Located adjacent to Linden Park at 999 43rd street in Oakland, the property can be described as transitional on many levels. In the urban sense, the neighborhood remains somewhat edgy but is slowly absorbing some of the calming effects of gentrification. Although momentum has stalled somewhat since the economic downturn, recent re-occupation of two nearby warehouses, one as housing and one as a charter school, has contributed significantly to establishing a more hospitable and engaging character to the neighborhood. Living here remains a dynamic balance between embracing the community and maintaining privacy. Since this was intended as a live/work compound, the building needed to accommodate an office, a residence, as well as retain its workshop. It was a tight fit even for a bachelor—the living and dining room doubled as a meeting space and lounge for bL’s crew. Growth in the business and a diminishing enchantment with the 24hr comingling of my personal and professional lives compelled phase one of expansion. This took the form of a retired freezer shipping container which we transformed into an office located in the back lot. My personal office remained in the main building while other work stations migrated out back. A year later, marriage and imminent parenthood prompted a second, contiguous shipping container conversion. Practically speaking, this allowed adequate and varied space to compactly accommodate both family and business. Architecturally, the second container allowed the formation of layered inner courtyard that provides privacy without hermetically sealing us off from our neighbors. The container conversions are a significant part of extensive green building credentials. These include myriad reclaimed, non-toxic and sustainably sourced materials and a solar thermal system servicing both domestic hot water and hydronic heating. In 2008, Build It Green featured the property on a green home tour. Aside from the container additions, we have stayed within the bounds of the existing building envelope. The process has been and continues to be one of discovery and dialogue; the proverbial Khanian brick in the form of a north Oakland warehouse.

Gorgeous two story transitional style custom home. This 5 bedroom, 4 bath, 2 car garage home is prairie meets modern style located in Orlando Florida. Fabulous curb appeal created by mixed elevation gable and shed roofing, covered front patio entrance incorporating brick walkway and natural wood colored square columns. The modern windows are straight lined and tinted and light gray exterior paint on a smooth stucco exterior add a clean and crisp modern element. Mature trees and well thought landscaping really warm the space and create a quaint and homey atmosphere.

Wyndham Beach House is the only Architecture house within Werribee South that has an attic floor. This attic floor brings the beautiful calming Wyndham Harbour view into the home. From the outside, it features cantilever and C-shaped Architecture form. Internally, full height doors with full height windows throughout instantly amplify the space. On the other hand, P-50 shadow-line all over give a fine touch to every corner. The highlight of this house laid on its floating stairs. Our Architect works intensively with the structural engineer in creating these stairs. Visually, each stair erected with only one side supported by tiny timber batten. They float from the ground floor right up to the attic floor, a total strand of 6.6m. Our Architect believes the good shall not be restrained inside the building. Hence, he reveals these stunning floating stairs from inside to outside through the continuous levels of full height windows. Overall, the design of the beach house is well articulated with material selection and placement. Thus, enhancing the various elements within the entire building.

This Westlake site posed several challenges that included managing a sloping lot and capturing the views of downtown Austin in specific locations on the lot, while staying within the height restrictions. The service and garages split in two, buffering the less private areas of the lot creating an inner courtyard. The ancillary rooms are organized around this court leading up to the entertaining areas. The main living areas serve as a transition to a private natural vegetative bluff on the North side. Breezeways and terraces connect the various outdoor living spaces feeding off the great room and dining, balancing natural light and summer breezes to the interior spaces. The private areas are located on the upper level, organized in an inverted “u”, maximizing the best views on the lot. The residence represents a programmatic collaboration of the clients’ needs and subdivision restrictions while engaging the unique features of the lot. Built by Butterfield Custom Homes Photography by Adam Steiner

This light neutral comes straight from the softest colors in nature, like sand and seashells. Use it as an understated accent, or for a whole house. Pearl Gray always feels elegant. On this project Smardbuild install 6'' exposure lap siding with Cedarmill finish. Hardie Arctic White trim with smooth finish install with hidden nails system, window header include Hardie 5.5'' Crown Molding. Project include cedar tong and grove porch ceiling custom stained, new Marvin windows, aluminum gutters system. Soffit and fascia system from James Hardie with Arctic White color smooth finish.

New front entry with new canopy cover. An existing mid-century ranch was given a new lease on life with a whole house remodel and addition. An existing sunken living room had the floor raised and the front entry was relocated to make room for a complete master suite. The roof/ceiling over the entry and stair was raised with multiple clerestory lights introducing light into the center of the home. Finally, a compartmentalized existing layout was converted to an open plan with the kitchen/dining/living areas sharing a common area at the back of the home.

Brick: Natchez Trace Floor Plan: Durand Elevation 3

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The brick color featured on this home is Oxmoor Valley. Please visit brick.com for availability in your area. © 2012 Acme Brick Company

Donna Griffith http://www.donnagriffith.com/

Modern mountain aesthetic in this fully exposed custom designed ranch. Exterior brings together lap siding and stone veneer accents with welcoming timber columns and entry truss. Garage door covered with standing seam metal roof supported by brackets. Large timber columns and beams support a rear covered screened porch. (Ryan Hainey)

Jim Somerset Photography

Tony Gallagher Photography

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.