WA
design
-->
|
|
|
|
Projects
-->
|
---------------------
Tahoe Residence
|
---------------------
Located on a heavily forested site in Tahoe Donner this project
delicately sits amongst the trees and natural rock outcroppings.
Dividing the house into a main building and a master bedroom wing
preserves the majority of the mature trees on the site. A narrow
connector weaves through these trees and allows the master bedroom to
nestle next to a large rock outcropping slightly elevated on the
northern corner of the building site. The main building is
directed at views towards Tinker's Knob in the far distance and
oriented for maximum south exposure to provide solar gain during the
cold winters. A mix of re-cycled cedar siding and galv-alum metal
siding applied as a tight skin pay homage to the old mining buildings
that once comprised the Sierra Nevada gold country towns.
|
---------------------
805 Folger Offices
|
---------------------
Under construction in 2008, 805 Folger is a new 2000 square foot
commercial structure in the city of Berkeley, California. It sits on a
small lot with a patchwork of easements reducing the buildable area to
only 900 square feet. As the upper story will perform as the new office
for W/A Design, it showcases many of the favorite materials used in the
office’s current projects from the zinc shingle siding to the interior
plaster walls.
This project is also a showcase for its structural system with 2 of its
heavy-duty metal brace frames exposed to the exterior and the interior,
3 story metal frame, fully exposed in the upstairs offices.
The offices will have operable (insulated) windows to allow the cool
bay breezes to moderate the work environment. On the roof, the
photovoltaic array will supply much of the daily electrical demand in
the building as well as shade the spray foam insulated roof. On the
weekends, the electricity generated will be fed back to the main
utility grid to build up a credit for the following week’s usage.
|
---------------------
Saratoga Residence
|
---------------------
This house is carefully sited among some very large existing oak trees.
Due to be finished in 2008 this house is defined by a series of
inter-connected vaulted roof structures that form courtyards and
outdoor spaces. A separate pool house borders the patio facing the pool
area and steps down towards an open grassland area.
A modern palate of materials that reflect the natural landscape will
root the project into its delicate surroundings. Ultra-high efficiency
mechanical systems are to be employed combined with other green
strategies.
|
---------------------
Willits Residence
|
---------------------
This house is carefully sited among rolling grasslands and oak trees on
a large parcel in northern California. It is organized around a
courtyard that centers on an existing rock out-cropping. The main
Living areas are situated facing south for solar gain in the
winter. Large overhangs provided shade in the summer.
The south-facing roof also allows for the maximum effectiveness
of photovoltaic panels and solar water collectors. These
combined strategies will enable the house’s total yearly energy
consumption to be ‘Net Zero’.
Green / Sustainable strategies include; Use of ICF walls. These
walls far exceed the required insulation value and reduce the lumber
necessary for the project. Recycled, re-milled lumber is used for roof
trusses and decking. SIP panels provide the roof structure over the
trusses. Bedroom ceiling areas are filled with high-density spray-in
foam. The upper floor is comprised of re-claimed oak.
Select cabinets throughout the house are bamboo and FSC certified
cherry. Select countertops are custom concrete using rice hulls
as a filler material.
|
---------------------
Stinson Beach
|
---------------------
This 1400 square foot home is located on a small infill site in Stinson
Beach, California. The home has a combinaton of modern detailing
and rustic materials. On the exterior, recycled fir ceiling
decking offers a counterpoint to metal and cement board siding.
With solar water and photovoltaic arrays, the home has a net-zero
annual energy use.
|
---------------------
Berkeley House
|
---------------------
Located in the Berkeley hills this home is organized about a central
lap pool and gains expansive views of the San Francisco
Bay. Zinc metal clads the exterior of the building and
large glass openings framed in aluminum provide a seamless connection
to central courtyard. The home is organized as two wings with a
connecting breezeway to gain access to the views. A lap pool
divides the courtyard and provides the focus of the residence.
|
---------------------
Napa Residence
|
---------------------
This exceptional site overlooking the Napa Valley is comprised of forty
acres of rolling terrain studded with oak tress and rocky outcroppings.
