This year round two-family cottage is comprised of seven modules which required just 25 days to construct in an off-site facility. When assembled, these prefabricated units form a building that is 38 metres long but less than 5 metres wide. The length offers a variety of living spaces while the constricted width maintains a level of intimacy and affords views of the lake from every room. Sited along a north-south axis, the cottage sits obliquely on a ridge. Each of the three levels has a point of access at grade. The shared living spaces are entered from the top of the ridge with the sleeping spaces a level below. Facing the lake, the east elevation consists entirely of sliding glass doors and provides every room with access to the forest or balconies. Materials fall into two categories: reflective surfaces – glazing and mirror, and those with a muted colouration – unfinished cedar, zinc cladding, and galvanized steel. The objective is to visually push the structure into the background. Photos by Tom Arban

Paterson of Oldmeldrum masterfully transformed a challenging turret space into a luxurious bespoke whisky room. This custom design required extensive planning, utilising SketchUp to visualise the final result. The 2.2-meter diameter turret, previously a cramped entrance, demanded creative bespoke furniture solutions. We meticulously crafted curved and radial units from natural oak, recreating the space in our workshop to ensure a perfect fit. The intricate project included integrated lighting provisions, with concealed cable pathways. After manufacturing, the entire installation was lacquered for a flawless finish. On-site installation required exceptional precision, with our team expertly adjusting the units to fit within a 2-millimeter tolerance. This luxury room design showcases our expertise in bespoke craftsmanship and fitted furniture, demonstrating our ability to overcome complex spatial challenges. The whisky room now serves as a stunning focal point, highlighting our dedication to quality craftsmanship and client satisfaction.

The La Calandria residence is a custom home situated in the heart of Los Angeles with views spanning all the way to Pasadena. The 2,234 square foot home has modern aesthetics including spanning views of the skyline below and consists of 4 spacious bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. Our client proposed two adjacent homes on a downslope lot which required various civil and structural engineering services. Our structural design team designed the hillside home on piles which included permanent shoring techniques that saved the client a substantial amount of money by not resorting to temporary shoring which can add time and cost to the project pipeline. The stormwater on the site was managed and directed to Low Impact Development flow-thru planters which are required in the city of Los Angeles whenever you are adding or proposing over 500 sqft of construction. The planters serve as a filter for contaminants in the stormwater and are beneficial for recharging the ground water system. Whether you are entertaining a group of friends on the roof top deck or below in the garden, the La Calandria residence is a perfect fit for those wanting the peace of a hillside home while catching any of the major freeways within minutes.

The La Calandria residence is a custom home situated in the heart of Los Angeles with views spanning all the way to Pasadena. The 2,234 square foot home has modern aesthetics including spanning views of the skyline below and consists of 4 spacious bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. Our client proposed two adjacent homes on a downslope lot which required various civil and structural engineering services. Our structural design team designed the hillside home on piles which included permanent shoring techniques that saved the client a substantial amount of money by not resorting to temporary shoring which can add time and cost to the project pipeline. The stormwater on the site was managed and directed to Low Impact Development flow-thru planters which are required in the city of Los Angeles whenever you are adding or proposing over 500 sqft of construction. The planters serve as a filter for contaminants in the stormwater and are beneficial for recharging the ground water system. Whether you are entertaining a group of friends on the roof top deck or below in the garden, the La Calandria residence is a perfect fit for those wanting the peace of a hillside home while catching any of the major freeways within minutes.

This year round two-family cottage is comprised of seven modules which required just 25 days to construct in an off-site facility. When assembled, these prefabricated units form a building that is 38 metres long but less than 5 metres wide. The length offers a variety of living spaces while the constricted width maintains a level of intimacy and affords views of the lake from every room. Sited along a north-south axis, the cottage sits obliquely on a ridge. Each of the three levels has a point of access at grade. The shared living spaces are entered from the top of the ridge with the sleeping spaces a level below. Facing the lake, the east elevation consists entirely of sliding glass doors and provides every room with access to the forest or balconies. Materials fall into two categories: reflective surfaces – glazing and mirror, and those with a muted colouration – unfinished cedar, zinc cladding, and galvanized steel. The objective is to visually push the structure into the background. Photos by Tom Arban

