Page N1.1 . 26 May 2004
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San Francisco AIA Awards 2004
Going Green in New England
Learning from Pierre Koenig
by ArchitectureWeek
During the past few years of economic slow-down, American architecture has witnessed several trends: thoughtful rehabilitation of a nostalgic past, a quiet exploration of the next phase of modernism, meeting or exceeding strict sustainability standards, and � especially in California � careful reinforcement against the next big earthquake. These trends are all represented in the 2004 design awards from the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIASF).
One of the seven recipients of the "Excellence in Design" award was the Hearst Memorial Mining Building on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Renovation of the 1907 building was carried out by the firms of NBBJ and Page & Turnbull. As part of its retrofit, the building was given a foundation system that allows it to move 28 inches (71 centimeters) in any horizontal direction in an earthquake.
The evolution from mining to mineral engineering among the building's occupants is reflected in the modernization of wiring and telecommunications, executed carefully to avoid damaging the historic character. In the grand Memorial Gallery, each pane of glass in a central skylight was inventoried, repaired if necessary, and restored. In the arches, Guastavino tiles, a rarity in west-coast architecture, were reinforced with pins and fiberglass from behind.
A more modern approach to protection from the forces of nature is visible in the Stinson Beach House, designed by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop. The volumes of the house create wind-sheltered outdoor spaces that take advantage of views out to sea and behind, to the surrounding hills. The floor is raised above the dunes with breakaway walls, allowing a tsunami to flow under the structure if needed. The interior is lined with fir, and a lightweight concrete floor the color sand runs throughout the house. >>>
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The renovation of the 1907 Hearst Memorial Mining Building at UC Berkeley, by NBBJ and Page & Turnbull, received a design award from AIA San Francisco.
Photo: Tim Griffith
The Stinson Beach House designed by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop.
Photo: Matthew Millman, Proctor Jones, Eric Haesloop
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