Welcome to AplosGroup, a premier firm of architects practicing in Marin and Sonoma counties, with offices in Santa Rosa and San Rafael. We are dedicated to developing human-centered designs to meet your unique needs.

What Is Architecture?

architect hands drawing architectural plansArchitecture is both the practice and the product of design. It describes the structure of a physical space or object, but also the structure of a system or even an idea. A building has architecture, of course, but so does a symphony or a ballpoint pen or cell or a political movement. Without architecture and design, objects have no cohesion, and ideas remain abstract. Stated another way, architecture provides the form that makes function possible.

At AplosGroup, we strive always to be mindful of the impact our designs can have on both the people and the land around us. For us, architecture is about more than drawing up plans for a new building. It can be a vehicle for asking questions about the way we live and interact with the landscape and our environment: How will this building complement the surrounding landscape? How could this structure improve the lives of the people who use it? Can this renovation reduce the building’s energy footprint and costs?

What Is a Professional Architect?

A professional architect (sometimes known as a certified architect, a registered architect or a licensed architect, depending on the location and the architect’s qualifications) designs, plans and often oversees the construction of a structure, such as a commercial building or a house, with attention to aesthetics, function and safety.

Creating a structure from design to completion requires both a creative spirit and a deep understanding of the artistic foundations of architecture and the functional and physical complexities of construction. That understanding requires years of preparation and hard work.

In the United States, an architect must be licensed by the state(s) in which he or she practices. To become licensed, an architect must demonstrate that he or she has the training, experience and knowledge to competently fulfill his or her role. Specific requirements differ from state to state, but the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) ensures that minimum licensing standards apply across all states.

In California, where we practice, becoming a licensed architect is a nine-year journey, beginning with six years of education and continuing with three years of practical training and apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed architect.

Once an architect has met a state’s requirements for education and experience, he or she must pass the Architect Registration Examination, a seven-part exam administered by the NCARB. California requires an architect to pass three separate, rigorous exams before it grants a certification.

The purpose of this long, sometimes difficult process is to ensure every licensed architect has the ability to create and execute designs that are innovative, attractive and safe.

What Does an Architect Do?

The architect’s job is to translate a client’s dream into a buildable reality that meets the client’s real-life needs while protecting public safety and the health and integrity of the environment. She does this by bringing her knowledge of design and engineering to the table to help the client decide how best to apply budgeted dollars to the project to achieve a result that is both beautiful and functional, from the basic structure of the building down to the smallest details.

While the basic job is the same, every architect works a little differently. At AplosGroup we play several roles in the design and construction process:

Design

In the initial stages, the architect communicates with the client to understand his or her unique needs, desires and challenges. The architect must be able to reconcile aesthetic considerations with engineering needs and client wishes, bringing these sometimes-competing goals into harmony to present the client with options that will achieve those goals while delivering the best value for the client’s investment.

Construction

During construction, the architect acts as an intermediary between contractors and the client. She levels the playing field, using her knowledge of both good construction practice and the client’s needs to provide context and explain potential ramifications when a contractor requests a change or needs clarification of the plans. This back and forth allows for flexibility while maintaining three essential elements in any project: 1. The integrity of the design; 2. The code compliance; and 3. The client’s dream design. The architect closely monitors the construction process to ensure the design is executed according to specifications and that the appropriate materials are used.

When challenges arise, the architect works with the contractor to develop potential solutions and present them to the client in a timely fashion to minimize surprises and delays.

Environment

Building in California presents some unique challenges, with rigorous requirements for energy efficiency and seismic safety. Each municipality, as well as the state, imposes its own set of regulations on building, so the architect must be familiar with ever-changing local codes in the areas she works in. Title 24 of the California Building Standards Code and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) have helped California buildings achieve high levels of energy efficiency, surpassing most other states.

For each project, the architect works with local building and zoning boards to get permits and ensure the project meets all the city, state and local requirements and proceeds without delays or unforeseen costs related to the codes and regulations.

