Gene Clements, Architect
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Architecture |
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About my Office |
After working in San Francisco for six years, I opened my office in Berkeley during 1976. Most of my work has been new houses and residential remodeling in the East Bay, Contra Costa County, San Francisco, and Marin County. Projects have been located in Berkeley, Oakland, Orinda, Alameda, Albany, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Richmond, San Francisco, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Larkspur, Greenbrae, San Rafael, Stinson Beach, and Novato. I normally work alone, preferring to undertake fewer projects so as to give my full attention to all the details of each. I began using a personal computer in my office in 1980 (After getting turned on to computers during my tenure at MIT in the late 60's) and I've used CAD (Computer Aided Design) for all my work for about 10 years. |
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Design Philosophy |
Great design in architecture is essentially achieving a proper balance between common sense and magic. The challenge in architecture, as in most fields, is to do everything well. It's not difficult to produce an interesting design, or keep the project within the budget, or produce clear, error free drawings; it's doing them all together that's the trick. My design tends to be more responsive to determinates like comfort, appropriateness, logic, and timeless quality than to the current fashion in architectural design. This seems proper since architectural fashions last a few years at most while buildings last a century or more. I'm more interested in creating for my clients the opportunity to enjoy the Sunday paper in a comfortable, sunny alcove, than in designing photogenic but uncomfortable places. |
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The Design Process |
If you are considering working with an architect on a new or remodeling project, click here for a description of the process. Additional information in the form of a consumer's guide is available through the California Board of Architectural Examiners. |
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Selected Projects |
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