Originally appeared in the Piedmont Post Volume 24, No.35 - 6 / 22 / 2022:

I have been in practice for over 35 years in the East Bay, San Francisco, and the greater Bay Area, and have seen many trends come and go in residential architectural design. My interest has always been to search for and create architectural spaces that have a timeless characteristic. What I mean by this is to develop design solutions that are functional at the core but have a visual expression that does not tie it to a particular fashion of the moment. A true test of this idea is to look at our projects that were completed twenty-five years ago and ask if they hold up today, i.e. do they still look and function well in the context of current times?

*This complete kitchen makeover was designed as part of a larger remodel well over 25 years ago and still has a very functional layout and a fresh look. Photo credit: Mark Trousdale*

That said, I feel it is important to be contextual. When doing remodeling one should try to take clues from the existing house and neighborhood. For a new house, site characteristics, sun orientation, views, and site access become very important drivers of design. With a remodel, things to consider include functional problems that need to be solved in keeping with the style of the existing home. How might the changes affect neighbors is very important to consider in some projects, especially with window changes or additions, or with a new home. Of course, one must formulate architectural solutions that are within the boundaries of the building and planning codes. I like to think of the disparate considerations that are needed for any project as ingredients for a delicious meal. We are handed these ingredients by the owners, by the regulatory agencies, and sometimes by the neighbors and greater community. Our job is to put these “seemingly at odds” pieces together to create the tastiest meal possible. This doesn’t mean that one can’t bring solutions to the remodel that are stylistically of the present day. Today’s remodeling or design for a new home should reflect the lifestyle of today’s household and the needs of modern families and modern living.

Thirty years ago, we designed a new deck to replace the old one and added space to an existing undersized room adjacent to the deck. We created arched supports for the deck and brackets under the projecting addition to fit well with the existing 1930’s Mediterranean style house. Photo credit: Daniel Gregory

Edward Kaplan AIA, NCARB, principal of Kaplan Architects is based in Oakland and San Francisco since 1985. Kaplan Architects believes that excellent design solutions emerge through a thoughtful iteration of ideas, challenging preconceptions, and rethinking the solutions we develop. We strive for the results of our work to be functional, timeless, and beautiful. We create spaces with our clients’ needs and desires foremost in mind, and we strive to create spaces that are warm and inviting. For information contact info@kaplanarchitects.com.

OUR APPROACH TO DESIGN