Biography

My degree thesis was the self-sufficient house, made from modular parts, that relied on its siting, form and architectural elements rather than energy consuming systems for its heating and cooling. Mind you, this was 1973.

All my life I’ve been drawing, making. At an early age my parents decided that I had drawing talent and so I was given extensive training in drawing and painting beginning in grade school continuing into college. In college I  studied ceramics, printmaking and furniture-making, in addition to my major of architecture.

But as the fourth generation of a family of builders, engineers, and cabinet makers— the practical, the making— was not to be denied; drawing, while admirable and appreciated, was generally considered merely the first step to making .

I grew up in and around building sites and workshops. I began working on construction sites in high school and continued training as carpenter and builder after graduating college,  having become convinced that architects and designers —drawers — needed to have a greater understanding of the building process— the making— than they could get from just drawing, and their building would be far more successful.  As a result, I have a broad base of hands-on experience in building, both as carpenter and trim carpenter, and as cabinetmaker, building Contractor, and architectural designer.

In addition to my construction and woodworking experience, I have made guitars and musical instruments, worked as a professional potter, and have extensive woodcarving experience. As well, I have studied Tai Chi since 1988.

I have maintained a shop for making things since 1976, providing furniture, cabinetry, and millwork; and have been the builder as well as the designer on a number of architectural projects. I have been featured in Nanawall’s catalog, Metropolitan Home, Sunset Magazine, Home Magazine’s Best Kitchen Ideas, Northern California Home and Garden, and Old House Interiors; have exhibited furniture in numerous shows and galleries; have written and illustrated a 315 page textbook The Woodworker's Guide to Handplanes   (also recently translated into German) as well as 4 other books on woodworking; and have written articles for Fine Homebuilding, Fine Woodworking, and Woodwork magazines.

B.S. degree in Architecture University of Cincinnati 1973

Licensed Architect California 1983 #14300

Licensed Building Contractor California 1979 #376910

AIA member since 2003