serving our clients and partners during this challenging time
We hope you are staying healthy and productive while helping to keep our communities safe. Like many of you, we have adjusted our job flow and process by working remotely whenever possible, and in-person by following straight health guidelines. While this transition has certainly presented challenges, we are grateful to be able to continue working on planning, design, as well as actual construction. In this issue, we are excited to show you how we used our regular tools to extend existing relationships and develop new ones: first case was to complete construction and enable the homeowners to move back in a timely fashion; second was to start a brand new design-build project to be completed by the end of the year.
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New dressing area and master bath entirely built on existing roof with skylight straddling both spaces. Photo by Bax+Towner.
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completing a project during covid: highly refined 2 1/2 baths that caught the eye of a Houzz writer:
The challenge posted by our client (a professional couple with three pre-teen children) in conjuring up spaces out of thin air and introducing ‘modern’ to a traditional San Francisco residence piqued the interest of our designers. Inspired by the client’s wishes, we took the time to optimize the spatial layout, select elegant and natural materials, and hammer out beautiful details with the intention to elevate the everyday experiences to a level of tranquility and joy.
Houzz writer Julie Sheer featured this project in
Bathroom of the Week: a Refined Remodel for a Family of 5
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going 100% virtual in design and client communication
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starting a new design-build project during covid
Having just purchased a compact and somewhat tired 3-bed/2-bath residence in Burlingame as our state was getting into a complete lockdown due to the pandemic, our client (he works in Tech and she is a pastry chef) engaged building Lab in designing and constructing a modern home both aesthetically pleasing and functional for a growing young family.
As this property was untouched for many years, our priorities were to replace and upgrade all the infrastructures (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.), refine the floor plan for comfortable family living, and finish with good quality materials and fixtures. Working with a tight budget and a tighter timeline, our team went to work to ensure planning, design, permits, and construction could proceed in the safest and most efficient manner.
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sharing and refining ideas on the screen
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100% remote design process - a case study
We felt confident in taking on new projects at the time of the straight shelter-in-place order in California because we had already implemented many software tools (pdfs, sketching and 3-D modeling softwares) in design, and online meetings for client communication. So, the only difference in this case was to change online communication from about 50% of the time to 100%. The important innovation for us has been the BIMX which enables clients to download files onto their own devices. For those who have some basic knowledge of software or gaming, it takes no time to get them up to speed. They can easily learn to navigate and get to experience a pretty good simulation of being in the space itself. As luck would have it, our client was one from the future: very savvy with technology and therefore the 100% virtual communication at this stage went smoothly.
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design for many years of enjoyment: finding the right balance
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investments versus rewards: finding the optimal solution
At the early stage of the design process, we usually work out 1 or 2 schematic options following pretty straight budgetary guidelines. In addition, we also present 1 or 2 alternatives showing other possibilities if flexibility increases. Happily, a well informed client tends to be able to find a path that leads to a comfortable solution for him/her at the moment, and a right one for a longer time horizon. In this case, we worked hard in maximizing the potential while keeping the existing floor plan mostly unchanged. Ultimately, our client decided to invest in a more open plan that would improve the flow and functionality of the spaces. Instead of building out, we coopted every little unused nooks and crannies in order to create more spacious bathrooms with the amenities the client desired. To save money, we tried to let more natural light in by increasing the height of windows rather than the width.
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Demolition: uncovering how things are behind the walls
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construction
Like many other businesses, we experimented with different ways to adapt to the changing environments throughout the first half of this year. During the gradual reopening, we began site preparation and construction while finishing up the design in parallel. Taking full advantage of being a design-build firm, we were able to shorten the feedback loop: design decisions and change orders could be applied in the field immediately. This ability to run different stages of a project simultaneously made up for the delays and challenges due to Covid as people got more distracted.
Contrary to design which is done with software and can be shared online easily, construction is about actual physical work. For this project, we implemented all the safety procedures in compliance with health guidelines, and we never hesitated to pause whenever there were any suspicions of exposure. As we opened up an old house, we uncovered dry rots and other problems. At these moments, it became imperative that the homeowners could see the real things, and our team could demonstrate and explain options in in-person meetings at the site. Fortunately, by this time, everyone had become more comfortable in managing risks in conducting our essential business. As of this writing, this project is on track to be completed on time.
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View from sunken family room towards new living room. Entry foyer is on the right.
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