https://vimeo.com/185387134 is a video description of this project. The Urban Grapevine Project employs regenerative design principles to promote affordable living, not just affordable housing. This small community of 10 single family dwellings was designed to meet all 20 Imperatives of the Living Building Challenge. Energy efficient construction, lighting and appliances are combined with photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors to provide at least 105% of all power required by the residents. The form and density of dwellings are optimized to meet all potable water needs through an innovative rainwater collection, storage and filtration system. Graywater and onsite composting feed the permaculture-inspired landscape of community gardens and fruit trees, fostering a healthy sense of community and empowerment for the residents. The power, water, waste and urban agricultural elements are part of the site’s architectural expression, making the life-sustaining systems transparent to residents, neighbors and visitors. This reinforces the educational intent of Urban Grapevine as an integral part of a citywide network of sustainable community gardens.

Paterson of Oldmeldrum masterfully transformed a challenging turret space into a luxurious bespoke whisky room. This custom design required extensive planning, utilising SketchUp to visualise the final result. The 2.2-meter diameter turret, previously a cramped entrance, demanded creative bespoke furniture solutions. We meticulously crafted curved and radial units from natural oak, recreating the space in our workshop to ensure a perfect fit. The intricate project included integrated lighting provisions, with concealed cable pathways. After manufacturing, the entire installation was lacquered for a flawless finish. On-site installation required exceptional precision, with our team expertly adjusting the units to fit within a 2-millimeter tolerance. This luxury room design showcases our expertise in bespoke craftsmanship and fitted furniture, demonstrating our ability to overcome complex spatial challenges. The whisky room now serves as a stunning focal point, highlighting our dedication to quality craftsmanship and client satisfaction.

Paterson of Oldmeldrum masterfully transformed a challenging turret space into a luxurious bespoke whisky room. This custom design required extensive planning, utilising SketchUp to visualise the final result. The 2.2-meter diameter turret, previously a cramped entrance, demanded creative bespoke furniture solutions. We meticulously crafted curved and radial units from natural oak, recreating the space in our workshop to ensure a perfect fit. The intricate project included integrated lighting provisions, with concealed cable pathways. After manufacturing, the entire installation was lacquered for a flawless finish. On-site installation required exceptional precision, with our team expertly adjusting the units to fit within a 2-millimeter tolerance. This luxury room design showcases our expertise in bespoke craftsmanship and fitted furniture, demonstrating our ability to overcome complex spatial challenges. The whisky room now serves as a stunning focal point, highlighting our dedication to quality craftsmanship and client satisfaction.

https://vimeo.com/185387134 is a video description of this project. The Urban Grapevine Project employs regenerative design principles to promote affordable living, not just affordable housing. This small community of 10 single family dwellings was designed to meet all 20 Imperatives of the Living Building Challenge. Energy efficient construction, lighting and appliances are combined with photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors to provide at least 105% of all power required by the residents. The form and density of dwellings are optimized to meet all potable water needs through an innovative rainwater collection, storage and filtration system. Graywater and onsite composting feed the permaculture-inspired landscape of community gardens and fruit trees, fostering a healthy sense of community and empowerment for the residents. The power, water, waste and urban agricultural elements are part of the site’s architectural expression, making the life-sustaining systems transparent to residents, neighbors and visitors. This reinforces the educational intent of Urban Grapevine as an integral part of a citywide network of sustainable community gardens.

This year round two-family cottage is comprised of seven modules which required just 25 days to construct in an off-site facility. When assembled, these prefabricated units form a building that is 38 metres long but less than 5 metres wide. The length offers a variety of living spaces while the constricted width maintains a level of intimacy and affords views of the lake from every room. Sited along a north-south axis, the cottage sits obliquely on a ridge. Each of the three levels has a point of access at grade. The shared living spaces are entered from the top of the ridge with the sleeping spaces a level below. Facing the lake, the east elevation consists entirely of sliding glass doors and provides every room with access to the forest or balconies. Materials fall into two categories: reflective surfaces – glazing and mirror, and those with a muted colouration – unfinished cedar, zinc cladding, and galvanized steel. The objective is to visually push the structure into the background. Photos by Tom Arban

https://vimeo.com/185387134 is a video description of this project. The Urban Grapevine Project employs regenerative design principles to promote affordable living, not just affordable housing. This small community of 10 single family dwellings was designed to meet all 20 Imperatives of the Living Building Challenge. Energy efficient construction, lighting and appliances are combined with photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors to provide at least 105% of all power required by the residents. The form and density of dwellings are optimized to meet all potable water needs through an innovative rainwater collection, storage and filtration system. Graywater and onsite composting feed the permaculture-inspired landscape of community gardens and fruit trees, fostering a healthy sense of community and empowerment for the residents. The power, water, waste and urban agricultural elements are part of the site’s architectural expression, making the life-sustaining systems transparent to residents, neighbors and visitors. This reinforces the educational intent of Urban Grapevine as an integral part of a citywide network of sustainable community gardens.

