Homeowner’s Guide: Are Permits Necessary Protection or just Bureaucratic Red Tape?
Most homeowners don’t think about permits until they’re well into a renovation or worse, dealing with the aftermath of skipping one. Are permits just another way for cities to collect money, or do they actually…
San Francisco Building 12’s Bold Move to Combat Rising Sea Levels
Located in San Francisco, Building 12 is an iconic landmark that reflects the city’s industrial past while embracing a future shaped by climate resilience. Once a bustling shipyard, this 84-year old building played a crucial…
Debunking the Myths of Mass Timber Construction
Mass timber, an emerging technology in sustainable construction, is transforming climate-conscious design. It includes engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam. These are made by bonding smaller pieces of wood together resulting in…
Reducing Embodied Carbon: Why Adaptive Reuse Matters
“The greenest building is the one that already exists”, Carl Elefante. Just like materials can be reused, so can buildings; why demolish when you can transform. Adaptive reuse of old buildings is not a new…
Is Biophilic Design Sustainable
This is a modern office space with two different design ideas. One side of the room is characterized by large windows that offer a view of a lush green garden and allowing abundant natural light…
Designing Experiential Value of a Place
“I’m in a festive mood today, I should go to that community center. I feel so excited when I’m there”, says one. Another says, “ I feel distressed; some peace and calm will be nice.…
Experiential Value of a Place
We all have that go-to place, which makes us feel good, and we like its vibe. But what is it that we want to describe about the place by words ‘feel good’ and ‘vibe’. Is…
The Experiential Value of Architecture: Where Form Meets Function
‘Form’ or ‘Function’ is a question often discussed in the field of Architecture. But what if the argument is based on the wrong premises. What if we’ve misunderstood what Sullivan meant with Form follows Function…
Built Basics 