It’s quite the journey to do a ‘whole house remodel’ … but the big return is to enjoy the final space, views, and character. This transformation will take a very dated cut up home that was originally a series of boxes with windows and open things up very dramatically. South Sacramento, contractor Josh Hermann; design by Applied Architecture Inc, MF Malinowski FAIA
Category: Studio Chatter
Globe Mill 12 Year Milestone
It’s so hard to believe it was 12 years ago we completed the iconic Globe Mill project, saving an abandoned industrial complex on the edge of Downtown Sacramento for loft and senior housing. A once in a lifetime experience in so many ways … and how much has changed since then.
Rest in peace Ali Youssefi
BEL VUE: PRESERVATION WINNER!!
On behalf of the California Preservation Foundation’s Board of Trustees, we are pleased to inform you that the The Bel Vue was selected to receive a 2020 Preservation Design Award in the Rehabilitation category. We congratulate you and the project team for your outstanding work and your dedication to historic preservation. We received more than 50 nominations this year, a record for CPF and evidence of the many successful projects throughout the state.
The award will be presented at the California Preservation Awards, to be held online on October 21, 2020, as part of a month-long celebration with a focus on the eighteen winning projects. We are excited to announce a new format and scope for the awards, including a series of educational webinars, an online Preservation Expo, and a movie night to complement the formal awards ceremony. In the last six months, CPF’s online programming has attracted thousands of visitors from across the U.S. and fourteen countries. With that in mind, all of the California Preservation Awards programs will be open to the public via Zoom and Facebook LIVE, further expanding the audience for historic preservation and creating larger impacts in wider communities.
The California Preservation Awards showcase the best in historic preservation, recognizing achievements in architecture, history, design, and engineering. The The Bel Vue is an excellent example of this, and we are thrilled to recognize your work. Please review and submit the important forms listed in the attached document so CPF can give you and your team the recognition you deserve during the awards presentation.
Your exemplary contribution to the preservation of California’s rich and diverse historic resources will be recognized during our festive events, on our website, and on our social media streams
We look forward to seeing you live online before an international audience on October 21st! Congratulations!
From Dream to Reality
It can take a bit of patience, but Architects DO make dreams become real … this new home underway in Wilton is definitely headed in the right direction!
Our latest ADU in midtown
A former small ‘storefront’ that was added decades ago didn’t find much interest from office users – but in a new incarnation as a spiffy, stylish and small living Accessory Dwelling – it was rented immediately. The S Street location is the site of some other Accessory Dwellings we are currently working on – the word is getting out that these small independent units have people eager to move in!
National Park Service Approval
We got word today that the National Park Service has approved the Bel-Vue historic rehabilitation project for the federal Historic Tax Credits! Another one added to Applied Architecture’s 100% success rate for technical Secretary of Interior Standard / ‘Part 3’ Final Approvals.
xSubject: Bel Vue Apartments, Part 3 decision
July 8, 2020
PROPERTY: The Bel Vue Apartments, 1117-1123 8th Street, Sacramento, Los Angeles, CA
PROJECT NUMBER: 36232
APPLICATION: Part 3
The National Park Service (NPS) has reviewed your Historic Preservation Certification Applications – Part 3- Request for Certification of Completed Work for the property cited above and has determined that the completed rehabilitation meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
Due to the ongoing public health emergency, NPS Technical Preservation Services staff are currently teleworking from home. This notice of decision is a copy solely for notice to the applicant. An officially signed application decision (dated July 6, 2020) will be mailed to you as soon as possible, but please anticipate that there may be up to a 1-to-2-week delay.
Antonio Aguilar
Historical Architect
Technical Preservation Services
National Park Service
Urban Infill Housing taking shape in Curtis Park
Two mirror image homes taking shape right now in Curtis park – on tiny 40 x 40 parcels. This is urban infill in action! These are four bedroom 3 bath with 2 car attached garages, a bit more than 2000 sq ft each in liveable area. The rendering shows where we’re headed with an Applied Architecture transitional design motif.
Applied Architecture – Best Residential Architect : again !!
