Category Archives: Design Examples

From the Drawing Board: San Rafael Commercial Project

Here is a plan view of a commercial project we are working on in San Rafael. The existing walkways and patio spaces around the building needed to be expanded to better suit the use patterns of the space, and to update and improve the aesthetics of the property. In this working drawing we are exploring options for path and patio layouts, with suggestions for possible budget saving measures.

Client Design Feedback – Corte Madera Project

We are working on a design and installation project in Corte Madera, which had been through design iterations with a couple of other companies that didn’t fit the client’s needs for the project. The client’s decided to move forward with our design because of our client focused approach. Always nice to receive a note like this:
We spent some time last night looking at the design and both said ‘wow…yes, now we’re getting somewhere!’ I will spend some more time processing today to prepare for tomorrow, but clearly we are close and you have us on the right track. Thanks for taking the time to ask us what we want and then giving some time to process your work before our meeting on Friday. Impressive, this really helps.Thank you, thank you!
This intimate entry courtyard design focuses on cool tones with layers of ornamental grasses.

From the Drawing Board: Petaluma Drainage Plan

Here is a drainage plan for a project we are bidding on in Petaluma. We used the great information at Petaluma GIS. The GIS interface is an online digital mapping application for the whole city of Petaluma that shows building locations, parcel boundaries and contours. This type of information is very helpful for projects like this when we are trying to estimate larger distances or distances across one or multiple parcels.

The Benefits of Green Roofs

For all those homeowners considering garden roofs, this rapidly developing specialty of landscape construction offers many sustainable benefits beyond just the wow factor of directly integrating garden spaces into residential architecture. The reduction in many of the ongoing heating, cooling, and insulation costs can help pay for the added cost of a green roof installation.

There was a great article in this month’s Watershapes Magazine on roof gardens. It’s a good primer and background on green roof types and the additional insulation and HVAC benefits to the insulation green roofs provide. (Catch it before the end of this month with the free on-line version)

Below is a gallery of a recent roof garden in Tiburon. We worked with Caletti Jungsten Construction and Pedersen Landscape Architecture to create a green roof for this unqiue pool house. See more in our Garden with a View Portfolio.

Local GIS Mapping Resources

Geographic information systems, GIS, are a really valuable tool for planning projects. Most GIS applications available from local counties and cities are web-based interactive mapping applications that allow you to search for a property parcel and view key information like property boundaries, topo contour lines, utilities, and aerial photos. All the information is scaled and most aerial photos available are orthogonally corrected (corrected to display to scale and not be distorted by the earth’s curvature).

So what’s the utility of GIS in landscape projects? The information can help with laying out site plans, confirming information on existing plans, siting trees, buildings and other key features. Most of the applications available online are intuitive and easy to use.

Marin County
Marin Map (all of Marin County)

County of Marin GIS page

Napa County
Napa County GIS

Sonoma County
Sonoma County PRMD Active Map (for areas in unincorporated Sonoma County)

City of Petaluma GIS Portal

City of Santa Rosa GIS

For More:

GIS Article from Wikipedia
Listing of GIS sites from around the State

From the Drawing Board: San Rafael Planting Plan

Here is a planting design for a front yard in San Rafael that we are currently developing. The front yard design focuses on the front entrance gate and arbor. The yard is also shallow and to keep things in proper scale we focused on a deer resistant ornamental grasses and blooming perennials. The unique element all ready in place is a Hearts in San Francisco art piece that we used a focal point for the yard.

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(Click image to see larger version)

Case Study- Commercial Landscape Services

While the majority of the new work we construct focuses on custom residential landscape construction, about 25% of our projects are commercial landscape installation work. Commercial installations carry with them their own set of challenges. We find that our design-build approach and project management services are especially valuable in these situations where we can manage complex projects involving multiple subcontractors, tight budget constraints and the needs of multiple stakeholders and end users.

A good case study of our commercial construction process is the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in San Rafael where we completed a pool courtyard renovation last year. The pool area for the Sheraton was outdated and unusable. The management and management company wanted a more usable space to serve as a better gathering place in the central courtyard of the hotel, and a place where outdoor meals could be served from the restaurant on-site.

We developed a renovation plan for the space the incorporated a custom designed two sided gas fireplace, with a central shade arbor that tied into the existing architectural detailing and gave an anchor to the space. The result transformed the outdoor dining experience at the restaurant, better incorporated the pool area into the rest of the hotel use areas, and is one of the most popular areas for people to gather at night around the fireplace.