In addition, the architect must thoroughly understand the climate and geography she builds in so she can help guide and advise clients to make sure the project of their dreams will work in harmony with the environment.

Advocacy

At AplosGroup, the goal is always to build the client’s vision, not ours. Throughout the process, the architect focuses on the client’s dreams and needs, providing guidance and advice, filtered through the lens of her expertise, to provide options rather than prescriptions. At every phase of the project, the architect acts as an advocate to ensure everyone involved is focused on those goals.

During our more than thirty years of architectural experience, we’ve found that these processes allow us to provide the client with excellent service and to stay true to the foundations of our practice: sensitivity to client needs, high ethical standards, deep local knowledge and excellent communication.

Our Architectural Services

All our architectural services begin with a consultation to hear the client’s wishes and ideas. Every architectural design we create starts with that, and we strive to ensure every plan makes the best possible use of space, integrating new technologies with established techniques to maximize comfort, safety and economy.

We provide comprehensive architectural services for a variety of project types:

Residential Home Design and Renovation

  • New home design and construction
  • Home remodeling and restoration
  • Accessory dwelling units and “granny units”
  • Natural disaster recovery and rebuilding (fire, earthquake, flood)
  • Earthquake retrofitting consultation
  • Energy-efficiency upgrades

Commercial Design and Renovation

  • Commercial building architectural design
  • Tenant improvements
  • Office space design and renovation
  • Restaurant design and renovation
  • Cannabis dispensary design
  • Natural disaster recovery and rebuilding (fire, earthquake, flood)
  • Energy-efficiency consultation
  • Earthquake retrofitting consultation

Green Architectural Design

Modern Residential Architecture

For every project, we provide all the necessary plans and documents to get the job started, including:

  • Design development
  • Conceptual design
  • Schematic design
  • 3-dimensional drawings (see here for examples)
  • Contract documents for permitting
  • Contract administration throughout the construction process

What Is Sustainable Architecture?

green home designOver the years, we’ve learned a lot about the impact our buildings and construction processes have on our planet and our communities.

The concept of sustainable architecture has grown from the collaboration between architects, builders, designers, engineers, environmentalists and clients who are determined to address concerns about the long-term health of our environment. Sustainable architecture, also known as green architecture, green building, green design or eco-architecture, is a way of approaching the design, planning and construction of a building to minimize the amount of resources used in both its construction and operation, while reducing pollution and waste and their effects on the environment and human health.

Sustainability is a complex subject, often involving trade-offs and compromises, and sustainable architecture takes a multi-faceted approach, including exploring alternative energy sources, using eco-friendly materials and renewables, and following low-impact building processes.

Some of these include:

Firms that specialize in sustainable architecture, like AplosGroup, use all of these techniques and more to create innovative living and working spaces that are beautiful, functional and environmentally friendly.

What is Modern Architecture?

Modern architecture describes a group of architectural styles that emerged in the early 20th century and increased in popularity as the century progressed. Hallmarks of modern architecture include the use of contemporary industrial materials like concrete and metals and the reduced use of ornament, in contrast with earlier architectural styles such as Beaux-Arts and Art Deco. It tends to emphasize geometry while using asymmetry to direct the eye. In residential buildings, modernist touches, such as flat roofs and open floor plans, often with large glass sections, are typical features.

Famous examples of modern architecture include:

Contemporary architecture is the natural extension of modern architecture. It takes the sensibility of 20th-century modern design and amplifies it for the 21st century, often using cutting-edge technology and materials that have only recently become available. These new technologies allow architects to work in surprising and startling ways, creating shapes and constructions that often seem to defy physics.

Examples include:

The best modern and contemporary architecture marries innovative, eye-catching design with inviting, functional spaces.

California Regional Modernism

california regional modernismCalifornia is home to a unique school of modern architecture that takes its inspiration from the environment. This school, known as California Regional Modernism, has a strong connection to our unique and diverse natural landscape. It adopts many of the design conventions found in modern architecture, using them in a way that harmonizes with our unique regional characteristics.

