Portfolio | Aaron Richard Maret

PORTFOLIO rev. January 2024

AARON RICHARD MARET DESIGNER + BUILDER

Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

SELECTED WORKS

CREATIVE STATEMENT

01 | LONGTREE PASSIVE SOLAR HOUSES

Creation, the act of making things with conscious intent, is central to my life. As well as my personal philosophy, cosmology, and spirituality.

02 | BRADLEY STREET REDUX 03 | RIPARIAN FARMHOUSE RENOVATIONS 04 | POCKET SHELTER 05 | ASHEVILLE WALDORF SCHOOL 06 | HOLY FAMILY DAY HOME 07 | SONOMA RESIDENCE 08 | HAUS MARTIN 09 | DELICA 10 | OCTAVIA BOULEVARD DESIGN COMPETITION 11 | FINNISH PAVILION 12 | TRAVEL SKETCHES

I believe we are each here to share our gifts with the world. That we each have something unique to give. And that the world needs our offering.

When I discovered architecture in college (before, I didn’t even know what it was) I felt something connect and come online for the first time in my life. I now believe it was a soul-level calling. A call to create and contribute to the built environment. To cultivate and share my gifts. Architecture seemed the ideal medium.

As I progressed in my education and career, however, my initial starry-eyed wonder began to fade as I bumped up against where not-so-glamorous realities of the world met the business of conventional architectural practice and culture. I suddenly saw aspects that felt fake, egotistical, and mostly in service to corporate interests, more than the public good. I needed to develop a more balanced perspective of how to engage the built environment, from a more informed angle.

I became interested in getting directly involved in the building process. And in living a well-rounded creative life that could contribute to designing the kind of world I knew was possible. So in 2004 I left the firm setting to pursue hands-on work experience in making on many levels. Alongside design and building, I got engaged in grassroots community building, communal living, cooperative working, political activism, and eventually spiritual inquiry.

I slowly developed skill in the materials, means, and methods of constructing the built environment. At least on a modest scale. I built an independent practice combining my architectural training and experience with construction.

This work has been satisfying. And I’m proud of the things I’ve helped to create.

And now, with a more sophisticated and holistic understanding of myself and the world, I feel a call to expand my capacities once again. To return my focus to design. To a firm environment where I can participate in a team in which everyone is working together towards beauty, excellence, and contribution. And to engage in commercial, civic, and public works that contribute to the discourse about what we prioritize as a collective. How will we meet and respond to the challenges we face?

I’m excited about this new chapter, integrating my initial soul-calling, the subsequent disillusionment, and eventual revelation and homecoming. I know my skills and passion can make a positive impact on a bigger scale. I’m curious who I’ll meet and get to work with. I look forward to the shared creative acts ahead.

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

LONGTREE PASSIVE SOLAR HOUSES Location:

Swannanoa, North Carolina

Type:

Residential New Construction

Size:

1,200 sqft & 1,700 sqft

Completed:

2020

Structural:

Wilson Engineering

Energy Consultant:

VandeMusser Design

As the site is located within the 100-year floodplain of the Swannanoa River, the design strategy was to elevate the structure on masonry piers. The living spaces are enhanced with better views and increased natural ventilation. And the raised volume creates a covered outdoor space below.

The houses are carefully designed and oriented for passive solar heating, with windows maximized on the southern elevations and overhangs calculated to shade summer sun while allowing heat gain in the winter. The homes are also Energy Star certified, employing careful detailing for air sealing and insulation, as well as specifying a high efficiency HVAC. The program sought to maximize energy efficiency, minimize construction costs, and minimize maintenance and operating expenses. Through thoughtful design and execution, the finished project exceeded all of these goals. Electricity use is well below average. Construction costs were $162 and $180 per square foot.

My role in the project included full service design-build delivery: project design and documentation, consultant coordination, permitting, and serving as the general contractor undertaking the construction of the houses. I also designed and built custom lighting fixtures, built-ins, salvaged wood paneling, and other interior details.

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↑ UPPER FLOOR PLAN

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PARKING ENTRY DECK MUDROOM/LAUNDRY MECHANICAL CLOSET STAIR HALL LIVING KITCHEN BEDROOM BATHROOM SCREENED PORCH

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↑ GROUND FLOOR PLAN 5

Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

BRADLEY STREET REDUX Location:

Asheville, North Carolina

Type:

Residential Renovation + Addition

Size:

1,400 sqft

Completed:

2018

Between 2009 and 2018 I undertook the rehabilitation of a dilapidated 1940’s cottage and converted it into a modern, efficient, 3-bedroom family home. The design of the additions that were added centered on maximizing the relationship to the sun, both for thermal performance as well as natural lighting.

