City planning departments within the State of California are notorious for having strict rules on what can and can’t be done when building or remodeling structures. People who come from other states are often shocked by how difficult it can be to build on their own land. Even people who are familiar …
Ask the Architect Articles and Interviews (category)
What Types of Home Improvements Do You Think Will Increase the Value of My Long Beach, Ca Home?
I’m not a real estate agent, and I haven’t been in the market for a new home for myself for many years, but as an architect who works on a lot of residential remodels in Long Beach, California, I think I do have a good amount of insight into what people value in their homes. We work with a lot of …
Ask the Architect: Do Commercial Architects Work with Small Business Owners?
When you hear the term “commercial architect,” what comes to mind? If you’re like most people, you probably think of an architect or a team of architects who design skyscrapers or other large structures like retail centers, sports complexes, hotels, hospitals, or municipal buildings. While …
Contributing to the Tradition of Great Long Beach Architecture
I’m going to take a big of a departure from the normal format of this column, where I answer your questions about architecture, architectural design, and other related topics. Instead, I want to talk about how my firm designs within the context of a city like Long Beach, California—one that has a …
Ask the Architect: What’s Better, a Large or a Small Long Beach Architecture Firm?
Choosing the right Long Beach architecture firm can be paramount to the end result of a commercial or residential building project. One of the first things clients often consider is whether to go with a large, and often well-known, architecture firm, a smaller firm, or even an architect who works …
Ask the Architect: How Creative Should I Expect My Long Beach Architect to Be?
Some architects obtain celebrity status for their innovative designs. In the United States, most people have heard of Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed many iconic homes, as well as the Guggenheim Museum, or Frank Gehry, who came up with the design for the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Architects like …