Not only do ReAlta homes incorporate solar power and home automation, they also embody contemporary architecture rarely seen on the east coast. Cheslea Building Group approached TruGuard, looking for a contemporary exterior cladding that fit with their building techniques (in this case, low maintenance). James Hardie Artisan V-Groove and Nichiha VintageWood Fiber Cement immediately came to mind. The Artisan V-Groove is pre-primed and painted on site to fit with one of the pre-selected color palettes. The VintageWood on the other hand, comes in two pre-finished colors that mimic the natural beauty and texture of real wood without the maintenance requirements. Whatever your aesthetic needs, TruGuard can offer a variety of cladding solutions for your remodel or new construction home.

A 6,000 square foot 2-story new home complex in Milpitas was designed to facilitate the owners’ large business parties and gatherings, to have rooms for the kids to come back to upstairs, and a ground floor master suite with a huge walk-in closet. Several separate structures make up the dwelling: The main house, 3-car garage with carport for overflow parking, and a separate entertainment and recreation building separated by a courtyard from the main house. The business activities include gatherings in the hundreds of people, so parking was maximized and guests can flow in through a separate gate to party in the courtyard and recreation building. Inside this structure is a wet bar, billiard room, workout gym and home theater. The main house ground floor has formal and informal living rooms, open kitchen and master suite with views and expansive windows in every direction. The house is sited on the crestline of a hill with views of the San Francisco Bay and private golf course below. The indoor-outdoor aspect of the house is further accentuated with outside living and dining areas. High ceilings and expansive glass walls dissolve the sense of enclosure taking advantage of the site’s openness and privacy. The owner’s suite is downstairs in anticipation of aging-in-place, and upstairs there are three bedrooms and four bathrooms plus a sitting area lounge and casual TV loft area. The house sits on one acre at the top of a low hill range overlooking Milpitas. The city was very cognizant of the importance of keeping a low profile at this crestline and required extensive story poles and photo evidence of the proper height and siting so as not to be seen from certain selected vantage points. GENERAL CONTRACTOR: JCD Builders Inc. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Morf Chang Landscape Architecture / ODS Architecture PHOTOGRAPHS: Paul Dyer Photography

Mead features quality cabinetry from major manufacturers, including Custom Wood, Embassy, Omega, Merillat, Woodland Cabinetry, and Rushmore Countertops to provide our customers with an extensive selection of styles, options, and great craftsmanship. Customers can choose between cabinet door styles, wood types, and stain finishes, as well as our excellent selection of countertops, to find the look that will fit their style, home, and budget. Our professional sales and design personnel will be pleased to help you with the 20/20 computerized design, product selections, on-site measurements, and any other assistance the project requires. Meet with one of our associate's today to find the perfect cabinets and countertops for your kitchen, bath, den, study, great room, wet bar, laundry area, or wherever.

Foundation Wall Cracks Foundation wall cracks are the most common source of seepage in residential basements across CT and RI. Some of the common causes of these cracks are structure settling, concrete shrinkage or poor site conditions related to soil type and compaction, drainage or concrete strength. Most wall cracks are small in nature and typically pose no structural risk. Some horizontal cracks may reveal a more serious issue and may require crack repair from a structural engineer. Locating the cause of the problem and understanding the cracking pattern is the key to a successful repair. Our crack repair specialists are trained in many repair procedures.

