fab companies have adopted this collaborative approach recognizing that homeowners are looking for unique, custom homes while taking advantage of reliable and predictable construction methods and costs. In 2008, the partnership was created to rethink pre-engineered post-and-beam and panelized systems to connect clients to a more modern and integrated set of design values. By integrating systems, factory design approach, manufacturing methodologies and construction sequences with design criteria grounded in sustainable planning and rigorous implementation, HingeHouse was developed. HingeHouse is a fully-customizable pre-fab home which can be configured to meet the needs of any site, and any family. It is flexible and expandable using Deck House engineered building components. Starting with basic floor plans that are optimized spatially to Deck’s standard components, the living spaces are rotated around a "hinge” point. This design solution addresses the limitations and challenges of a particular site, while highlighting the best aspects of it. HingeHouse considers passive solar orientation depending on where the home is placed on the site and how it is “hinged”. It provides for maximum cross-ventilation from prevailing winds, preserves existing site formations and trees, and works on sloping grades. It addresses specific desired views while mitigating unwanted adjacencies, and provides great flexibility for entry sequences. HingeHouse uses Deck’s standard sloped roof post-and-beam component system to create a lyrical, light-filled home. The western red cedar exterior is sculptural and dynamic. Interior spaces are lofty, with great view potential using Deck’s own custom-made mahogany windows. The “hinge” of the home, where the two building forms come together, has the added benefit of creating a desirable outdoor living room, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The "hinge” provides both a tool for maximizing customization and spatial orientation and a center of activity at the heart of the home. Since this partnership in 2008, Maryann Thompson Architects and MATHISON | MATHISON ARCHITECTS have worked with Acorn Deck House Company on numerous full or partial pre-fab projects in the Boston Area, Western Massachusetts, Maryland and Michigan. We have become an advocate for their services and products because it offers advantages on a variety of levels including schedule, cost and quality. Services provided included visioning, programming, concept design, schematic design, construction documentation and construction administration. Evan’s Role: Project Designer & Project Manager

This renovation project updates an existing New York 1920s apartment with a modern sensibility. Replacing the cellular pre-war layout of the central spaces with a built-in walnut credenza and white lacquer side board effectively opens the plan to create a unified and spacious living area. The back side of the full-height dining room side-board screens views from the entrance foyer. The modern design of the new built-ins at center of the space is balanced by perimeter radiator covers and a full-height bookshelf which work with the period trim detail. The new kitchen has been relocated to open directly onto the dining room, and features a long, solid mahogany island serving counter. An operable white lacquer and translucent glass partition pulls out from behind a concealed panel to separate the two rooms, providing flexibility for both casual and formal arrangements. The relocation of the kitchen allows for the addition of a small private study, and a powder room, both absent from the original layout. Photography: Mikiko Kikuyama

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

Acton, MA 2008 sq ft varies Visioning, programming, concept design, schematic design, construction documentation and construction administration The HingeHouse project was the result of a unique partnership between an independent architect and a pre-fabricated home manufacturer – a partnership among the first of its kind in the country. Today, many pre-fab companies have adopted this collaborative approach recognizing that homeowners are looking for unique, custom homes while taking advantage of reliable and predictable construction methods and costs. In 2008, the partnership was created to rethink pre-engineered post-and-beam and panelized systems to connect clients to a more modern and integrated set of design values. By integrating systems, factory design approach, manufacturing methodologies and construction sequences with design criteria grounded in sustainable planning and rigorous implementation, HingeHouse was developed. HingeHouse is a fully-customizable pre-fab home which can be configured to meet the needs of any site, and any family. It is flexible and expandable using Deck House engineered building components. Starting with basic floor plans that are optimized spatially to Deck’s standard components, the living spaces are rotated around a "hinge” point. This design solution addresses the limitations and challenges of a particular site, while highlighting the best aspects of it. HingeHouse considers passive solar orientation depending on where the home is placed on the site and how it is “hinged”. It provides for maximum cross-ventilation from prevailing winds, preserves existing site formations and trees, and works on sloping grades. It addresses specific desired views while mitigating unwanted adjacencies, and provides great flexibility for entry sequences. HingeHouse uses Deck’s standard sloped roof post-and-beam component system to create a lyrical, light-filled home. The western red cedar exterior is sculptural and dynamic. Interior spaces are lofty, with great view potential using Deck’s own custom-made mahogany windows. The “hinge” of the home, where the two building forms come together, has the added benefit of creating a desirable outdoor living room, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The "hinge” provides both a tool for maximizing customization and spatial orientation and a center of activity at the heart of the home. Since this partnership in 2008, Maryann Thompson Architects and MATHISON | MATHISON ARCHITECTS have worked with Acorn Deck House Company on numerous full or partial pre-fab projects in the Boston Area, Western Massachusetts, Maryland and Michigan. We have become an advocate for their services and products because it offers advantages on a variety of levels including schedule, cost and quality. Services provided included visioning, programming, concept design, schematic design, construction documentation and construction administration. Evan’s Role: Project Designer & Project Manager

