The building shell is up, roughed-in and insulated. We are making the final tweaks before sheetrock but the sense of the space and its connection to the outside has taken shape. It is already exciting even without the sheetrock. the floor to ceiling glass of the large sliders gives you the impression that the building disappears at moments and the 10′ foot ceilings give the feeling of openness. Views to the outdoors and the natural light provided reinforce this.
The background, this is an addition to a small suburban home for a growing family. The intent was to create a modern living/dining/kitchen space with a strong outdoor connection to the yard while re-purposing the smaller more contained living room in the existing house to a master bedroom suite. efficient and cost effective.
In a part 2 of our saga, join us for a celebration of the art of Daniel Krasnor and the photography of Michael Bennett.
Michael photographed the latte stylings of Daniel Krasnor, a uniquely talented barrista with a repertoire of over 60 cappucino-top designs at our Easter event. We will be exhibiting those works and the spirit of the project presented by Levy Art & Architecture and Spin City Coffee.
A historic home in the heart of San Francisco maintains its traditional facade
A San Francisco row house was badly in need of a renovation. In addition, the owners wanted a more modern home for their growing family, and they wanted their house to meet its own energy needs plus those of an electric car. Although city preservation requirements limited the changes that could be made to the house’s Edwardian facade, architects Ross Levy and Karen Andersen found that they could give the facade a simple facelift while transforming the house behind it. Because row houses can feel cramped and dark, Levy and Andersen brought light inside and created the illusion of space with three strategies:
(1) defining spaces with details, not walls
(2) integrating glazing where it would have the most impact; and
(3) using a central stairway with a skylight at the top as a lightwell
They achieved net-zero energy use by insulating the roof with open-cell spray foam and the walls with an inch of closed-cell foam covered with fiberglass batts, making the house all-electric, and powering it with an 8kw photovoltaic array. A chart demonstrates the economics of this net-zero home and estimates the payback time for the energy-efficiency extras to be nine years. For its successful bonding of preservation with performance while also reflecting its owners’ lifestyle, this home is FHB’s remodel of the year for 2013.
Carlos Scarpa, the noted Italian Architect, said “to draw is to see.” Want he meant is that when we attempt to capture an image or an essence with a pen or pencil, we must observe it with far greater care than we regularly exercise, even when we think we are looking closely. Continue reading “Welcome”
Please join us for a celebration of spring, coffee, art and summer camp. This Easter morning event will feature the latte stylings of Daniel Krasnor, a uniquely talented barrista with a repertoire of over 60 cappucino-top designs. We will also be opening our gallery which is currently showing a selection of works by local artists. They have donated their talents in support of Emet Levy and his mitzvah project that benefits Camp Winnarainbow’s Grace and Joy Scholarship; all proceeds benefit the camp which is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit.
Finally we will host an Easter egg hunt for the little ones.
David Gottfried’s abstract acrylic paintings represent the unquenchable exploration that characterizes David’s life. Throughout his career, as the founder of the World Green Building Council, David has continuously worked to bring new consciousness to the impact humans have on our planet. His paintings are no different: they are infused with the same optimism and boldness that brought forth a green construction revolution and transformed over 100 countries.
Through his paintings, David explores the universal themes of intensity and passion that bind us to each other and our species to the planet. He utilizes recurring marks and that evoke a timeless languages from prehistory while rediscovering symbols that speak of humanity’s continuous journey of self awareness. David’s paintings speak to the inner yearning of body, spirit and mind to unleash creativity and passion upon the world. It is this core humanity and its relationship to the environment that is central to David’s work in both the business and art worlds.
Come explore David’s first solo show and experience paintings that speak viscerally through symbols that communicate in a language that is at once universal and undiscovered
With the Supreme Court hearing arguments CA Prop 8 and DOMA, we hope for a speedy resolution to this question. That is in the interest of equal opportunity for everyone. So that the government can move ahead on work that is in the long term interest of humanity.