After numerous visits to the site a design emerged that was able to
conform to the unique assets of the site with minimal impact. The plan
is rigorously centered within three prominent existing oak trees. From
this center, the plan pinwheels out and winds its way through the
existing rocky outcroppings and trees.
|
---------------------
Wagner Residence
|
---------------------
Two seven foot diameter sequoias stand near the center of this half -
acre property and are the focal points of the design. Preserving the
sequoias led to a site plan conceived as three buildings that group
around the center sequoia forming a compound. The axis of the sequoias
determines both the curved radial walls which intersect the main house
as well as the five foot grid which runs counterpoint and defines the
orientation of the garage/studio and pool house.
|
---------------------
Parlette Residence
|
---------------------
A dynamic design approach transformed this tiny, nondescript house into
a light-filled home that’s energy efficient, spacious and stylish. The
existing 800-square-foot pre-war building was gutted but much of its
structure was left intact. Adding a second story doubled this home’s
square footage while only expanding its footprint by 50 square feet.
Sustainable materials including; bamboo flooring, reclaimed wood beams,
composite plastic/wood exterior materials and countertops that blend
concrete and recycled plastic are used throughout. Through the use of a
combination of good insulation, high performance windows, passive and
active solar strategies the house is extremely energy efficient.
The new PV system actually produces more power than the house uses.
|
---------------------
Folger Lofts
|
---------------------
These two live-work spaces are located in an industrial section of
Berkeley. The design was strongly influenced by the forthright
utility of an industrial shed. Exterior volume and skin are purposely
restrained and in keeping with the warehouse facades of the area.
However, true to an industrial shed, there is complex machinery within.
In this case the exterior does little to reveal the diversity and
richness of the interior. Simple and straight-forward materials such as
truss joists, galvanized sheet metal, and concrete are treated with
great attention to achieve a highly finished result.
|
---------------------
Strathmoor House
|
---------------------
Located on a gently sloping ridge top in the East Bay hills, views from
this site open to the San Francisco bay to the west and the wooded
Claremont canyon to the north. The house is conceived as two primary
stucco volumes that contain the main living spaces, each with a vaulted
metal roof. Wrapped around these two volumes are flat roofed volumes
clad with cement board panels. The home explores the use of industrial
materials in a highly finished residential design. Landscape design is
by Topher Delaney, San Francisco, Ca.
|
---------------------
Famosi Remodel
|
---------------------
Flooding daylight into a newly configured kitchen was the main goal of
this remodel to a 1960's home in the hills above downtown Walnut Creek.
To attain this goal the roof of the kitchen was raised six feet to
allow large east facing expanses of glass and to open views of the
natural hillside behind the home. The brightly day-lighted kitchen is
the new heart of the house. Walls were cleared away and full height
cabinets integrate storage and conceal a small furnace closet. A
slightly enlarged Master bathroom with an 'L' shaped skylight at the
corner allows the walls to disappear into the sky and washes light down
the glass mosaic tile surfaces. Fine detailing with stainless steel and
plexi-glass compliment cabinets of cherry and maple throughout the
house.
|
---------------------
Skyline Residence
|
---------------------
Located in Oakland, California, this residence was designed to take
advantage of westerly bay views and serve as a backdrop for the
client's collection of modern furniture and carpets. The home is
approached via a stairway down from the street. As you arrive at the
entry level, a private courtyard is formed between the hillside and the
walls of the structure. To the North, the courtyard edge is
defined by an outdoor fireplace.
|
---------------------
Vicente Residence
|
---------------------
In designing this residence we worked closely with the neighboring
property owners to understand and preserve existing view corridors.