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

Nestled amidst a neighborhood of single story bungalows in Venice, California, the Solar Umbrella Residence boldly establishes a precedent for the next generation of California modernist architecture. Located on a 41’ wide x 100’-0” long through lot, the Solar Umbrella addition transforms the architects’ existing 650 square foot bungalow into a 1900 square foot residence equipped for responsible living in the twenty-first century. Inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House of 1953, the Solar Umbrella provides a contemporary reinvention of the solar canopy—a strategy that provides thermal protection in climates with intense exposures. In establishing the program for their residence, which accommodates the couple and their one child chose to integrate into the design, principles of sustainability that they strive to achieve in their own practice. The architects carefully considered the entire site, taking advantage of as many opportunities for sustainable living as possible. Passive and active solar design strategies render the residence 100% energy neutral. Recycled, renewable, and high performance materials and products are specified throughout. Hardscape and landscape treatments are considered for their aesthetic and actual impact on the land. The Brooks Scarpa Residence elegantly crafts each of these strategies and materials, exploiting the potential for performance and sensibility while achieving a rich and interesting sensory and aesthetic experience.

This 2,500 square foot “studio” is located in a neighborhood bisected by alleys and containing charming remnants of indigenous outbuildings common to the region. The desire was to create a clean, open, contemporary interior in a building that outwardly referenced its context. The primary form of the house took shape from the long, narrow lot. On the north end, which faces an alley, a patinated clad steel structure forms a canopy for the entry. This carefully scaled “cabin”, raised above the upper level to access a glimpse of the mountains, pays homage to the many sheds lining the alley. The south end features a terrace above the garage that is an extension of the primary interior space. The masonry west wall of the building provides privacy from the adjacent lot. This functional “spine” contains program elements on both levels and is visible internally and externally. A gently curved wall provides continuity between the floors and shields a bathroom and dressing area. This wall stops short of the ceiling, allowing the uninterrupted plane of maple veneer plywood to form a canopy unifying the spaces. A.I.A. Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Honor 2004

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

Park Landscaping is pleased to offer an exciting option to those clients who are handy and looking to take on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project this year! It’s called our “Dealer Assist” program. We provide you with all the materials necessary to do a self-install; we can do all the plumbing and electrical if requested by the client; we provide all of the blueprints and answer all of your questions throughout the duration of your project. We can provide you with guided assistance but you get to do your own install, saving you money on labor costs, but holding your hand along the way, where and when requested. Of course, we are certainly available to assist you with the actual install as well on an hourly basis. This is your project – you decide how much assistance you would like to have from us! You will receive the highest quality products and materials for your project. Take on a DIY project this summer with assistance from Park Landscaping! Do that “thing” you have wanted to do in your backyard for so long with quality materials from Park Landscaping! We are always here to help. See the attached pictures sent to us by a client who recently completed his own DIY project. We provided our client with all of the materials necessary to complete this sunken spa oasis. In this case, we also did all of the plumbing, and of course, provided the blueprints and were available for any questions throughout the install process. We think our client did a fabulous job on his DIY project and we are excited to show it off! Congrats on a job well done, Paul!

This house was designed for a couple and their son. One of the design program requirements was to have two master suites on the main level. They enjoy cooking and entertaining so the public and food prep. areas are functional, attractive and conducive to people gathering around. Consequently, the square footage of the main level is large. The house is also on a very steep slope which didn't help with the required footprint. In order to minimize the related costs of building with this site condition, the footprint of the house is long and not deep as it reaches down the slope. The scale of the existing homes in the neighborhood are unimposing. In order to play down the size as viewed from the street, the facade is broken up into several different masses with low sloping roofs. Once you're inside, the house opens up with 14 foot ceilings in the entry and living areas. The ceiling height of other spaces on the main level are 10 feet. Universal design was implemented on the main level to provide inherent accessibility for everyone. The lower level accommodates several guest rooms and baths, an exercise room, a guest den with wet bar and a man cave. Another design program requirement was to make the house as maintenance-free as possible. Exterior materials include stucco, Pennsylvania Blue Stone and a new aluminum siding product called Longboard. The siding comes in many wood grain finishes and to everyone that has seen it, they think it's real wood. It's also made from heavy gauge aluminum so it doesn't ding like traditional aluminum siding. The roofs are metal standing seam. The house is energy efficient. It's fully insulated with spray foam insulation-lots of it. The exterior walls were designed with 2x6 studs and roof rafters are 2x12 to provide plenty of space for the insulation, exceeding the required R-values. Windows and doors of course are energy efficient as well. All lighting is LED. The decking around the exterior is locust, a very hard native wood which is naturally insect and rot resistant. The best part of the whole project are the owners who love their new home. They initially had plans to live in this house during the summer months and Florida during the winter. They are now seriously considering living here full-time.