From: ThreeBestRated.com [mailto:support@threebestrated.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2020 7:00 AM
To: Applied Architecture Inc
Subject: Your 2020 Review as Top 3 Residential Architects by Three Best Rated® 👍
APPLIED ARCHITECTURE INC 2550 X Street (Corner of 26th and X) , Sacramento, CA 95818 Congratulations! You are now listed as one of the Top 3 Residential architects in Sacramento, CA. We would like to Thank You for providing consistent high-quality service in your area of business. Our review team either approved or updated your business listing using our rigorous 50-Point Inspection which includes everything from checking reputation, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, nearness, trust, cost and general excellence. The most important field on our website is the Unique description of the businesses, which has written to appeal to potential customers. Here is the blurb ” Applied Architecture Inc is one of the architectural firms in Sacramento. Mike has been active in the American Institute of Architects for over thirty-five years. They are a passionate and professional team and crafting design solutions that apply archite…” For a full description check the link here https://threebestrated.com/residential-architects-in-sacramento-ca Three Best Rated® was created with a simple goal to find you the top 3 local businesses, professionals, restaurants, health care providers, etc., in your city. We display only businesses that are verified by our team since customers deserve only the best. That’s not all… Businesses do not pay us to list them ever. You do not pay us for the listing at any time. We believe that local businesses provide better and personal services locally. Local businesses know your city better since they live there too. Our policy is free to list because if you can pay to list, then is it really the best business? It has been an honour and a pleasure to work with you. Share this exciting news! Sincerely, Melinda Crawford, ThreeBestRated® “Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.”- Harold Kushner “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”- Colin Powell “There’s constant reinvention: how you do business, how you deal with customers.” – Indra Nooyi “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”- Steve Jobs |
Kudos from a customer: warms the heart
Hi Mike,
…. I was very pleased to work with Joe Montalvo and his team of tradesmen. I credit him with the way costs were contained; they ended up being very close to the estimates and allowances we assembled last July. There were surprises and complications along the way of course, but we worked together to solve problems. There is one more inspection and Joe won’t call for it until fans are installed in the crawlspace as specified. The cost of the project came out to be very close to your estimate of nearly a year ago, when initial discussions were leading up to actual drawings and specifications.
The remodel has improved the look of the house immensely. The reconfigured interior space is great, and we really like the Velux skylights you recommended. I will soon have new furniture and then the space can begin to feel like home again. The patio is especially terrific. Reorienting it along the long axis of the house, under the new trusses has made a huge difference in function and appearance.
Many thanks for getting us to this point. The house is a better fit now, and we should have many good years to enjoy it.
Judy
Container Architecture in an Urban setting
Container architecture is a trendy modality that is gaining traction. When driven to consider this motif strictly by ‘low budget’ the results can be disasterous. There are emerging examples of how this design specialty can add an edgy vibe in a low density environment, even in a ‘quasi urban’ setting.
Ideally, infill development has design details that contribute to a neighborhood’s economic vitality. Examples include high quality materials, permanent landscaping, creative and innovative use of light, color, and form; massing which is compatible with the existing streetscape, and thoughtful provisions for such mundance necessities as utilities, trash, security, and ‘eyes on the street’ at all hours.
Using Containers in architecture is a new and evolving motif that can in theory achieve desired goals, but the highest degree of design experience talent and resources are required to do so with this modality as compared to more conventional development. A well thought out design whether using containers or not adds stability, visual appeal, economic vitality and beauty in façade and landscape treatment.
Here is an example of a container ‘restaurant’ structure that is in downtown Carlsbad. In it’s context, I believe this has been a successful installation. Part of the story is that the container motif helped avoid any excavation on this former gas station occupied parcel with serious ground contamination that prevented excavation. Landscape consisted of stabilized decomposed granite and artificial turf, with wrought iron fencing. There are probably other examples of how this design challenge has been ‘pulled off ‘ – along with I’m afraid many examples of attempts which have been less than successful.
For an example of what would be a visual disaster in a similar urban location, here is a different example of a ‘container art gallery’. While this project has won design awards – it works only in its suburban setting as a temporary installation space. In an urban setting it would have been a visual disaster. The interiors are lovely – but this composition is not so friendly on the exterior. More here: http://aiasf.org/programs/competition/design-awards/2012/triskelion/
Design Studies for a new Second Story
Another Land Park Transformation taking shape: From One story to Two. Sustainability includes making better use of small homes on small parcels to accommodate the needs of modern families. In the traditional close in neighborhoods of Sacramento like Land Park and East Sacramento, respecting the neighborhood includes respecting the traditional context.
AIA Retreat for 2013
Bob Chase AIA, incoming AIACV President, gathered the incoming board and others for a four hour Board Retreat on Friday the 18th . This was an intense and lively session laying out AIACV vision for creating value for its members in 2013 and beyond.
The meeting began with an update on the National AIA Repositioning initiative presented by Michael F. Malinowski AIA. Mike is one of three architects from California that serve on the National Board; and he is a member of AIA’s Repositioning Committee.
A major announcement is expected in March at the Grassroots Conference in Washington DC: A roadmap for action to address the opportunities and disconnects that have come to light in the year- long data gathering effort that touched over 30,000 architects, clients, and the public.
2010 Holiday Greetings from the Applied Architects
2428 K Street Storefront
On K Street in the Heart of Midtown! 700 Sq Ft storefront for Rent avail Dec 1st