These concerns generated the offset roof lines of the home as well as
much of the massing. One of our main design goals was to define a
secluded courtyard on the street side of the home. By utilizing
extensive site walls and a steel supported trellis the courtyard
becomes a private refuge. Landscape design is
by Topher Delaney, San Francisco, Ca. |
---------------------
Norfolk House
|
---------------------
This home is sited on gently sloping land with views West to the San
Francisco bay and Northern views to wooded Claremont canyon. The
massing is a collection of volumes generated in response to the program
of the interior spaces. Curved roof lines and forms predominate in this
design and it is the intersection of these forms that create the most
exciting architecture.
|
---------------------
San Luis Residence
|
---------------------
Located in the Berkeley hills, the primary goal of this large remodel
was to access and take advantage of the extensive gardens to the west
of the home. Keeping the front of the existing house intact the
rear was extended and walls were removed to provide for a new large
kitchen / family room. A new Master bedroom was added on
the 3rd floor to take advantage of the sweeping San Francisco bay views.
|
---------------------
Contra Costa House
|
---------------------
Located in the Oakland hills with views of the San Francisco Bay this
residence was originally designed for a couple that re-located from
Chicago. The design challenge was to create a garden area on this
steeply sloping hillside site. In order to achieve this we introduced
an arching garden wall to define the east edge of the building.
An open plan allows considerable glazing to face views to the West.
|
---------------------
Woodside House
|
---------------------
This home is sited on the crest of the East Bay hills with San
Francisco bay views to the west and the rolling grass hills of Contra
Costa county to the east. The design was conceived with a formal layout
and pays homage to the detailing and architecture of the Bernard
Maybeck homes in the Bay Area.
|
---------------------
Neilson Remodel
|
---------------------
This project in Berkeley, California, is located in a neighborhood of
stucco clad bungalows on relatively narrow lots. For any significant
addition, the only direction to go was up and we added a second floor
across the entire existing structure. Access to the new upper floor is
via a circular stairway and open two story space that houses an eating
area and becomes the architectural highlight of the home.
|
|
|
Profiles
-->
|
Philosophy
-->
|
WA design is a
design build firm established in 1985 by David Stark Wilson. Since its
inception, WA design has completed a broad range of new residential and
commercial projects throughout the Bay area and beyond.
We offer an alternative to the standard architect / client / contractor
relationship by providing design and construction services within the
same company. This approach enables us to deliver a more cost effective
and higher quality product to our clients.
Our design philosophy emphasizes the inter-relationship of building and
site. Each design begins as a considered response to a set of criteria
dictated by the site and client. Although progressive in approach, our
designs draw heavily on the vernacular building of the area in which we
are working. Ordering principles for a given project borrow from their
context and often metaphorically relate to the natural landscape. This
connects our buildings to their specific site and circumstance in a
meaningful way.
A crucial component of the overall design objective on each project is
to apply the design of sustainable and solar features as an integral
component of the architecture. From initial building siting concepts
through building organization and material selection, each phase
is approached with sustainable ideas at the forefront of the
design decisions.
David, senior architect Chris Parlette, and the project team develop
each design to extend and enhance the initial concept. Our design
services frequently include lighting design, color consultation,
furniture and interior design. While our design talent allows us to
work within a given context, we employ our construction experience as a
basis for fully integrated design solutions. Our field construction
superintendent is in constant communication with the office, thereby
streamlining the construction process. Our goal is to integrate our
diversified talent and experience to realize the highest level of
design and achieve a more sustainable design paradigm.
|
David
-->
|
David Stark Wilson
was born in Berkeley, California in 1961. An avid mountaineer
from a young age, David's most valued early experiences were rooted in
the natural landscape of the mountains and cliffs of the Sierra
Navada. In 1984 he received a degree in mathematics from the
University of California, Berkeley. By this time his interest in
phtography and mountaineering had taken him to four continents.
While studying at Berkeley, David began the furniture and building
projects that inspired his pursuit of design.
David's early architectural sense was strongly influenced by the work
of Bay Area architect Bernard Maybeck. As his design sense has
matured, David's direction has turned progressively more modern.
His approach to design emphasizes the inter-relationship of building
and site. Ordering principles for a given project borrow from
their context and often metaphorically relate to the natural
landscape. His current interests include the use of materials,
form and color, to elicit the resonant response which we pursue in the
natural landscape, yet are reluctant to embrace in our built
environment.
