For more than thirty years, the Builder’s Choice Design Awards has celebrated innovation in residential design. A jury of residential architects and designers awards hand-picked projects based on criteria including design excellence,…
Discussing Design Inspiration, Taking Risks and Imperfection in Rural Wisconsin
In September 2022, our team journeyed to rural Wisconsin to uncover a hidden gem of modern architecture. The Svart Hus, meaning “dark house” in Swedish, stands at just over 2,600 square feet.…
Seijin no Hi: Coming of Age for Japan’s Youth
In Japan, the second Monday in January is Seijin no Hi or Coming-of-Age Day. This year, Seijin no Hi falls on January 9th. It’s a national holiday and day of celebration for…
World Cup Clean Up: Japanese Cleaning Goes Viral
The World Cup in Qatar is making the whole world go wild, and Japan’s national team has been doing well, beating Germany with a surprise comeback in their first game. I personally…
A Tour of Stephen Proctor’s Rivendell Home
Form, function and the house of your dreams. On a warm summer evening, we visited Stephen Proctor at his Rivendell project in the hills above the Columbia River. Stephen is a visual…
Passive House Case Study: Issaquah
The Passive House building standard is the most rigorous in terms of energy efficient design. It leads the industry in both Europe and North America. We recently had the opportunity to check…
Sugi Cypress: Different Uses for this Wonder Wood
Japanese cypress, known in Japan as sugi, is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Sugi cypress is endemic to the country. You can find sugi in its different forms all over Japan. Its…