Actual-Size Architecture

10/26/2025

10/07/2025

Some good news today: ‘Renewable energy overtook coal as the world’s biggest source of electricity during the first half of 2025. According to Ember, a climate think-tank, solar and wind power accounted for 34% of global electricity, edging coal’s share (33%) and marking a “turning point”. Renewables are now increasing “fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity”, Ember said.’

02/04/2022

Added a clerestory window in recent bath remodel to flood the space with south light

08/22/2021

Newness and Oldness
http://www.actual-size.com/blog/2021/08/newness-oldness/

10/29/2020

How to sneak daylight into a townhouse:

How to bring daylight into a townhouse, while dodging existing roof impediments, accommodating the structure, and keeping to building, planning, and fire codes.

04/03/2017

Bay area noise map published by DOT: http://www.actual-size.com/blog/2017/04/dot-noise-map/

Earplugs optional. The Department of Transportation has published in map form the traffic and aviation noise levels around the country. Zoom into the San

03/18/2017

Linking ecosystems with animal bridges:
http://www.actual-size.com/blog/2017/03/animal-bridges/

Relinking ecosystemsThat the anthropocene era is recognizing its role in restoring balance to nature is encouraging: http://twistedsifter.com/2012/07/animal

02/10/2017

Why not paint stucco? Here's one reason: http://www.actual-size.com/blog/2017/02/oops-water-in-painted-stucco/

Building acne. With stucco, you can either let it show its natural color, or you paint it. The problem with painting it is that if any water gets in behind the

02/03/2017

What happens when you use the wrong sort of plywood outside? http://www.actual-size.com/blog/2017/02/oops-wrong-ply/

Plywood, meet Weather A marine-grade plywood would have been a better choice for these backboards. Even an exterior-grade ply with its phenolic binders would

01/05/2017

The owners wanted to convert the back half of the garage to living space with a master suite.

01/05/2017

Very cool study of street grids over the past hundred years, and where they might be headed. Looks at street and open space to total area ratios.
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/tech/socio75.html