Each member of the SZ team plays a vital role in building creative environments. For Summer 2018, we brought on Shakiba Ahmadi as an architecture intern at SZ. Shakiba brings her expertise and background in computational architecture to help with simulating environments through digital means. We had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Shakiba about her background and passion for architecture; read on for our Q&A!
Read More
Moment of Inspiration - [Solarize Northwest.]
This month's Moment of Inspiration comes from a workshop I recently attended on July 18th for Solarize Mercer Island, a local group part of the Spark Northwest organization. The city of Mercer Island is clearly passionate about becoming energy efficient as a city, as through this program they are making it easier for individuals to access more affordable options for making their own homes efficient.
Solarize Mercer Island is a "community-driven, neighborhood purchase campaign" sponsored by the city of Mercer Island. This city initiative includes a partnership with Sphere Solar Energy (the solar panel installer) and Spark Northwest, and the city was determined to use local vendors and support the local economy through this partnership. Once the city went through a vendor selection process and chose Sphere, they held a few workshops and so far have 7 - 8 homes contracted on Mercer Island. The goal is to have 30 houses signed up on Mercer Island.
Read More
Mercer Island Lakefront Home: Design & Permitting Process.
Ever wondered if it is better to substantially remodel and/or add-on to your existing home, rather than sell & buy another? Real estate values have gone up considerably, and in our current seller's market it's the buying-back-in that could be costly, if not timed just right. Considering the resources involved in the design, permitting & construction process, is it worth it to leverage the appreciation gained in your current house and transform it into your dream home? The simple answer is, it depends. Each property is unique, and each family is different. Best thing to do is explore all options and make informed decisions with the help of your professional real-estate, design & build community.
We recently ventured down this decision-making process with our Mercer Island clients, Nicole & Chris Niederman. They purchased a lovely 1,800 SF lakefront home a few years ago, but it didn't meet their family's personality & lifestyle. They selected Suzanne Zahr as their Architect to help lead them down the path of discovery that would ultimately result in an informed 'go / no-go' decision.
With each phase of the design process, new insights were creatively explored & considered. Here's a brief summary of our collaborative journey with the Niedermans in creating their 4,500 SF dream home.
Read More
L'Angolo Estate Winery & AIA Portland Home Tour with the SZ Team.
On our recent trip to Portland, Oregon, we saw beautiful buildings during the AIA Portland Homes Tour, but more specifically we were excited to visit the L'Angolo Estate Winery. Smitten by the floating roof plane, the SZ Team headed down to Newberg, Oregon to get a firsthand look at the L'Angolo Estate Winery's tasting room, designed by Lever Architecture.
We also went on the AIA Portland Homes Tour. This “open house” gave us the opportunity to walk through several different places around Portland in our own time.
Read More