A new kitchen tucks privately into the bamboo grove. And a screened dining porch opens off the kitchen towards the south. The master suite and childrens bedroom are situated on the new second story that wraps up and on top of the old cottage, creating a playful and interesting juxtaposition of forms and spaces.

The house is heated and cooled with a multi-zone mini-split system. The system is highly efficient and convenient. And it allows a duct-free installation.

The project features many custom built-ins, lighting, and details that help to make the best use of a compact building envelope.

After ↓ ↓ Before

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↑ UPPER FLOOR PLAN

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EAST PATIO SOUTH PATIO MUDROOM LIVING ROOM DINING KITCHEN BEDROOM BATHROOM SCREENED PORCH BAMBOO GROVE STAIRWELL PORCH

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↑ GROUND FLOOR PLAN

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Compact kitchen with undercounter refrigerator and freezer drawers, dishwasher, and slide-in gas range. ↑

A custom teak butcher block table unites the breakfast nook in the new kitchen with the adjacent dining room. ↑

A mini-pantry with wall shelves and drawer cabinets. Glass doors open to the dining porch. ↓

The screened dining porch is sized to welcome guests. ↓

Upstairs hall with bedrooms and bath on left and storage on right, lit by north-facing clarestory windows. ↑

The childrens bedroom with built-in triple loft platforms. Builtin desk, seating, task lighting, storage, and closet below. ↑

Family bathroom with soaking tub. ↓

Master bedroom with private balcony towards the south. ↓

Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

RIPARIAN FARMHOUSE RENOVATION

PHASE 1 - GUEST BATHROOM REMODEL Location:

Swannanoa, North Carolina

Type:

Residential Remodel

Size:

80 sqft

Completed:

2011

In 2010 the clients purchased a home on a farm situated on the Swannanoa River just outside of Asheville. The home was recently constructed in 2005, but it was going to need modifications and upgrades to fit the clients needs and use patterns.

The strategy to split the remodeling process into a series of discrete phases helped in two distinct ways: first it allowed the house to remain occupied throughout the process, and second, it allowed the project team to stretch a fairly limited budget.

The first phase involved converting a bathroom with a walk-in shower to have a soaking bathtub, a key requirement for the clients.

The design transformed a bland and non-descript space into a colorful and materially rich space with a modern and playful sensibility, suiting the client’s personalities.

After ↓ ↓ Before

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HALL ENTRY BATHROOM WALL-MOUNT VANITY TUB TOILET BUILT-IN WALL CAB WALL-MOUNT SHELVES

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↑ PLAN

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

“Waterfall” wood paneling/door detail ↓ ↓ Vanity

↑ Entry

Wall shelves + storage ↑ 12

↑ VANITY WALL

↑ ENTRY WALL

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

RIPARIAN FARMHOUSE RENOVATION

PHASE 2 - PAVILION + PATIO Location:

Swannanoa, North Carolina

Type:

Residential Accessory Addition

Size:

320 sqft pavilion, 1200 sqft patio

Completed:

2011

Structural:

Medlock & Associates Engineering

Phase two of the farmhouse renovation process was to create an outdoor gathering space that could support all the gatherings that the clients like to host.

A blank, suburban lawn that originally surrounded the house was transformed into a multipurpose outdoor gathering space. The center piece is a timber-framed, ninesided, reciprocal framed open-air pavilion with a stepped roof to provide venting for a central fire pit.

The reciprocal frame is a novel but ancient structural system where each spanning member is partially supported by the next member in the series. It results in a dynamic, spiral form.

The patio serves as a central hub of the surrounding outdoor spaces: gardens, swimming pool, hot tub, guest arrival, poolhouse, and additional accessory functions.

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3 7 MAIN HOUSE FIRE CIRCLE PATIO RAISED GARDEN BEDS POOL HOT TUB TRAMPOLINE TINY HOUSE BARN TO RIVER PARKING TO FIELD

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↑ SITE PLAN

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↑

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

↑ ROOF DECK PLAN

Foundation layout ↓

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↑ ROOF PRIMARY FRAME (RECIPROCAL)

Patio install ↓

Roof decking install ↓

↑ SECTION

Roof frame ↓

↑ PAVILION ELEVATION

Central opening ↓

Upper roof ↓

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

RIPARIAN FARMHOUSE RENOVATION

PHASE 3 - MASTER SUITE Location:

Swannanoa, North Carolina

Type:

Residential Remodel

Size:

1,600 sqft

Completed:

2012

Phase three in the remodel was to convert the attached garage into a master suite with a bedroom, office, walk-in closet, master bath, and a multi-purpose mudroom/ laundry/storage room.

The bed was situated to enjoy of view of the southern fields of the farm. A built-in headboard adjusts the bed to the perfect viewing angle, while also supplying new bedside electrical outlets and an art shelf.

