Houses + origins

This beautifully illustrated book features houses in the California landscape, designed and built by Berkeley firm WA Design, established by David Stark Wilson in 1985. 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.