My new video on bringing natural light into a house form without side windows.

The latest international construction cost data is out; San Francisco tops the list. Would a dip in the economy be reflected in building prices? Not for a while—the construction industry typically lags the rest of the economy by two years.

There’s a button in my car—along with the heat, defrost, etc.—that says “OFF”. It has an LED to tell you when it’s on.

The Department of Transportation has published in map form the traffic and aviation noise levels around the country. Zoom into the San Francisco area and it’s easy to see where highways and airports make their impact.

That the anthropocene era is recognizing its role in restoring balance to nature is encouraging: 12 Amazing Animal Bridges Around the World

Just to drive home how redundant the building-planning-zoning-public works process is, DPW uses this form.

Clients frequently ask which local appliance stores I recommend. Consumer Reports actually did a study of stores in June 2013, showing how much appliance shopping had moved online, even for large items. Highest rated will ship to the bay area: ABT Electronics and Appliances (score: 93), followed by Amazon (90), and Nebraska Furniture Mart (90). […]

An interesting look at street grid patterns over the past century, and into the future: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/tech/socio75.html

ArchNewsNow just published my article on the new SFMOMA. Specifically, I divulge how both Mario Botta’s original building and Snøhetta’s expansion each reflect the tenor or society at the time they were built. ArchNewsNow, “The SFMoMA and Us“

Norwegian high-pitched roofs, Dutch gables, Russian Orthodox domes, Spanish colonial facades — scores of newcomers have visited upon San Francisco’s skyline the architecture of their homelands. These were built by immigrants, for immigrants, and evinced authentic culture. In contrast, it is downright disingenuous when an institution dons an ethnic pastiche of whatever culture happens to […]