Nestled against a densely mature growth of poplar, the metsä house employs a modernist vocabulary while being acutely sensitive to the site's natural landscape. Adhering to a rigourous design brief, the house was designed to be adaptable and resilient, and to reflect the homeowner's requirement for a high-performance home, while being attentive to the pristine setting. From the entry to the site, the house is slowly revealed through a stand of trees upon approach. The house aims to be warm, simple, clear, and open, with a palette of black accents, wood and concrete. A roof canopy extends outward to announce and provide shelter at the transparent main entry. Roof extensions provide shade and cover over outdoor amenities. The rear courtyard serves as a link to exterior activities between the various volumes. The home's program is divided into separate, modestly sized volumes that are expertly integrated between a grove of trees and a forest floor of natural and native plants. Private bedroom wings flank the central livng space and extend toward the forest to define an outdoor enclosure. :: thirdstone inc. ------------------ status: under construction

The Owners of a home that had been consumed by the moving dunes of Lake Michigan wanted a home that would not only stand the test of aesthetic time, but survive the vicissitudes of the environment. With the assistance of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as well as the consulting civil engineer and the City of Grand Haven Zoning Department, a soil stabilization site plan was developed based on raising the new home’s main floor elevation by almost three feet, implementing erosion studies, screen walls and planting indigenous, drought tolerant xeriscaping. The screen walls, as well as the low profile of the home and the use of sand trapping marrum beachgrass all help to create a wind shadow buffer around the home and reduce blowing sand erosion and accretion. The Owners wanted to minimize the stylistic baggage which consumes most “cottage” residences, and with the Architect created a home with simple lines focused on the view and the natural environment. Sustainable energy requirements on a budget directed the design decisions regarding the SIPs panel insulation, energy systems, roof shading, other insulation systems, lighting and detailing. Easily constructed and linear, the home harkens back to mid century modern pavilions with present day environmental sensitivities and harmony with the site. Photos by John Allegretti

The Owners of a home that had been consumed by the moving dunes of Lake Michigan wanted a home that would not only stand the test of aesthetic time, but survive the vicissitudes of the environment. With the assistance of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as well as the consulting civil engineer and the City of Grand Haven Zoning Department, a soil stabilization site plan was developed based on raising the new home’s main floor elevation by almost three feet, implementing erosion studies, screen walls and planting indigenous, drought tolerant xeriscaping. The screen walls, as well as the low profile of the home and the use of sand trapping marrum beachgrass all help to create a wind shadow buffer around the home and reduce blowing sand erosion and accretion. The Owners wanted to minimize the stylistic baggage which consumes most “cottage” residences, and with the Architect created a home with simple lines focused on the view and the natural environment. Sustainable energy requirements on a budget directed the design decisions regarding the SIPs panel insulation, energy systems, roof shading, other insulation systems, lighting and detailing. Easily constructed and linear, the home harkens back to mid century modern pavilions with present day environmental sensitivities and harmony with the site. James Yochum

The Rancho Estate provides a level of luxury that sets it apart from any residence in Los Angeles, breaking the record for the most expensive home ever sold in the Encino area. The Eden Group worked with the client to achieve all their development goals by providing integrated design and engineering services which developed concurrently achieving project milestones while staying within the construction budget. Our residential design team used modern aesthetics which entailed of design elements tailored to provide spacious and unparalleled views of the San Fernando Valley. Attracting a dream buyer is the most important aspect in the eyes of any real estate developer and that is why we chose two words to describe the amenities we incorporated into the design: Vast & Spectacular. The estate allows you to swim with infinite views, get your work out on at the indoor gym, shoot hoops with your friends in the indoor basketball court, go for a round of bowling with your child, chomp on popcorn in your theater, get a massage after the steam room at your private spa, putt a couple hole-in-ones, and if you get bored you can always choose to go for a ride from the collection inside your 16-car garage. Majestic high ceilings mixed wide span openings created a challenge for our engineers given the strict rules in the Baseline Hillside Ordinance and the California Building Code. Our structural engineers prepared innovative design plans which entailed of 150 deep pile foundations mixed with steel and laminated timber framing members. We also used permanent shoring techniques to reduce construction cost by eliminating the need for temporary shoring plans for both the structure foundation and on-site retaining walls. Given that California has some of the strictest stormwater management requirements and the total amount of non-permeable areas on this project, the client was required to construct a 35,000-gallon rain harvesting tank per the Low Impact Development Plan Best Management Practice (BMP’s) standards. Our specialized drainage design team captured all on-site stormwater through trench drains, area drains, and downspouts which routed water to a mechanical sump pump that connected to the storage tank for irrigation use later. Innovative design engineering techniques used on this project allowed for increased safety and sustainability making the Rancho Estate a masterpiece of contemporary construction.