● We’re on hallowed ground. Concepts we learned about in dark, stuffy lecture rooms are writ large from the precipitous cliffs to the towering ridgeline. People, for once, trying not to ruin the place they love in the process of loving it. It’s a story of good boundaries, mutual respect and infinite appreciation. It has its problems, sure. But don't we all? We still believe it to be worthy of understanding and emulation. 

There's no way we're going to actually fill the shoes of those before us, but honestly we don't want their shoes anyways, it's a different world now, so we just keep our dirty Birkenstocks on and start the project.

Designing on an historic site governed by an HOA with stringent policies that ensure design continuity and ecological sensitivity is challenging, and that’s the point. As we settle into our role, trusting and relaxing into these constraints bears us forward on a gentle, occasionally eddying tide. We tune into the subtle vernacular language of the place, and mine these spare phrases for each design problem’s bon mot. We begin to learn the art of doing as little as possible.