The clerk at the airport took one look at my battered pink cowboy hat on Thursday and said, “DC, right? Everyone’s going to Washington for something this weekend.” And we were. En masse. The number of red hats on Inaugural Day paled in comparison to the pink hats that overwhelmed Washington’s streets the day after.Continue Reading Declaring Pink Hat Day
Bay Area Housing – The Shape of Things to Come
In 2016, one of the world’s premier architecture awards, the Pritzker Prize, was given to an architect known primarily for social housing projects. The award illustrates that not only for designers, but around the world, housing has become a top priority for urban planners and government officials. In California, 170 cities adopted affordable housing policies which were upheld by the California Supreme Court this year. According to an editorial this past February in The Architect’s Newspaper, America’s West Coast needs much more housing. And on the West Coast, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most challenging markets in the world.Continue Reading Bay Area Housing – The Shape of Things to Come
AB 1999 – A Missed Opportunity
Governor Jerry Brown missed a great opportunity to stimulate an important part of California’s economy last month. Assembly Bill 1999, a state tax credit bill for preservation projects, was vetoed by his office on the grounds that the federal rehabilitation tax credit was enough.Continue Reading AB 1999 – A Missed Opportunity
California Preservation Conference 2014
CPF’s annual conference was quite memorable this year. As always, great sessions were presented, but this year, it was held in one of California’s most breathtaking settings, Asilomar Conference Center designed by Julia Morgan in Monterey. Not only a gathering of beautiful buildings, the Center also overlooks a spectacular Pacific Ocean.Continue Reading California Preservation Conference 2014
POST OFFICE CLOSURES – A PUBLIC AFFAIR?
Across the country, amidst cries of protest, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is studying the idea of selling 4,400 public post offices. 78 are actually for sale today, while a few have already been sold. Continue Reading POST OFFICE CLOSURES – A PUBLIC AFFAIR?
Waterfront Warriors? What?
San Francisco – After all the projects proposed over the years for San Francisco’s waterfront, one would think city authorities would be asking more questions about the latest proposal for dilapidated Piers 30-32.
Located at the base of the Bay Bridge, with spectacular Bay views, the crumbling 13-acre piers owned by the Port of San Francisco are now used for parking. Continue Reading Waterfront Warriors? What?
The Greenest Building Is One That’s Already Built
If the biggest threat to human survival is climate change, then American construction is probably the industry most responsible for causing it. Every new construction site represents the climate being changed, the environment being degraded, energy being consumed, and irreplaceable natural resources being used.Continue Reading The Greenest Building Is One That’s Already Built
Architect Barbie: Role Model Or Ridiculous?
I met with a group of women architects for lunch last month and the topic was Architect Barbie which debuted at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) national convention this year. In conjunction with the debut, Mattel is spotlighting architectureContinue Reading Architect Barbie: Role Model Or Ridiculous?
Preservation Revisited: Is Balance Needed?
Rare habitat, whether man made or nature made, is protected by law in California. With the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), historic resources such as buildings and urban landmarks, are recognized just like natural resources. This is because old buildings are irreplaceable and laws like CEQA, local ordinances, and landmark reviews reinforce this value. Continue Reading Preservation Revisited: Is Balance Needed?
THE NEW WATERFRONT: SAN FRANCISCO’S AMERICAN CUP CATALYST

Large-scale waterfront renewal is one of the most dynamic areas of urban design today. New York City just unveiled their first city wide plan for the waterfront in two decades and it’s goal is to reconnect New Yorkers with their waterfront. New Orleans is still struggling with Katrina’s water management policies, bogged down in politics, economics, and regional planning. And, of course, Japan’s recent tsunami is a wake up call for every waterfront city.Continue Reading THE NEW WATERFRONT: SAN FRANCISCO’S AMERICAN CUP CATALYST