Houses + Origins: WA Design

This beautifully illustrated monograph takes the reader on a journey through a number of stunning houses in the California landscape, designed and built by Berkeley firm WA Design. Since being established by David Stark Wilson in 1985, the firm has completed a broad range of new residential and commercial projects. This book focuses on WA Design's residential buildings. The firm's design philosophy emphasises the interrelationship of building and site. Each design begins as a considered response to a set of criteria dictated by the site and client. Although progressive, the firm's designs draw heavily on the local vernacular. Ordering principles borrow from the building's context and often relate metaphorically to the natural landscape, connecting the buildings to their site and surroundings in a meaningful way. Sustainable and solar features are also a crucial component in the firm's design objectives and are seamlessly integrated with the architecture.