View our Sheraton Portfolio to see more before and after images and details on this project.

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Current Project- Fireplace & Outdoor Kitchen

Here is a current project in Napa for an outdoor fireplace and kitchen that is in construction. The design for this project really opened up a small backyard and brought the detailing and richness that was present inside the house to the landscape for a great outdoor living space.

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The outdoor kitchen countertop partially completed- angle iron steel reinforces the countertop to be installed.

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Layout of the outdoor kitchen counters and integrated Rumford Fireplace. The color coat of stucco and finish detailing have yet to be installed. See below for the design development details for the fireplace.
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From the Drawing Board- Arbor Detailing

Here is a quick sketch of a couple of detailing options for a wood arbor. Part of the appeal of a custom wood arbor is the variety of detailing that can be done to create a style that fits a project and can coordinate with the house architecture. In the sketch are two basic systems for framing an arbor- either using sandwiched beams around a main support post, or having the beam rest directly on the post.arb.jpg
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Elevation view of Arbor- Detail shows 3 tiered configuration of sandwiched main support with a curved secondary support and wood shade infill

From the Drawing Board- A Tough Planting Plan

Here is a planting scheme for a commercial/residential type project application we are working on in San Rafael. This project has a number of challenges- it is in a heavy deer area; there is heavy use and traffic in and around the planting areas; and the scheme needed to be as low maintenance and drought tolerant as possible. The solution we are working on utilizes a palette of deer resistant plants that are also very tough, yet still attractive. Ornamental grasses and New Zealand Flaxes are combined with resilient groundcovers like prostrate Rosemary and Manzanita to create a planting that satisfies these diverse requirements.

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Outdoor Rumford Fireplace

Here is a design detail and progress photo for an outdoor Rumford Fireplace we are working on finishing up in Tiburon. The shell of the fireplace has been constructed; now the finish tile borders around the hearth and tile cornice details are left to install, followed by a contrasing coat of stucco.

 

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rum2.JPGRumford fireplaces are modular units that are designed to be easy to install, and to project more heat into the space, instead of escaping up the chimney. More information is available at the Rumford Website.

From the Drawing Board- Street Interface

We are currently working on a project in Mill Valley, which as is commonly the case, has a very narrow roadway past the property. In such a compressed setting, screening and aesthetics are important design factors. In this design mock-up we use a combination of modular stone veneer from Rox-Pro, with front screening trees to refresh the front of this property.
 
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Are Fancy Public Spaces Worth the Money?

Looking at some recent covers of Landscape Architecture magazine, it lead me to ponder an interesting series of questions regarding the cost of public projects-

Yes, these designs and public spaces are beautiful and interesting design-wise, but are they worth the money to construct? Is it worth the money at Union Square in San Francisco to use stone paving instead of concrete? Is it worth the money to incorporate custom designed elements into a park or public space that cost much more because of their unique or custom nature? Would the public be better served by spreading tax dollars or other park funding sources thinner over a wider area? Should there be better funding of future maintenance of parks, rather than spending all the money on a fancy new installation that weathers poorly? If the choice is to install ten nice small parks in a city, or one avant gard fancy park, which benefits the community more?

A lot of the answers to these questions are wrapped up in machinations of politics, the way public works projects (or semi- public projects) are funded, the type of projects designers want to design (award winning and new), and our general public curiosity with new and interesting designs. All this does not mean that it is the best use financially, that this money provides us the most benefit publicly for the money invested. Public projects might benefit if these questions were examined upon funding of new park or public works project. And yet, these questions are asked, and design projects are heavily value-engineered to strip out expensive elements and keep down costs. In the end, the goal should be, which park is going to be serve the public and benefit the community. A subjective and difficult question to answer- if this is the central question or focus, does a landmark the Golden Gate Bridge get built?

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Are features, like this fountain in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Park, worth the high cost of installation and maintenance for the enhancements they provide to the park space?

 

 


America’s Favorite Buildings

 

An interesting poll from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Harris Poll found a number of buildings that are the public’s favorites, contrary to the tastes of many architectural critics. The Empire State Building was the favorite building, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was fifth, with many of Washington’s national monuments rounding out the top 10. The public had a less critical eye than many architects that pick their favorites, rating the Las Vegas Bellagio hotel in the top 25.

For More:
Story from Rueters