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COMMERCIAL / RESIDENTIAL / PASSIVE HOUSE

FIELD NOTES

Guide to Wildfire Defense for California Residents

Guide to Wildfire Defense for California Residents

Guide to Wildfire Defense for California Residents

Jul 6, 20249 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

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

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

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

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 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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

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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