THE NEW WATERFRONT: San Francisco America's Cup Catalyst

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THE NEW WATERFRONT: San Francisco America's Cup Catalyst

Large-scale waterfront renewal is one of the most dynamic areas of urban design today. New York City just unveiled its first city-wide plan for the waterfront in two decades and its 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.

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PRESERVATION REVISITED: Is Balance Needed?

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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 preservation ordinances, and landmark reviews reinforce this value.

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THE GREENEST BUILDING? One That's Already Built

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THE GREENEST BUILDING? 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.

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ARCHITECT BARBIE: Role Model or Ridiculous?

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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 2011 American Institute of Architects (AIA) national convention. In conjunction with the debut, Mattel spotlighted architecture as the “Career of the Year” for Barbie who now has over 125 careers in her resume.

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WATERFRONT WARRIORS? What?

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WATERFRONT WARRIORS? What?

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 Warriors’ latest proposal for dilapidated Piers 30-32.

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JULIA MORGAN: Architect Par Excellence

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JULIA MORGAN: Architect Par Excellence

A cursory survey of this architect’s work illustrates that Julia Morgan was a great role model for all architects and for all women. As for the buildings, their quiet exuberance is always apparent.

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AB1999: A Missed Opportunity

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AB1999: A Missed Opportunity

Governor Jerry Brown missed a great opportunity to stimulate an important part of California’s economy last month. AB1999, a state tax credit bill for preservation projects, was vetoed by his office on the grounds that the federal rehabilitation tax credit was enough.

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BAY AREA HOUSING: The Shape of Things to Come?

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BAY AREA HOUSING: The Shape of Things to Come?

For years, demand for housing in the Bay Area has surpassed supply resulting in today’s housing crisis. As fast as the building pace has become in areas like San Jose and San Francisco, many zoning laws still prohibit high density housing and agonizingly long approval processes discourage quick solutions. Large projects typically take 5-10 years from initial planning to actual construction, usually spanning an entire building cycle from its high point to its lowest.

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