Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The idea of modern architecture often conjures images of brutally angular and cold houses. Not so in the Bay Area, where contemporary design is about creating true living spaces that are connected to the people who live in them and the natural world around them. Indoor-outdoor interplay (in a climate that makes such design possible), taking sustainable building to the next level and innovative design are all hallmarks of Bay Area architecture.

These features are on display on the American Institute of Architects' home tour, returning to the East Bay for the second year with seven houses in Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany and Lafayette.

Selected by an AIA committee with the goal of showcasing the diversity of East Bay living, each house on the tour will be open to the public for self-guided tours on Saturday. The houses were all designed by AIA architects, who will be present at their respective house's tour.

Budgets ranged from modest to generous. "The tour is trying to talk about architecture that really reaches out to the community and shares what architects can do for you," said architect and East Bay home tour co-chair Steven Stept.

Each home comes with its own story and personality. From a 58-year-old California ranch house whose traditional gable roof was inverted to catch and recycle rainwater to a two-story prefabricated house that produces as much energy as it uses, all speak to a greater acceptance of modernism and assumption of sustainable building in architecture.

And in the Bay Area spirit of entrepreneurship and risk taking, the homes also symbolize a push for transformational, advanced design.

"Modernism is in," says Stept. "As a trend, it's great to see how it's transforming all types of situations."

A peek at the homes on the tour:

2010, Faulkner Architects

This Lafayette house is named for both its physical appearance - an inverted roof that mimics the shape of a butterfly's wings - and a story of architectural metamorphosis. Greg Faulkner transformed a 3,000-square-foot suburban ranch house into the ultimate sustainable modern home. The traditional gable roof was inverted to collect rainwater that the homeowners use to wash clothes and then irrigate the garden. The cabinetry, ceilings and floors are made of wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, meaning it was sustainably harvested.

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American Institute of Architects home tour

Hillside Elementary students and staff will relocate to Lutheran Church of Hope for the first couple months of the new school year as workers finish a window replacement project at the school.

District officials voted two weeks ago to continue with the replacement project even though it means displacing classes for the first eight to 10 weeks of school. The buildings windows have leaked since the school was first constructed about eight years ago, school officials said. As crews began replacing them earlier this year mold was found along some of the windows and wall boards.

Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, is about five and a half miles west of Hillside, 713 Eighth St.

The church was selected because its large enough to accommodate all of the students and staff, has safe access for buses, and has a large cafeteria area, gym, art and music rooms, according to the districts website.

Superintendent Peter Ansingh has said he understands the inconvenience that relocating classes will have for parents, students and staff, but said that it is in the best interest of everyone involved to have the windows replaced immediately instead of waiting to replace some until next summer.

Our worst fear would be that we get to a point in December or January where the mold has gotten out of hand and then what do we do in terms of relocating all those students? Ansingh said during a recent school board meeting. Its a huge inconvenience for sure, but well be able, we hope, in mid-October to welcome students and staff back to a watertight school.

The district is hosting a series of meetings and events for students and parents before classes resume on Aug. 21, including an informational meeting tonight:

5:30 p.m. tonight Hillside parent meeting at Phenix Early Childhood Center, 415 Seventh St.

Tuesday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m. 2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Walk-in registration at Phenix.

Monday, Aug. 20, 4-5:30 p.m. Ice Cream Social at Lutheran Church of Hope.

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Hillside Elementary to relocate to WDM church temporarily

The wall at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (credit: CBS)

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (CBS4) A massive airport retaining wall built just a few years ago is already failing and its costing the public a bundle of money. The airport manager says it could not have been predicted.

The retaining wall is on the north end of the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield.

Theres generally concern that, Is the wall crumbling? Is it falling down? Airport Manager Ken Maenpa said.

The 70-foot-high wall, which supports a new taxiway, has a massive crack in it. Its big enough to fit an arm in. Dirt is pouring out and the instability shows in jagged cracks throughout.

Since we discovered, and got confirmation that the wall was indeed moving, its impacted a lot of people, including myself, because weve all been working together on solutions to stop it from moving, Maenpa said.

