Big things happened at the job site this month. First of all, Dr. Rust came into town from San Miguel de Allende, and schooled us on how to rust metal proper. He had a few tricks up his sleeve: bleach, muriatic acid, and degreaser. After trying a few different combinations and techniques, we ended up […]
Read more "Bacon says: “Roof-Roof”"
I remember the exact moment it happened. I was in the fourth grade; we were learning long division. It was when I ceased to comprehend math. It was a feeling of being left behind, and a frustration so intense that my eyes would start watering and my ears would close. It wasn’t making any sense, […]
Read more "When in Rome(x)"
This house accused of having many corners… and many roofs. In total: five. Accuse away! I think it makes for exciting architecture! We are almost done building the exterior walls, so this past week we focused on building the roofs. We received the load of material from Randall’s (local lumber store) and it included: glu-lams, BCI’s, […]
Read more "A Roof[s] Over Our Heads"
I can’t remember the last job I had where I woke up excited to go to work. Since starting this project not a single morning has been sluggish. It is difficult to be indifferent when the project that you designed is manifesting right before your eyes. Akin to watching a favorite television show, it is a […]
Read more "Fast as Framing"
We did it! We made it out of the ground! Last week felt like my birthday – full of presents and extremely rewarding. Not only did we pour the slab, but we also built our first two walls. Let the vertical [games] begin! However, before I get carried away let me back up and start with […]
Read more "Going Vertical"Slab preparation requires a ton of physical work and is visually unrewarding. Last week I became much too familiar with the word wheelbarrow. The site is nearly flat, with a minor 8-inch grade change between the north and south side of the house. We had to add earth to the interior footprint to bring everything […]
Read more "Wheelbarrow is one Word."I have drawn this detail so many times, and never really understood how it was built… until now. It is a standard foundation detail; one taught in school. However, I learn by experience, so it took building it to finally make sense. The most confounding part of the detail was how the vertical rebar managed to […]
Read more "Foundation System"News, views, reviews and interviews worth factoring into your life.
swissmiss is a design blog and studio run by Tina Roth Eisenberg, a 'swiss designer gone NYC'.
design + construction blog
What it's like to work with and be an architect
Two architects on a DIY mission to remodel their 1910 fixer-upper in Seattle into a modern and sustainable home for their growing family.
design + construction blog
design + construction blog
A discussion of modern design from the Pacific Northwest.
building a hillside home in los angeles
