Information on architecture in California, including styles and history

Navigating the California Building Code Changes Taking Effect in 2024

A Look at Commercial Space Changes through the Eyes of an Architect Every three years in California, the California Building Standards Code undergoes a comprehensive update. This cycle reflects the state’s commitment to enhancing safety, sustainability and innovation in construction. The latest code changes, most of which were announced in 2022, were implemented recently, one

Categories: Commercial Design, Policy|Tags: , , |0 Comments

California Architecture: An Architect’s Favorite Structures – Worship Spaces

This post first appeared in 2019. From the 19th-century Mission San Diego de Acalá to the ultra-modern space of Oakland's Cathedral of Christ the Light, these worship spaces are very different examples of California architecture. The common theme that unites them is the way they use their environments and direct the eye with

Categories: Architecture|Tags: , |0 Comments

California Architecture: An Architect’s Favorite Structures – Industrial & Office Spaces

This post first appeared in 2019. California architecture includes some unique industrial and office spaces. From the simple lines and elegance of the Salk Institute to the over-the-top glamor of the CAA Building, a wide variety of styles reflect the diversity and beauty of the Golden State.

Categories: Architecture|Tags: , |0 Comments

California Architecture: An Architect’s Favorite Structures – Public Structures

This post previously ran in 2019. California architecture is as diverse as its population. It encompasses a wide variety of styles, from the Victorian "painted ladies" of San Francisco to the environmentally oriented designs of California Regional Modernism. I've traveled up and down the state since moving here from New York, and I've

Categories: Architecture|Tags: |0 Comments

California Architecture: An Architect’s Favorite Structures – Homes

These homes represent California architecture at its best. Each takes a different path to harmonizing with the environment, but each respects its natural surroundings and uses the landscape as an essential part of its structure – in the case of Frey House II, quite literally. Eames House Video Animation This video

Categories: Architecture|Tags: |0 Comments

California Architecture: An Architect’s Favorite Structures – Art Spaces

This post first ran in 2019. These buildings are some of my favorite pieces of California architecture. These art spaces exemplify the variety of buildings that can work in our diverse environment. It is astonishing that they all exist within the boundaries of a single city: Los Angeles.

Categories: Architecture|Tags: |0 Comments

California Architecture: An Architect’s Favorite Structures – Hospitality Spaces

This post originally ran in 2019. The hospitality industry has been an essential part of California's economy for more than a hundred years, and hospitality spaces have been a defining element of California architecture. These three buildings are among my favorites, encompassing a variety of styles, each of which beautifully reflects California's unique

Categories: Architecture|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Floating Homes Offer Innovative Solutions to Sea-Level Rise

A recent article in The New York Times for dealing with rising sea levels: building homes on the water. Marin County is no stranger to that concept. An entire community exists in Sausalito. In fact, there are approximately 425 floating homes in Marin County, according to Marin County Residential Real Estate. Sausalito boasts the largest

Categories: Home Design|Tags: , |0 Comments

What’s In an Architectural Style?

If you’ve done any house-hunting in the Bay Area, you might have heard the terms Art Deco, Arts and Crafts Style, Bungalow, Modern, Contemporary, Mid-Century Modern, Cape Cod Style, Colonial and Victorian – to name a few of the architectural styles. The problem is, some of these terms are used interchangeably, when they are distinct.

Categories: Architecture, Home Design|Tags: , |0 Comments