Built-in bookshelves and casework throughout the suite provides tailored storage for the clients’ key requirements.

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ENTRANCE MASTER BEDROOM MASTER CLOSET MASTER BATH OFFICE/GUEST MUDROOM/LAUNDRY HALL NORTH PATIO

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↑ MASTER SUITE FLOOR PLAN

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

RIPARIAN FARMHOUSE RENOVATION

PHASE 4 - SUNROOM Location:

Swannanoa, North Carolina

Type:

Residential Remodel

Size:

340 sqft

Completed:

2012

Next up was adding a room onto the south end of the house to create a new common space that fully takes advantage of the light and views available on the beautiful site.

A sunroom was concieved with wrap-around windows, providing eastern, southern, and western views of the farm, the gardens, and the outdoor gathering spaces. The sunroom supports a new roof deck above, providing a leisure spot with delightfully raised vantage point.

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↑ SUNROOM PLAN 1 2 3 4 5 6

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ENTRY DINING SITTING ROOM KITCHEN PATIO HERB GARDENS

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

RIPARIAN FARMHOUSE RENOVATION

PHASE 5 - KITCHEN + LIVING + DINING Location:

Swannanoa, North Carolina

Type:

Residential Remodel

Size:

1,500 sqft

Completed:

2012

The final phase tackled the key ingredient in the farmhouse flow: the kitchen. The clients regularly host friends, business associates, guests, and groups. And local, healthy, delicious food is a central theme in the family ethos. So the kitchen needed to serve as a central facility to produce meals both large and small. And tie together all the previous phases of renovation and the indoor and outdoor spaces of the house.

The kitchen is a study in maximum function and minimum form. By eliminating all upper cabinetry and selecting under-counter refrigerators, the space remains as open, bright, and airy as possible. Creating a dynamic and attractive hub. Command central.

Bar counters and serving counters wrap around on all sides, allowing food to be served to either the sitting room to the north, the sunroom / dining room to the south, guests at the bar, or even to the outdoor patio via the pass-through service window.

A new elevated walkway connects the second floor sitting room to the roof deck over the sunroom.

The open-riser timber stair allows maximal natural daylight to enter the north office/ flex space. Guard rail panels at the stair and upper floor were made from woven cord, creating a unique, artistic, hand-crafted feel.

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↑ FLOOR PLAN

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ENTRY/PATIO OFFICE/FLEX LIVING ROOM KITCHEN PANTRY

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HALL BATHROOM STORAGE SUNROOM NORTH PORCH

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

POCKET SHELTER Location:

Mobile

Type:

Tiny House

Size:

196 sqft

Completed:

2012

In a culture that increasingly values “bigger, faster, more,” the Pocket Shelter was created with the intention to scale down, slow down, and draw attention to the things that truly matter: quality, beauty, and living a life of balance and harmony. This tiny house on wheels was built over the course of 18 months with patient, detail-oriented design and craftsmanship. The materials were selected for their honesty and nat- ural beauty, as well as to minimize environmental impact.

Salvaged and up-cycled woods were used in both framing and finishes. Like a bird’s nest, the spaces are generated from the inside out, scaled for the humans that the home will provide shelter for. Ample storage is provided by custom-built furniture to maximize every nook and cranny, and create an elegant and thoughtful interior wellsuited to a life of simplicity and beauty. On the outside, the recycled barn wood siding is allowed to weather naturally, maximizing its rustic character. Inside, the decoration is homey and welcoming, with long benches and built-in storage units. A moveable wooden ladder leads to a sleeping loft above, where the gable roof provides ample space for reading and lounging in bed.

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P02

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COVERED PORCH

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LIVING ROOM

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UTILITY BENCH

SANCTUARY / BATH

KITCHEN

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FLOOR PLAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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FRENCH DOORS 10 PLAN GAS 2-BURNER COOKTOP A01 FLOOR MUDROOM BENCH 11 UNDERCOUNTER REFRIGERATOR SHUTTER, HINGED 12 UPPER WALL SHELVES PLAN NOTES: STORAGE CAB W/ DRAWERS 13 SPICE RACK P01 FRENCH PATIO DOORS P11 UNDER-COUNTER REFRIGERATOR, 3-WAY P02 MUDROOM BENCH 14 P12 UPPER WALL SHELVES BUILT-IN COUCH W/ DRAWERS SLIDING BARN DOOR P03 SHUTTER, HINGED P13 LADDER, STOWABLE 15 COMPOSTING TOILET DRAWER SPICE RACK SHELVES P04 STORAGE CABINET W/ DRAWERS P14 SLIDING BARN DOOR WOOD SLAB COUNTERP05 BUILT-IN COUCH W/16 GAS TANK STORAGE DRAWERS P15 COMPOSTING TOILET CABINET DOUBLE SINK W/ CUTTING BOARDSTOWABLE17 ELECTRICAL LOAD CENTER P06 LADDER, P16 PROPANE TANK STORAGE P07 KITCHEN COUNTER, 18 WOOD TRAILER HITCH P17 ELECTRICAL LOAD CENTER GAS WALL HEATER