California Regional Modern design anchors itself in the landscape. Buildings aren’t designed to be apart from the land, but rather to be a part of the natural surroundings. Sweeping views of mountains that meet the ocean in dramatic and vertiginous drops, lush valleys of vineyard, crystalline lakes and dramatic desert vistas are the stars here, and our best buildings tend to stay out of the way by merging as seamlessly as possible into the environment.

California Regional Modernism uses aspects of general modern design to achieve this effect. For example, roofing styles are dynamic and complex, but don’t restrict views, and glass, especially sliding doors, blur the barrier between interior and exterior. Above all, respect for the unique beauty of California defines this style of architecture.

Neutral colors, large glass panels and open layouts that invite the outdoors in are typical of California Modern home designs, and mindfulness of both the beauty and the challenges of our environment inform how we build.

Popular Architectural Styles

In addition to modernism, California and the Bay Area are home to a variety of other popular architectural styles. While styles popular on the East Coast and Midwest, such as Colonial, Georgian and Cape Cod aren’t common here, you’ll find Art Deco, Edwardian and, of course, Victorian buildings scattered throughout California’s cities, while our suburbs and rural areas often boast Craftsman, Ranch and Pueblo-style homes. Of course, iconic Eichler homes and their stylistic successors remain popular in California. Each of these styles can work well in our region, if the architect is skilled and mindful of the unique needs of our climate and geography.

Among the most popular styles in our area are:

Victorian

San Francisco is famous for its Victorian “painted ladies.” Victorian architecture includes a variety of design styles popular in the mid-to-late nineteenth century through the early part of the twentieth century. Classical columns, bay windows, and detailed decorative elements are some of the most recognizable elements of Victorian styles.

These homes were built to last – indeed, many survived the 1906 earthquake largely intact – but they require careful restoration to preserve both the integrity of their style and the quality of their construction while bringing them up-to-date for comfort and safety.

Art Deco

The Art Deco movement, which was named for the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, emerged in the 1920s as a marriage of rich, older styles with newer, modernist forms, which is reflected in some of the architecture of the time. Decorative elements, such as strong geometric shapes alongside more ornate and traditional patterns, reigned. Materials like stucco and stone were combined with more “modern” materials like glass and aluminum to give buildings a sleek, contemporary look while hearkening back to classical architecture.

New York’s Chrysler Building is one of the most famous examples of Art Deco architecture.

If this style appeals to you, elements of Art Deco can be included in a building design without committing to a full “retro” look that might seem out of place in a residential area.

Craftsman

American Craftsman architecture, part of the American Arts and Crafts movement, emerged in the late 1900s and remained popular through the 1930s. It was partly a reaction against earlier, more ornate styles (such as some Victorian architecture) that catered to a highly stratified class system, with definite distinctions between “family” and “servant” areas.

Craftsman homes are distinguishable from their architectural predecessors by their emphasis on natural materials and the craftsmanship of their construction. Low-pitched roofs with deep eaves, exposed rafters, large porches with square columns, and stonework are typical of the style.

This style still works well in California’s climate and with our contemporary lifestyles, and it’s no wonder that it remains popular today.

Ranch Style

Ranch-style homes became popular after the Second World War, as the U.S. population, particularly in the West and Southwest, expanded. They emphasized informal and casual living, with low rooflines, open floorplans and simple designs. Landscaping became a more important element for residential spaces, especially in the sun belt, where ranch-style homes proliferated. Flat roofs and geometric lines, paired with large glass sections and integrated indoor-outdoor living spaces are some of the defining characteristics of this style.

Their environmental sensibility, combined with clean, simple, yet eye-catching design, make these buildings popular even today.

Modern Kitchen Renovation -- Terra LindaMid-Century Modern

The ranch aesthetic also gave rise to one of the most iconic and enduring styles of the 20th century: mid-century modern. Simplicity and harmony with the outdoor environment are defining characteristics of the mid-century style.