David's interests in design and photography converged during his
back-road encounter with the austere agricultural buildings and
landscape of California's Central Valley. In June of 2003 his
first photography book, Structures
of Utility, was published. In July of 2008, David's second
book, Above All, will
be published by Heyday Books. For more of David's photography
work see
davidstarkwilson.com
David and his wife, Stacia Cronin, live in Berkeley, California with
their two children, Chase and Kai.
|
Chris
-->
|
Chris Parlette grew up on the
peninsula of the Bay Area and spent his youth following his dad around
as he built various structures on their property in Woodside.
Chris demonstrated his interest in building along side his father
during the construction of their home when he was ten years old.
He developed, early on, a keen sense for the way buildings are put
together and his extensive hands-on construction experience led Chris
to pursue a career in architecture.
Chris graduated from the University of California Berkeley in
architecture in 1991 and seet out to find a firm that matched his
combined talents in architecture and building. In 1993 Chris
began working at WA Design and realized he had found a perfect
fit. Chris's attention to detail was matched by the ambitious
projects the firm undertook.
Today, chris collaborates with David Wilson on projects as well as
being lead architect on his own work. Chris's own home has been
featured on Real Simple TV, TV 20 Green Report, San Francisco
Chronicle, SlowHome website, Sunset magazine, and is featured in Good Green Kitchens by
Jennifer Roberts. Finished in 1995 his mother's house was
featured in the book, A
House For My Mother, by Beth Dunlop.
Chris's interest in solar power and sustainability stem from his
childhood interests in technology and nature. Spending his time
either skiing or mountain biking far off the beaten trail continue to
inspire the endless possibilities for the connection between
architecture and sustainability.
|
|
|
Contact
-->
|
WA Design
755 Folger Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94710
510 883 0868 t
510 883 0869 f
Office email
|
|
David
S Wilson
|
email |
Chris
Parlette
|
email |
Torin
Etter
|
email |
Eoi
Takagi
|
email |
Lona
DeRieux
|
email |
|
|
Sustainability
-->
|
Overview
-->
|
The pressure that
our built environment puts on the world's resources and the toll on our
energy supply is staggering. As designers we see it as our
duty to reduce this pressure and move toward a sustainable, healthy
connection between the natural and built environment.
We believe in an architecture and sustainability harmonically
intertwined. Our projects pursue this goal, employing the
latest solar and energy efficient technologies available. We are
constantly researching and using a variety of sustainable, recycled,
and toxic-free materials to ensure our projects are healthier, require
less maintenance, and use less energy than most buildings being built
today. Listed below are strategies, technologies, and
products that we currently utilize to achieve these goals.
|
Energy
-->
|
Construction takes a
huge toll on our energy supply: commercial and residential buildings
consume over one-third of the nation's total energy, and more than
two-thirds of the total electricity. Designing buildings that generate
some or all of their energy via solar means, can greatly reduce our
demand for energy. By combining solar photovoltaics, solar hot water,
and geo-thermal technologies we can achieve this goal. Some of
our projects are true 'NET ZERO' houses. On a yearly basis they
produce enough energy to totally offset their use.
We employ a number of strategies specific to each project and its
unique site. These technologies are integrated into the project
architecture at an early stage. Seamlessly combining solar elements
into the overall design is paramount to the execution of each project.
Some technologies currently being incorporated into our projects are:
|
Photovoltaic
Energy -->
|
Photovoltaics,
commonly known as PV, convert sunlight into electrical energy with a
system using almost no moving parts and producing no air pollution.
A PV system can be integrated into new construction or installed on an
existing building. Typically, PV modules are mounted on a
building's roof but they can also be mounted on the ground, on a nearby
roof, or even incorporated into a shade structure.
