enXco - "Our energy has no limits" - dedicated to creating the most efficient renewable energy projects possible. Their focus on renewable energy has made them an industry leader in Solar, Wind and Biogas Project Development. This is their new north american corporate headquarters (51,000sf) and they wanted to achieve a LEED CI from the more than 18 year old building. They turned an outdated class 'B' R&D building into a class 'A' office space. enXco utilized Dirtt architectural solutions (moveable / modular walls) in 95% of the space. This wall system helped them deliver the project in 4 less weeks than conventional construction methods. The design / client team used primarily recycled content architectural finishes and materials throughout the space and the use of natural daylight throughout more than 75% of the building was achieved. A true diamond in the rough.

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Sweetwater Valley Little League complex is a community benefits package provided by a design-built contractor, in partnership with Caltrans and the San Diego Association of Governments. At a construction cost of over 6 million dollars, project program for the six (6) acre site include parking for 150 spaces, three (3) 200-radius ball fields, a 300 feet radius ball field and meeting all ADA requirements. In the center of the complex, a community building was included in the project program, which included a concession room, community meeting room, restroom facilities and storage. Other site design features include backstops, covered dugouts, score keeper’s pavilions, electronic score boards, bleachers, drinking fountains, bike racks and a flagpole. The Sweetwater Valley Little League complex informs and educates the public that landscape architects create places of community gathering and growth. The Sweetwater Valley Little League complex will for many years will provide place to help the many local little leaguers to learn the fundamentals of baseball, sportsmanship and teamwork. Major design criteria of the project included the understanding that complex would be maintained through volunteer efforts and the funds provided by the Sweetwater Valley Little League. Therefore the project was designed to be sustainable, low maintenance and constructed with durable and long lasting materials. With all four ball fields being artificial turf, surrounding slopes native re-vegetation and interior landscape which includes shade trees and bark mulch only, the project requires little to no irrigation water, landscape maintenance and create no storm water pollution. With this sustainable and low maintenance approach, the project is truly functional, has a low financial impact to the community, environmental responsible and demonstrates a high level of skill and proficiency in the profession. The owner of the project is the County of San Diego, the landscape architecture firm is RICK Engineering Company and the Architect for the community building is Manuel Oncina Architects.

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The Housing Dining Hospitality Building is the administrative home of the University of California San Diego’s Housing Dining Hospitality group and the campus’ central catering kitchen. Here everything to do with food or housing on campus is handled. The building overlooks North Torrey Pines Road and presents an open and inviting face to the community despite being surrounded by much taller structures. The distinguishing feature of the building is its rippling glass screen wall that hangs free of the building and provides thermal and sun glare protection to the spaces inside and runs free of the building at the top to make a wind break to protect an open terrace. The screen wall is subtly faceted in three water colors to catch daylight across the day and suggest the character of sunlight across a body of water. A perfect metaphor for a structure with coastal views.

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Located in a basement originally used for storage, Vin de Syrah has turned the wine bar concept upside down. Literally. Whether it’s the sprawling 75 year old wine vines with antique glass goblets magically suspended in mid-air, spinning “Magritte inspired” parasols or flashing LED lightning bugs captured inside dangling mason jars, this subterranean garden evokes a sense of playfulness, whimsy and fantasy. Inspired by movies like Mary Poppins, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Alice in Wonderland, Syrah’s lavish atmosphere ultimately became an exercise in ingenuity. Transforming unfavorable existing conditions (no natural sunlight, concrete floors, massive support columns in the center of the room and exposed electrical and plumbing) into something attractive and inviting was challenging, to say the least. Ultimately, unlike other establishments boasting 1-2 million dollar renovation budgets and prime street side locations, Syrah's design directive was driven by the craft, creativity and resourcefulness of its design crew. Simple, inventive solutions were essential. Inexpensive found objects such as used wine barrels were transformed into a grand chandelier; bird lamp finials served as purse hooks and throw rugs were sewn into plush lounge pillows for the central settee. Stacked clay pots from IKEA form the tasting table partitions, reclaimed barn wood planks clad the bar and a $75 wallpaper mural of a tree-lined grass path was framed and illuminated in the sitting room to give the effect of a picture window. Theatrical spotlights cast seductive shadows reminiscent of dappled moonlight, and high gloss paint combined with an abundance of mirrors provide a refractive, ethereal quality throughout. Illusory and somewhat deceptive, the mirrors amplify the rooms volume yet also provide guests with a fluid sense of connectivity to the entire space. From the Graffiti and wheat pasted entry with the hidden door made of artificial hedge, to the delicate moss and glittered butterflies found amongst the concrete grouted walls, guests experience an array of contrasting, yet complimentary materials and sensibilities. Artfully combined, these humble yet clever elements invite guests to enjoy a respite from the bustling chaos of the Gaslamp street side above. But what is most magical is that the 3,500 sq ft room was completed in under 10 weeks, by a construction crew primarily made up of less than 6 people and all for under $250,000.  Click here for a 360 tour!

