Journal
Notes on making buildings.
Short essays from the studio on materials, process and the sites we are working on. Written by the people who draw and build.
Why we still build models by hand
Software shows a building. A card and timber model on the table shows how it feels to walk around it. Here is how models shape our design reviews.
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From the archive.
Why we still build models by hand
Software shows a building. A card and timber model on the table shows how it feels to walk around it. Here is how models shape our design reviews.
Reading a floor plan before you buy
Five things we check on every plan a client brings us, from where the morning light falls to how far the kitchen is from the front door.
Concrete with less cement
We love concrete and we know what it costs the climate. These are the mixes, finishes and quantities we now use as standard.
A week on site at Quarry Library
Five days of pours, light well tests and lunch in the quarry. Notes from our associate on site as the reading room roof went on.
Designing for a long winter
Snow loads, low sun and five months indoors. What we learned designing houses in alpine valleys and how it changed our plans.
The case for deep windows
A deep window reveal shades the glass, frames the view and gives you a place to sit. Why we design walls thicker than they need to be.