The Eichler and Alliance homes of Northern California are emblematic of mid-century modern residential design. These homes were built economically and require expertise and tender loving care to keep them up to date with contemporary needs for energy-efficiency and comfort while maintaining their iconic character.

National Register of Historic Places

AplosGroup architects frequently renovate and restore homes in a wide variety of styles. We enjoy the challenge of preserving the unique character of a home or commercial building while bringing it up to current standards for comfort, sustainability and safety. One of the best places to find inspiration when renovating or restoring a structure is the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Register of Historic Places was established by the federal government in 1966 to designate sites, buildings, structures and objects that, due to historical significance, are worthy of preservation. The register classifies structures by type of architecture according to 40 codes.

The National Park Service, which administers the program, has a map of more than 60 travel itineraries featuring 3,000 places to visit around the country.

Bay area Historic Places you might like to visit include:

  • Berkeley Public Library (Berkeley)
  • Alfred H. Cohen House (Oakland)
  • Maynard Buehler House (Orinda)
  • Buena Vista Winery – Haraszthy Villa (Sonoma)
  • Luther Burbank Home & Gardens (Santa Rosa)
  • S. Immigration Station, Angel Island (Tiburon)
  • Marin County Civic Center (San Rafael)

California’s Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) administers the register program for California as well as the state’s own historic preservation program. In addition to helping identify important cultural and historical assets, the OHP provides architectural review for federal and state projects that may affect these resources. Its library of tools provides a host of resources for citizens and professionals.

Women in Architecture

For many years, men dominated the world of architecture. Today, women have carved out a place in the field, with exemplars such Amanda Levete and the late Zaha Hadid forging the way with bold and innovative designs. Nevertheless, a 2017 survey of women architects suggests that women in our industry still feel less accepted than men, and data suggests they are. A survey conducted by architecture industry magazine Dezeen found that just three of the 100 largest architecture firms are led by women, and only two have management teams in which women are in the majority.

AplosGroup is headed by a woman, lead architect Sharon Kovalsky, who has more than 30 years of experience in architecture and urban planning and has taught and mentored a new generation of architects at the Pratt Institute, the Fashion Institute of Technology and the New York Institute of Technology.

Sharon is proud to follow in the footsteps of the professionals who paved the way for women in architecture . Some of her role models are:

  • Louise Blanchard Bethune, who, in 1889, became the first woman fellow of the American Institute of Architects;
  • Emily Williams, who designed homes in San Francisco and the Bay Area in the early 20th century;
  • Josephine Wright Chapman, who formed one of the first woman-led architectural firms in America in 1907;
  • Julia Morgan, the first female architect licensed in California, who was a primary exponent of the Arts and Crafts movement and worked on Hearst Castle;
  • Jeanne Gang, founder of Studio Gang Architects and winner of multiple awards, among whose designs are Chicago’s Aqua Tower, 160 Folsom Street tower in San Francisco, and who is currently building the new U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil.

Architecture Prizes and Competitions

Prizes and competitions give architects an opportunity to show off their most innovative and forward-looking designs, and expose people interested in design to new ideas and concepts in architecture.

While these designs often represent the “big ideas” that inspire large projects, the ideas and concepts often find their way into design on a smaller scale, such as homes and businesses. At AplosGroup, we look forward to the competitions as an inspiration for our work.

Some of the most interesting ideas come from some of the most prestigious competitions and prizes, including:

Professional Architecture Organizations

Networking and connecting with other architects on a national and local level is important for staying current on both design trends and new technologies.

There is a variety of professional organizations that provide networking opportunities, as well as guidance, education and professional development to architects both nationally and locally. Membership helps us stay up to date with requirements, regulations and ethical standards, and allows us to confer with one another on issues that affect clients both locally and nationally.

Sharon is a member of:

Marin and Sonoma Architects

Architectural firms come in all sizes, from huge multinational firms to small local companies. Why chose an architect based in Marin or Sonoma? There are several reasons.