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This mural by Mike Maxwell is 70'x23' and was completed in 15 hours. Located fittingly at Hive241, the second in the collective workspace owned by Blokhaus, its presence serves as a symbol of San Diego's growing and blossoming arts community and the cultural progress that is taking place in our city. Innovation is our friend.

Watch the time lapse of the impressive work from start to finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOKu9RU_LTk

 

 

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This project is a pair of identical 17,250 square foot industrial buildings that was designed considering what the history of this type of building has been. How they often change use and occupancy over the life of the building and how they require substantial alterations to achieve the change in use or they require major technical additions to make them work for a change of use. The buildings are made of three types of glass, random sized concrete panels and one unsymmetrical tilt up concrete panel used in different combinations and by itself to create varying wall elevations and compositions from one concrete form. The building incorporates pedestrian access from the street, natural ventilation and day lighting to all the spaces. The building were specifically sited and designed to take in views of the local hills, natural breezes and solar exposure while abstracting views to the development from the street in order to disguise the buildings so they appear like two different buildings. Through the use of roll up doors that double as storefront elevations, structural elements that turn into retail sign posts, and floor to ceiling retail store front windows and doors that are spaced evenly on all sides of the buildings building incorporates the idea of “no specific front no specific back”. This gives the building a pedestrian connection on all sides as well as a sustainable plan to incorporate future retail, commercial and residential occupancies within the frame work of the built concrete and metal shell. The exterior was designed and built with the idea that the building will not live out its life as its original intended industrial use. The building can easily, without concrete or metal frame demolition be altered to include a first floor of parking and the entire second floor of office space or retail on the bottom floor and residential on the top floor or even a 100 % residential occupancy. Each building includes about 5,500 square feet of office space and 12,250 square feet of industrial space. The design and construction was also built to minimize the environmental costs of construction as well as the users negative effects on the environment through the use of: - Natural ventilation for cooling - Day lighting to the entire building to reduce lighting loads - The use of recycled lumber - Eaves over major entrances and windows - Easily renovated into other occupancies with minimal demolition - The use of recycled metal beams

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Pretty amazing that the OB communtiy comes together every year to create a new mural. These murals really add to the beachy, artsy feel of the place.

Check out the link here with all the murals listed since 1999.

http://www.oceanbeachsandiego.com/ocean-beach-murals

Here's photo of this year's mural, located on the US Bank building at 4827 Newport Ave, overlooking the parking lot and facing Sunset Cliffs.

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Tiny, tiny space, but big transformation. See the before and after photos below. Another Bells & Whistles project well done and with such personality. Love the light fixtures from metal baskets. The wood lath walls give it a great warm feel. The yellow furniture-like casework - sunny and happy. The artwork and frame collection - impeccably styled. For such a small project, a lot of effort was put into the design

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Another unique transformation of a generic building into an interior with urban industrial-rustic style. Four massive steel-and-glass doors open into three sections—a lower dining room, upper bar area and outdoor patio. Basile exposed the rafters, which soar to 21 feet by the bar. Tables are unrefined wood, end-capped by steel. Chairs are all mismatched garage-sale finds. Your napkin for this evening? A dish rag. Seriously.

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This is no small undertaking. Celebrity chef Brian Malarkey's new restaurant in the Gaslamp brings something different to the SD scene. In conjunction with Stingaree owner James Brennan, they have transformed the large 7,000sf former Z Gallerie space into an eclectic restaurant. Furnished with a mix of old and new furniture, mismatched chairs and unfinished wood tables and luxurious sofas. There are no distinct divisions to the space, giving it an open casual feel. But the use of different furniture defines areas: a traditional dining area, a lounge and a large horseshoe bar that can seat 60! The lighting is a mix of artsy bare bulbs and rustic wagon-wheel-style chandeliers. Hope this ambitious project can stay the course. Let's give it an Orchid while we can!

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