FIELD NOTES

Guide to Wildfire Defense for California Residents

Protect your home from wildfires with our guide on wildfire defense, home hardening, and creating defensible space for California residents.

Building Smart

Jul 6, 20245 min read

How Architectural Fees Work at studio c

Discover the best payment structure for your architectural project: hourly rates for flexibility or fixed fees for predictability.

Building Smart

Apr 30, 20242 min read

Exploring the Modern Accessory Dwelling Unit Design: Trends and Versatile Features

Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Trends: compact, eco-friendly spaces that boost property value. Perfect for rentals or family. #ADUDesign

Building Smart

Mar 30, 20242 min read

Discover the Benefits of Air Sealing in New Home Construction

In the quest for a healthier, more sustainable living environment, the concept of air sealing in new home construction plays a pivotal role. This process, crucial in Passive House design, ensures that homes are not only energy-efficient but also comfortable and durable. Passive House Scheme - Ventilation System - source: Wikimedia Why Air Sealing Matters Air sealing prevents unwanted air infiltration, which can lead to moisture damage, energy loss, and poor indoor air quality

Passive House

Mar 3, 20242 min read

Attended CoreNet Global’s May Chapter Meeting in SF. Dr. Poppy Crum discussed “Solving the ‘Cognitive Tax’ in the Age of AI,” focusing on Biological ROI by engineering the work environment. Key themes: Neuroplasticity at Scale, using AI to replace drudgery, and eliminating “Extraneous Load” to protect the “Zone of Genius.” Digital twins are essential for creating virtual replicas to optimize space, productivity, and safety.

#CoreNetGlobal
#CognitiveTax
#DrPoppyCrum
#FutureOfWork
#DigitalTwins

We’re heading back to my alma mater, UC Berkeley, for the 25th Annual California Green Building Conference @usgbcca ! 🐻

Last year, I had a great time helping host the PHCA booth after being invited by Brian from Studio Pear @studio_pear I am thrilled to keep the momentum going and do it again this year—but this time, officially stepping up as a Board Member of Passive House California (@passivehousecal )!

If you are passionate about green design, decarbonization, or just want to learn what Passive House standards are all about, please come find us. I would love to welcome you and chat about how we can build a healthier, more resilient California together.

Tickets are moving fast—check the link in my bio to grab yours. See you at Cal on May 28th! 👇

#PHCA #PassiveHouse #CGBC2026 #USGBCCA #GreenBuilding #UCBerkeley #GoBears #BuildingScience #ClimateResilience #StudioPear #Architecture #CaliforniaSustainability #NetZero

Today was a good day.
After three years of continuances, the Zoning Administrator approved a variance and small-lot design review for a substandard-lot fire rebuild.
For this hearing I tried something new. I built a custom quick-lookup app for the podium — searchable, color-coded, every code citation, every staff-report quote, every script for questions outside scope, all a keystroke away.
Built collaboratively with Claude as a research and drafting partner over the past three weeks.
Some surprises along the way. The neighbors who has opposed this project for years didn't appear. Several other neighbors came to speak in support. The hearing was quiet, professional, and the variance was approved.
Solo-practice architecture is mostly the slow work of showing up, doing the homework, and respecting the record. Tools like this lighten the homework. The judgment is still ours.
Grateful for today.
#architecture #soloarchitect #californiaarchitect #publicagency #zoning #zoningadministrator #variancehearing #residentialarchitecture #studiocarchitecture #aiinarchitecture #architecturalpractice #contracosta #bayareaarchitect

Passive House ADU in schematic; testing/learning PH Live Sync.

#phlivesync

Joined the Cohousing Crawl with East Bay Cohousing and visited Berkeley Cohousing and Pleasant Hill Cohousing — both shaped by Charles Durrett and The Cohousing Company (@cohousingco_01).

I first met Charles in Nevada City back in 2018, and his work has continued to influence how I think about architecture as a framework for community: shared meals, everyday encounters, and sustainability woven into the way people live together.
Always come away from these visits reminded that good design is not just about buildings, but about the neighbors they help create.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cohousingcommunity #communityliving
#sustainableliving #sustainablearchitecture #communitydesign
#bayareaarchitecture #cohousing ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Last weekend, we headed up to Sebastopol for International Passive House Open Days and visited Windhorse Orchard with Studio Pear (@studio_pear). This family-led renovation, situated in the wildland–urban interface, is being transformed into a Passive House and Living Building Challenge home—one of the most ecologically sustainable residential projects in the country.

Walking the site, you feel how deeply Kristin and Jason Nichols have woven building science into daily life: a super-insulated, airtight envelope, non-toxic materials, carbon-sequestering insulation, greywater systems, and a restored oak savanna landscape that turns the whole property into regenerative infrastructure.

Grateful to learn from architect-owner Kristin Nichols, the MAD Architecture, SDC Built, ZFA, Essential Habitat, Home Energy Services, Earth Bound Homes, and Passive House California teams—and to see what’s possible when a home becomes both sanctuary and climate action.

#WindhorseOrchard #PassiveHouse #PassiveHouseDesign #LivingBuildingChallenge #EssentialHabitatArchitecture
#PassiveHouseCalifornia #PassiveHouseNetwork
#StudioC #studio_pear #zfastructuralengineers

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@studiocchen

FIELD NOTES

Guide to Wildfire Defense for California Residents

How Architectural Fees Work at studio c

Exploring the Modern Accessory Dwelling Unit Design: Trends and Versatile Features

Discover the Benefits of Air Sealing in New Home Construction

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