Seismic Brewing Tap Room

For this project we were tasked with creating a Tap Room for a local brewery that expressed their commitment to craft, sustainability and place.   The Seismic Brewing Company ethos is rooted in a commitment to sustainability, and as such this project is seeking LEED Platinum Certification.

The manifestation of their commitment to craft was expressed in a design aesthetic that reflected a simple material palette, artfully and cleanly expressed.  Wood, steel, concrete and glass were the building blocks of this environment.  The client sought to create varied experiences within the Tap Room, so we created different environments within the project footprint.  Indoor and Outdoor spaces were blended to create multiple seating atmospheres.  We also included a unique sculptural bench; using wood to celebrate the craft of the Architecture of the space – reflecting the owner’s commitment to craft brewing.

Tasting Room – Dry Creek Valley

For this project we were tasked with creating a unique tasting experience within an existing functioning winery facility.  The client required the ability to close off the tasting room from the rest of the winery if needed, but still feel part of the flow of operations.

We created a small tasting area enclosed by sliding glass partitions to allow the client to regulate the interaction between the tasting room and winery facility.  We also created a unique tasting experience by repurposing barrel staves into a suspended ceiling.

California Indian Museum & Cultural Center

The California Indian Museum and Cultural Center is an adaptive re-use of an existing office and warehouse. The entire first floor is being remodeled into an audio/visual museum. The intent was to create a recognizable Museum Presence within the existing building. The CIMCC defined a need to create a destination, and a strong sense of place in an otherwise innocuous building. The project includes several structural modifications to remove building columns, relocate shear walls, and add an elevator. The project utilizes sustainable materials throughout.

Daniel J. Strening was the Project Architect at Henderson Architect for this project.

Anderson Valley Winery

This project was the initial concept design for a winery facility in the Anderson Valley. The client wished to take advantage of the existing hill and incorporate wine caves for some barrel storage, and allow for other aspects of the winery to be contained in simple rural building forms. We split off the tasting room to one side of the caves and their entry plaza, with the barns and covered area of the tanks and winemaking facilities off to the other.

We also incorporated a unique tasting experience into the design of the wine caves to provide for a one of a kind visitor experience.

Daniel Strening was the lead designer at Osborn Design Group for this project.

West Soda Rock Market

This project was for a ‘wine market’ across the street from a winery we had previously designed. The idea was that this would be a simple contemporary structure that could house a small farmers market, deli and espresso bar – in addition to wine sales.

The building was designed to reflect the unique ingenuity of typical agricultural forms, and add a layer of sophistication to reflect the client’s sensibilities.

Sonoma County Residence

This project was for a young couple expecting their first child. Their current residence was a small Russian river cabin that had been ‘re-modeled’ in early 2000. Since they were soon to be a Trio, the couple sought to recoup some space via the existing workshop adjacent to the house. Delicately negotiating severe county restrictions on developing the property, we were able to redesign the existing residence and add on 250 more square feet of living space. The clients wished for a house that spoke to the current time period, – something modern and green. The end goal was to end up on the ‘unhappy hipsters’ blog – we’ll see if we get there…

Glen Ellen Residence

This project was for a retired couple that had lived in this house for over 30 years. They wanted to re-imagine their house for how they wished to live in their retirement. The existing house was full of memory due to the client’s direct involvement in its construction, so the design sought to honor that memory, and celebrate a new part of the house’s history.The notion of a house as a piece of furniture was a defining mantra of the design; we sought to express the structural system with an intricate Timber Frame to give the project a more refined notion of cabin.This structure then afforded a way of developing a veranda and window pattern that incorporated a more sophisticated notion of indoor and outdoor space. The house now takes full advantage of its serene surroundings.Daniel Strening was the Project Architect at Henderson Architect for this project.

Santa Rosa Residence

This project is a kitchen remodel project for a house originally built in 1939. The elegant details and character of the era are reflected in the main part of the house. However, this was not reflected in the wing that housed the kitchen. The original design for this wing of the house was a small kitchen and a warren of little rooms for the servants. This wing was very dark, with flat ceilings and dated details that did not match the quality of the rest of the house. Our approach was to bring in natural light, open up the ceilings and refocus the kitchen as the center of the house for the lifestyle of the current owners, while making sure the new work reflected the elegance of the main part of the house.

 

The clients sought a new kitchen space to more closely fit their modern lifestyle. They have two young daughters and lead active lives, and had the desire for their new kitchen to function as the center of their house. Another key desire was a bright, comfortable kitchen that spoke to the rich detail and grand spaces of the rest of their house. They also sought a more direct link to their backyard that the current layout did not accommodate.
The design response was to clear out the ‘warren-like’ room layout of the former servants quarters and open up the entire wing to a kitchen and connected family room space. The low flat existing ceiling was opened up with some new trusses that celebrated the details of the old, while providing a reflection of the current work.

The whole North side of the house was opened up with pairs of windows that match the existing, bringing in abundant natural light, supplemented with cove lighting detailed to reflect the elegance of the other rooms of the house.

Pacific Heights Residence

 

This project was for a newly married couple looking to correct some wrongs done to this wonderful residence. The unit was in a building built in 1911 and had outstanding original details, with some really ill-advised remodel choices made by a previous owner. Our directive was to bring the entire unit up to a level of quality and sophistication that reflected its rich history.

The first phase of the project was to redesign the existing fireplace conditions on the living and dining room walls. In addition to providing some much needed storage, and an only slightly less needed wet bar, we brought the mantles and fireplace surrounds to a place that felt as though they had always been.
The second phase was to remodel the master bath, and add an additional guest bath within a fairly tight footprint – all with an eye to making it seem as if it had always been…

Orinda Residence

This project was a residence for a young couple starting a new family. The site was a spectacular hilltop site within minutes of downtown. The client wished for a home that could serve as their foundation for the next 30 years. With this in mind we placed a large emphasis on the designing the kitchen as the heart of the home. We rebuilt the rear of the house to incorporate an open and airy kitchen – designing a space that would serve as the nerve center of their lives. Bringing in natural light, views and access to the outdoors was essential to make this work for the clients. We then reconfigured the rest of the house to more accurately reflect the process of their daily life.