Buffett Design

In 2009 I tried to enter a Dwell Sustainable Garage competition. I missed the entry deadline by an hour. The exercise was a fun challenge and the result is still interesting to me 17 years later. The concept utilized solar panels to split water into hydrogen and store it as fuel for hydrogen powered vehicles. Run the system backwards and it generates electricity to charge electric vehicles and power the home. The garage was essentially a power plant. Corten steel made the frame and giant mats of 1” thick rubber from recycled tires make up door panels that pocket into the steel frame. I wish I didn’t miss that deadline. New rendering tools have inspired me to bring this project back to life.

Our rammed earth off-grid home is getting engineered. Excitement is building. The momentum should pick up very quickly on this one. Stay tuned if you want to see it evolve from drawings to habitation!

Completed remodel in Encinitas. Wood rain screen detail and fabricated in-house by Miles. After a year the richness of color has started to slowly fade. In a few decades it will silver naturally. No oils or sealers of any kind have been applied to the Garapa.

An evolving remodel/ ADU in Solana Beach. The client has been playing with the project long enough for us to benefit immensely from the new ADU municipal code. It has allowed us to rehabilitate an existing non conforming home that was rotting away, by building an exoskeleton around it, to support the new ADU above.

Gentle battering and soft chamfers. This refined fireplace design relies on subtle sculpting for maximum effect. What are your thoughts on fireplaces without mantles?

After 5 different options, the roof has been decided. Clients have chosen a low slung hip roof with large overhangs and boxed eaves. Stay tuned to see how the exterior materials are developed.

I love this roof design. It centralizes water catchment, articulates the entry, projects the views in the living room toward the Pacific and parallels the topography to the east. One thing it does not do well is harvest electricity. Keep an eye out for some significant roof changes.

We treat every project the same. Each undergoes the same process and deserves the same attention. Here we create a space for family to visit. Would you hang out here or is it too exposed?

Project walk. Client is a metal machinist and fabricator. He build a nice stainless steel surround for the outdoor fireplace. It is a brilliant touch. Time for landscape! Move in date is now sooner than later.

Project Walk: After and Before. I will leave it to you to determine which is which. Wait till you see this space finished out. Same program. Different layout. You will be stunned. We are slowly curating classic views of Southern California n home at a time.