At one point airport administrators say the wall was moving as much as three inches every week. They had to temporarily stop using a road on top of the wall. Theyve poured 12,000 cubic yards of dirt at the base of the wall to help stabilize things. The project is now encroaching on state Highway 128.

So far the airport has had to spend about $250,000 in public money to buttress the problem wall, but a permanent fix will cost a whole lot more.

Authorities say they suddenly discovered this year water was flowing under the wall hundred gallons a day eating away at the foundation.

A term that I would use is unforeseen condition. When you go through and youre using good engineering practices when youre designing something and doing everything that you should do and something like water appears out of nowhere thats whose fault, if you want to start talking about fault, thats the best that we could probably come up with right now, Maenpa said.

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Airport Retaining Wall Failing, Public Foots The Bill

They are banned from publicising their work until next year, under draconian rules to protect Olympic sponsors. These rules are against the whole spirit of the Olympics, claims Angela Brady, the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Crushing the small guy is just not on.

She has written to Lord Coe, the chairman of the organising committee, to demand that the ban is overturned immediately. Coe is my last hope, says Brady. If Seb cant overturn the ban, then no one can. The end of the years no good. All eyes are on London right now. I want the architects to be able to stand proudly in front of their buildings and talk about them to international TV crews.

Princess Michael of Kent, who once said she would go anywhere for a free meal, takes a keen interest in men's wallets. Jeremy Robson, the publisher, tells Mandrake: We brought out a book on the Orient Express and took a number of celebrities on the luxury train. Princess Michael asked me for my business card, but when she saw the state of my wallet she was appalled and asked how could I have such a battered old thing. I didnt know she was such an expert on wallets.

New chapter for Ed Balls

Having bankrolled Ed Ballss failed attempt to become leader of the Labour Party to the tune of 127,500, Ken Follett and his wife, Barbara, turned their attentions to Ballss wife, Yvette Cooper. They helped her to pay for a member of staff.

Happily, the best-selling author has not lost faith in Coopers husband. He has now donated 30,000 to the shadow chancellors office.

Ethics? They are an ad hoc matter

The Conservative Partys annual report includes a list of its committees. Of the chairmanship of its Ethics & Integrity body, it says: Appointed on an ad hoc basis

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London 2012 Olympics: Architects call on Lord Coe to end Olympics ban

By Debra McCown/Bristol Herald Courier - Ginny Barker (in pink) tells tour participants about the fine features in the kitchen of John and Mary Beth Poma during the Twilight Kitchen Tour on Thursday evening.

One kitchen boasts granite countertops and decorative white cabinets; in another, wormy chestnut and sculpted metal form an entirely different look.

It is a world of pop-up mixers and sliding spice cabinets, microwave drawers and hidden ice makers: Kitchen tours have become a popular and successful means to help fund the Virginia Highlands Festival.

Abingdon is sort of given to tours of homes because there are so many historic places in Abingdon, explained Sue Clark, a member of the festivals board of directors and its home and garden committee, which oversees the kitchen tours. Any time we get to go into some of these old places, we jump at it.

The tours feature a variety of houses, from the historic to the opulent to the typical.

I think they enjoy seeing how other people decorate their homes, said Ginny Barker, a festival volunteer who was showing tour participants around one of the kitchens Thursday.

Two tours are held each year, organizers said: one in the evening and one during the day. This year, the daytime tour sold all 80 tickets at a price of $15 each. The twilight tour sold nearly all of its 70 tickets at a price of $35 each.

Clark said the proceeds pay for such things as tents and setup for the annual 16-day summer festival, which helps drive Abingdon tourism.

Betty Cline and Louise King said they havent missed a single kitchen tour since they began in the early 1960s.

I just love kitchens, Cline said, and I love the new renovations that they come out with every year.