First, a local firm has important ties to the community you live and work in – their architects live and work there too. Not only does supporting a local firm keep your dollars in the community, a local architect knows the best contractors and suppliers in the area. And because laws and ordinances that regulate building vary considerably from city to city, a local architectural firm is often best prepared to address the issues and challenges that come with building in a specific area. These can include:

  • Local zoning and permitting
  • Local environmental requirements
  • Local seismic requirements
  • Micro-climates

In addition, a local architect’s knowledge of and personal relationships with the people involved in a building project, including county permitters, inspectors, contractors and suppliers, can help ensure a project goes smoothly with few surprises.

What to Consider When Hiring an Architect

Choosing an architect for your project is like choosing a doctor – you want an ideal mix of expertise, experience, ethics and bedside manner.

So where should you look?

You can start with a web search for “architects near me”. Websites like Houzz also have search features. Your local chapter of the Architects Institute of America (AIA) will also have lists of licensed local architects. Asking neighbors or friends who have done similar projects for recommendations is another simple way to find someone local. Ask them how well they felt the architect listened to their needs and concerns, how well they communicated, how well they translated the client’s dream into the built environment and how well they managed construction issues.

The architect you select should be licensed in your state and should know your area well. She should have experience with the kind of project you’re planning and be able show you examples of her work. She should be honest and up-front about challenges, and transparent about costs and fees.

In addition to expertise, you want an architect who will listen to your needs and concerns and who can communicate with you effectively. You will be working closely with your architect throughout the design and construction process, so you want someone who has enthusiasm for your project and excellent communication skills. A portfolio full of stunning designs means nothing if the architect isn’t a good listener and good advocate. You want someone who will build your dream, not theirs.

Architectural Fees

An architect’s fees will vary depending on both the scope of the project and its location. Some architects charge per hour, some based on project square-footage, some based on a percentage of construction costs, and some use a combination of fee structures.

Your architect will give you an estimate of fees, but the accuracy will depend on how much information you can provide about the project during the initial meetings. The architect will revise the estimate as plans become more concrete and changes are made.

Whatever type of fee structure your architect uses, it’s essential that she is transparent about what is included in her fees. For example, my fee includes consultations, design and schematics, drawings and plans, permitting services, and supervision of construction.

What to Expect When Working with AplosGroup

Since Sharon founded AplosGroup in 2013, the firm has gained a reputation as an innovative and reliable full-service architecture firm committed to serving our local community with skill and integrity.

At AplosGroup, we pride ourselves on passion, experience and communication. Our ability to deliver on promises is based on a deep understanding of unique local environments and our unshakable commitment achieving your dreams.

In addition to expertise and 30 years of experience in both residential and commercial architecture, we bring our passion for client service to every project we undertake.

From the moment we start working together, we focus on building your dream, not ours. We strive for clear communication and do our best to minimize surprises and delays. We look for the best contractors and suppliers to meet your budget and your needs.

Once construction is under way, your architect is on site to problem-solve and ensure things are done to your specifications. When issues arise, she’ll let you know immediately and offer solutions for you to choose from. She follows the project through to completion to make sure you’re not just satisfied but thrilled with how things turn out.

Let’s Explore What We Can Achieve Together

Take advantage of a free one-hour consultation with an AplosGroup architect to discuss your project and share your dreams, ideas and needs. Whether your dream is a vague idea or a definite plan, we’ll help you understand what’s possible and what it will take to get it done. We’ll take you through the architectural process, so you’ll know what to expect when working with us.

Together, we can build something that’s beautiful, functional and affordable. Contact us today to find out more.

Services

  • Retail space design & renovation

  • Office space design & renovation

  • Worship space design & renovation

  • Hotel design & renovation

  • Restaurant design & renovation

  • New home design

  • Home renovation, remodeling & restoration

  • Green design options
  • Specializing in mid-century modern architecture