By using 'net metering,' the building supplies electricity to the local
electrical grid during the day and in the evening and morning, when
there's limited sunlight, the system works in reverse, drawing power
from the grid. The system can be designed so that the electricity
supplied to the grid during the day entirely offsets the usage during
the evening and morning resulting in a monthly electrical bill of $0.
|
Solar
Hot Water -->
|
A Solar Hot Water
system can supply domestic hot water with significantly lower operating
costs versus conventional systems (gas or electric)and therefore offer
a better return on the initial investment. A solar hot water system can
provide up to 70-80% of the annual hot water needs of a typical
household using 2, 4'x8' roof mounted panels and a 120 gallon water
storage tank.
|
Radiant
Floor Heating -->
|
Hydronic (liquid)
systems are the most popular and cost-effective radiant heating systems
for heating-dominated climates. Hydronic radiant floor systems pump
heated water from a boiler through below floor tubing. The temperature
in each room is then controlled by regulating the flow of hot water
through a system of zoned valves, pumps and thermostats.
Radiant heating has a number of advantages. It is more efficient than
baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating
because no energy is lost through ducts. The lack of moving air can
also be advantageous to people with severe allergies. Hydronic
(liquid-based) systems use little electricity, a benefit for off-grid
homes or areas with high electricity prices. The hydronic systems can
also be heated with a wide variety of energy sources, including
standard gas- or oil-fired boilers, wood-fired boilers, solar water
heaters, or a combination of these heat sources.
|
Geothermal
Exchange -->
|
With a Geo- Exchange
system, depending on the season, heat is either expelled to or
extracted from the earth via a fluid filled ground loop. In the summer
the relatively cool earth acts as a sink for heat removed from the
building interior, while in the winter, the moderate earth temperature
helps heat the space. The system is quiet and has no exterior
condensing units. Compared to other heat pump systems the operating
costs are 40-60% less.
An added benefit is the option of pairing the Geo- Exchange with an
appropriately sized solar photovoltaic system. As no gas supply is
required, this creates a fully sustainable and energy independent
heating/cooling system.
|
Roof
Orientation / -->
Shading
|
Through deliberate
design, we can maximize the roof's southern exposure for solar systems
and increase the effectiveness of PV and solar hot water collection.
Sunlight angles can be used to design southern roof overhangs that
allow winter sun into the living space helping heat it, and eliminate
direct sunlight in the summer. Furthermore, we can specify wall and
floor surfaces to help capture some of the winter sun's heat. This
captured heat will then be released slowly and warm the house
throughout the evening. These same surfaces don't receive the summer
sun, helping keep the inside cool while the outside temperature rises.
|
Natural
Ventilation / -->
Cooling
|
Much of the Summer
cooling requirements in the temperate Bay Area climate can be met
through placing operable windows in locations that allow cool breezes
to enter at one end of the house and escape at the other.
Operable skylights can also be introduced to evacuate the hot interior
air while drawing in cool air from shaded outdoor areas.
Every project has its own microclimate that must be understood prior to
determining which passive strategies can be implemented. This approach
adds little or no additional cost to the final design and construction
and can be easily incorporated with some forethought during the
planning stages.
|
Materials
-->
|
In the
ever-expanding world of green materials we are constantly researching
and exploring new materials. As the builder on some of our projects, we
gain true hands-on experience with these materials and each project
benefits from the knowledge acquired on the previous one.
The building industry is a huge drain on our natural resources.
We as architects need to guide the building industry towards utilizing
more recycled and sustainable materials and fewer toxic
ones. Listed below are some of the materials that have been
incorporated on projects to date.
|
|
Insulated Concrete Form Unit
(ICF)
|
Building a concrete
home with insulating concrete forms (ICFs) saves both energy and money.