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Kitchen tours popular at Virginia Highlands Festival

Faith Zaba

A ROW is brewing over potentially corrupt selection of architects for major government public works projects, amid allegations that plum contracts are mostly being given to Zanu PF-aligned consultants. In interviews with Zimbabwe Independent, local architects accused the ministry of public works and other government departments of favouring a few individuals connected to Zanu PF when selecting architects to design and supervise major government projects. However, senior officials in the ministry of public works dismissed allegations of corruption in the awarding of contracts, saying the nomination of consultants was done on merit, not cronysm. But a Harare-based architect said: There are about 30 to 40 black architects in the country, but government works programmes are being given to just a few people. One person who has benefitted the most is JB (Joel Biggy) Matiza, when there are so many other architects who can also do the job. This has always been a big issue among local architects. Matiza has a big advantage over other architects because he is an MP and he gets to know about state projects before us. We have always been advocating the equitable distribution of public programmes. One way of making the process more transparent and accountable would be to subject the process to design competitions. This way, the best company wins and it also deals with corruption. Some of the big projects which Matizas Studio Arts company designed include the first proposed parliament building which was supposed to be constructed in the Kopje area but has since been shifted to Mount Hampden; the unfinished Central Registry offices; Interpol offices; the Social Security Centres; Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Kariba airports; Zimdef building in Bulawayo; and the Bindura, Chinhoyi, Lupane and Masvingo state universities. The most recent contract awarded to Matiza is the Victoria Falls United Nations World Tourism Organisation conference project, expected to cost US$1 billion, involving the construction of two hotels, a shopping mall, convention centre and a golf course. Architects are paid 6% of the total cost of the project, while quantity surveyors get 3% and engineers 5%. However, Public Works permanent secretary Engineer George Mlilo said Matiza was awarded the contracts on merit. He said a consultant is usually chosen from a pool of architects depending on the project. Mlilo said they consider the architects track record and his or her companys ability to design and supervise the project. We know all the consultants and we know their performance and their track record and from that we then decide who to commission to do the design and supervise the project, he said. Some of these architects dont supervise to our satisfaction. Some of them dont perform; they dont have the staff to supervise and monitor the projects and this comes out in their reports. We choose the ones that have a reputation to deliver, which Matiza has. He designed the proposed parliament building and this has not been implemented and I am not sure if we even paid him for that project. Normally, we dont pay fully until the project is implemented. University jobs are a repeat job. Mlilo said there are 520 government capital projects, which are at a standstill because of lack of funding. These range from hospitals, to decentralised registry offices and clinics. These projects are spread across local architects. Our aim is to finish up the projects that we started because we are losing our investment on these projects the longer we take, he said. Another top official in the ministry pointed out that just like you, you go to the best doctor, you dont just go to any. We choose the best person for the job. We cant give everyone. Matiza is a very good architect and he is very enterprising. We look at company profiles as well. (See page 5)

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Row over public works contracts

Express-Times photographer Matt Smith is offering a season-long look at some of the people who keep the Lehigh Valley IronPigs flying. Check back for more Down on the Farm features.

Next time you grumble about working over a hot stove making dinner, just think it could be worse.

Jan Giejda starts every work day at 7:30 a.m. wondering how hes going to satisfy a hungry crowd of 1,500 to 1,600.

Plus, as executive chef for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he also has to feed two baseball teams per game twice.

Its what I love, Giejda says of his job. Of all the places I worked and all the places Ive been this is the biggest challenge Ive ever had in my career.

Its his third season with the IronPigs, after a 22-year career in the food industry.

As we go behind the scenes at the IronPigs, you can tell this is a job that requires passion and organization.

Giejda is in charge of the 19 private suites, two party porches, team suite, four dugout suites, picnic patio (which seats 500), the Red Robin Tiki Terrace, press box, Pig Stop, Red Robin Oasis (where you can get cooked-to-order meals), the bar menu on the club level and catering. Concessions are a whole different animal.

Giejda jokes that he sleeps about four hours per night.

Before a 7:05 p.m. game, his mornings start with paperwork and by 8:30 a.m. hes already prepping for the following day.

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Down on the Farm: Cooking in the kitchen

Plant thieves target Joel Eisenbaum's home

Police are looking for a man and woman who, they said, have been making off with expensive potted plants right off people's porches in the Heights area.

On the Inner Loop Houston Crime Alerts Facebook page, there is post after post about two potted plant thieves.