The greater insulation, tighter construction, and
temperature-modulating mass of the walls conserve heating and cooling
energy more effectively than conventional wood-framing, thus reducing
monthly energy bills. It also provides upfront savings by allowing the
use of smaller heating and cooling equipment.
|
|
Spray Foam Insulation
|
Spray foam
insulation has significant advantages over conventional insulation
materials. It permanently and completely fills and seals all voids. It
offers better overall thermal performance at nearly the same net cost
as other products. Since conventional insulation materials can
settle, they cannot effectively seal from stud to stud, around outlets
or on horizontal surfaces, an issue that is overcome with spray foam
insulation.
|
|
Windows
|
High efficiency
windows are an important element in the thermal performance of a
building. Depending on climate and location, we select windows
that are suited to each particular project. We specify the
highest thermal value windows, exceeding building code standards.
|
|
Energy Recovery Ventilator
|
To achieve high
thermal performance, a house must be tightly sealed to minimize heating
and cooling loss. An Energy Recovery Ventilator is
therefore needed to circulate fresh air into the house and exhaust
'stale' air. Due to off-gassing of various elements in a
house (ie; furniture, plastics, etc.), this is an important element of
modern home construction.
|
|
SIP Panels
|
Structural Insulated
Panels (SIP) are used for roofs and walls. A SIP panel is
a pre-fabricated sandwich of rigid insulation with plywood or
oriented strand board on either side. These provide an extremely
high insulation value and cut down on jobsite labor and waste.
|
|
Flooring
Bamboo / Recycled woods
|
Bamboo and recycled
wood floors are employed not only for their beauty but also their
durability and sustainability.
|
|
Recycled wood timbers
Engineered Lumber
|
We have eliminated
all but 3% of our old-growth forests and must reduce the strain on this
precious resource. We integrate recycled timbers, siding and
decking into our designs where possible. The quality and
moisture content of recycled woods is far superior to 'green' lumber.
|
|
Composite wood /
Plastics
|
In an effort to
achieve durability and sustainability we also look for composite
materials made from wood waste and recycled plastic. These
products offer excellent fade resistance and minimal maintenance on
exterior applications.
|
|
Paints / Finishes
|
In the past, the
interior of a home was literally filled with toxic finishes and
paints. In an attempt to move away from this we incorporate
the latest Low VOC and zero VOC finishes.
|
|
Carpeting
|
Carpets have been a
source of unpleasant chemicals for a long time Our projects specify
100% natural wool carpets and recycled cotton pads that eliminate off
gassing during the manufacturing process.
|
Top
|
|
Press
-->
|
Metropolitan
Home Magazine -->
|
2009 -->
Photographed Stinson Residence
for 2009 publication.
June 2008 --> Berkeley House
Feb. 1991 (Remodeling Design Award), and
Dec. 1991 (Best of Winners) --> Neilson
Remodel
|
San
Francisco Chronicle -->
|
July 2008 --> Berkeley House
July 2005 --> Parlette Residence
Setp. 15, 2002 (Magazine) --> Folger Lofts
July 30, 1997 --> Norfolk Residence
Jan. 17, 1996 --> Tiburon Residence
|
Natural
Home Magazine -->
|
Spring 2009 --> Parlette Residence
|
Sunset
Magazine -->
|
August 2002 --> Wagner House
Jan. 2002 --> Norfolk
Residence
April 2001 --> Parlette
Residence
May 1995 --> Rabaey remodel
October 1994 (Interior Design Award) --> Woodside
Residence
|
Better
Homes and Gardens -->
|
August 2001 (Kitchen
Planning Guide) and
Fall 1999 (Kitchen and Bath Ideas) and
Winter 1999 (Kitchen and Bath Ideas --> San Luis Residence
Jan. 1998 --> Tiburon Residence
Jan. 1994 --> Miller Residence
|
American
Home Style Magazine -->
(and)
American Home Style Magazine /
Kitchen and Bath Custom Planner
|
Summer 1995 --> Wagner House |
Other
Press: -->
|
Berkeley
Architectural Association's Award for New Construction, 1990
Good Green
Kitchens, by Jennifer Roberts
Pen Magazine
San Francisco Magazine
House Beautiful
In Sync Magazine
Remodel Magazine
Fine Home Building Magazine
Home Magazine, Best Ideas
Diablo Magazine
Ang Newspaper, "Living"
Real Simple TV
TV 20 Green Report
|
|
Copyright 2009, WA Design. All
rights reserved.
|
|