KPRC Local 2 investigator Joel Eisenbaum is a recent victim himself.

"All of a sudden I see this guy bear-hugging one of my planters, moving slowly toward his car. I'm like, 'What is this guy doing?'" said Eisenbaum.

Eisenbaum said the back of this thieves' SUV was filled with potted plants, and he got a good look at the suspect.

"I swear this guy looked exactly like the singer Marc Anthony. I'm like, 'What is Marc Anthony doing stealing my plants?'" Eisenbaum said.

Residents said thefts have happened on Harvard Street, 17th and Studewood, just to name a few. Residents just want these thieves caught.

"When you're the victim of crime, even small petty crime, it's a bummer," Eisenbaum said.

Eisenbaum and other victims said the thieves are traveling in a green Honda CRV with paper license plates.

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Thieves steal pricey potted plants

As summer temperatures soar and our bodies break into sweat, we seek shelter indoors, where we're protected from bugs and heat. But even on the hottest day, we should not disregard the porch.

Screened porches offer an experience that cannot be found elsewhere. They are the meeting point between home and garden, offering exposure to the elements with the protection and comfort of being indoors. In other words, the best of both worlds.

"It's nature up close, but not too personal," said Washington, D.C.-based designer Christopher Patrick. "That's a fun luxury to play around with."

But screened porches are not always fun to decorate.

"It's a hybrid space, so people have a tough time figuring out how to approach it," said James Farmer, author of the book "Porch Living" ($30, Gibbs Smith). "It's not inside, but it's not outside. It's not the garden, but it's not the dining room. It can be whatever you want it to be, but having too many options is intimidating. People don't know where to begin."

To simplify things, Farmer recommends approaching the porch exactly as you would a living room. Decide what functions the space should serve and then decorate it accordingly, adjusting finishes and fabrics to suit an outdoor living space. The aesthetic goal, he said, is for the porch to be an extension of the home.

When designer David Mitchell decorated his porch, he enclosed it with screens to capture the nostalgic feeling of summer camp in North Carolina, a beloved childhood memory.

The challenge was making the narrow, 10- by 20-foot space seem roomy for a group and also pleasant during Washington, D.C., heat waves.

"I wanted room for six of us to have cocktails and dinner," he said. "Once I finally figured that out, I had to make it bearable."

Doing so required experimentation, but Mitchell settled on a combination of ceiling fans and Dyson floor fans. Overhead fans spin hot air around, he said, while floor fans circulate the cooler air before it rises.

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Decorating and enjoying a screened porch

461 Second St., Unit 126, San Francisco

Beds: 1 Baths: 1 Square footage: 1,250 Price: $4,500/mo.

This furnished brick and timber loft in the historic ClockTower has an open floor plan, exposed brick and timber beams and dark hardwood throughout its lower level. The bedroom features plantation shutter enclosures, a desk and chaise longue. Its full bath has custom fixtures and a shower-over-tub with granite surround. The kitchen has a breakfast bar, granite countertops, glass-tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances. The dining room converts into a guest bedroom with a queen-size Murphy bed. The unit has a washer and dryer, and a one-car garage parking space is included.

Leasing agent: Leah Johnson, McGuire Real Estate, (415) 901-2781, ljohnson@mcguire.com.

106 Lake Merced Hill, San Francisco

Beds: 2 Baths: 2.5 Square footage: 2,000 Price: $4,500/mo.

This three-level townhome is furnished in a gated and guarded community. Offering views of Lake Merced, it includes a home office along with a formal dining room, a sunken living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a deck and parking for two cars. The eat-in kitchen has a breakfast bar, new appliances, new tile countertops and cabinets. There is also a full laundry room. The condominium community holds a large central clubhouse, a heated swimming pool, a spa, two saunas and three tennis courts. There's also a golf course nearby.

Leasing agent: Peter Chovanes, Vanguard Property Management, (415) 517-7667, pchovanes@gmail.com.

The Chronicle and BlockShopper San Francisco scour the Bay Area to find what range of properties renters can get for their money. This week, What You Can Rent looks at homes for $4,500.

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What you can rent in San Francisco for $4,500