2'

SCALE:

4'

1/2" 1/2" == 1' 1'

6'

REV:

8'

2016.04.01

POCKET V1 SHELTER

POCKETSHELTER.COM

P08 P09 P10

DOUBLE-SINK W/ REMOVABLE LID/CUTTING BOARDS PROPANE WALL HEATER PROPANE 2-BURNER COOKTOP

P18

TRAILER HITCH

29 © 2016 Aaron Maret Design Build Studio

Hitch side ↑

Entry porch ↑

Night view of entry ↓

Living room toward kitchen ↓

Siding detail ↑

Sleeping loft ↑

Live edge counter detail ↓

Built-in seating + storage ↓

Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

ASHEVILLE WALDORF SCHOOL Location:

Asheville + Weaverville, North Carolina

Type:

K-12 Educational, Planning + Programming, Branding

Asheville Waldorf School was founded in 2009 and began offering private school education in 2011. The philosophy of Waldorf education is based in seeing each child for their unique gifts and challenges, and providing an educational experience that meets them where they are in order to prepare them for their most fulfulling life.

Classroom module, alternate C ↑

We enrolled our child in the school from first through seventh grade. While he was enrolled, I became active as volunteer in a variety of roles. Beginning with branding and graphic design, producing the school logo (see below). And then joining and eventually serving as co-chair for the site committee, which was tasked with finding and developing a permanent campus for the school.

In 2014, I provided pro-bono design services for the site committee in assessing the feasibility of converting a church property into the school campus. Including proposed programming to partner with community nonprofits to create a community center colocated with the school. The site was not pursued due to lack of funding.

Classroom module, alternate C ↑

In 2022, I provided another round of design services to assess the feasibility of a site on Mount Carmel Road in Weaverville. This effort included providing a variety of classroom prototypes that could be built primarily by volunteers from the school community. The design proposals all sought to integrate clear and functional spacial configurations that met the needs of the school with construction types that could be carried out with volunteer labor and an extremely limited budget.

Site configuration, alternate C ↑

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Site configuration, alternate C ↑

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↑ PLAN ALT C

ENTRY OUTDOOR ROOM CLASSROOM BATHROOM STORAGE

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15 OVERBROOK PLACE

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Entry Vestibule / 660sf Sanctuary / 2900sf Meeting Room / 460sf Classroom 6 / 450sf Classroom 7 / 300sf Assembly Room / 1650sf Kitchen Office Bathroom Covered Patio Covered Walkway Driveway & Parking Area

UPPER LEVEL PLAN

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Studio 1 / 320sf Studio 2 / 220sf Studio 3 / 220sf Studio 4 / 220sf Studio 5 / 160sf Classroom 1 / 410sf Classroom 2 / 320sf Classroom 3 / 560sf Classroom 4 / 370sf Classroom 5 / 550sf Bathroom Play Yard Covered Entry Walkway Driveway & Parking Area

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LOWER LEVEL PLAN 15 OVERBROOK PLACE

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

HOLY FAMILY DAY HOME Location:

San Francisco, California

Type:

Educational, Preschool

Size: 15,000 sqft Completed:

2006

Architect:

CCS Architecture Cass Caulder Smith, Principal

Structural:

John Yadegar & Associates

MEP:

NBA Engineering

Lighting:

Horton Lees Lighting Design

Civil Engineer:

KCA Engineering

Geotechnical:

Treadwell & Rollo

Contractor:

Frank Portman

Photography:

Cesar Rubio

The Holy Family Day Home had been operating a pre-school at this historic intersection opposite the Mission Dolores in San Francisco’s Mission District since 1912. This project replaced a historically significant Willis Polk Building on the same site that was severely damaged by the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989 and subsequently demolished. The new building is a 15,000 square foot, three-story, wood frame structure designed to connect to the history of the immediate neighborhood and to the building that previously occupied the site.

The building contains 5 classrooms that accommodate up to 125 children, as well as support spaces including program directors and social workers offices, a play therapy room, multi-purpose room, administrative space, and a training and volunteer room.

The design also evokes the archetypal image of “home” to symbolize the mission of the project sponsors.

Project completed while employed at CCS Architecture. My responsibilities included: design development and construction documentation.

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

GROUND FLOOR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 38

RECEPTION SICK ROOM OFFICE SITE DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STORAGE OBSERVATION ROOM PLAY THERAPY CLASSROOM CLASSROOM LOBBY PLAY PORCH

MULTI-PURPOSE/PLAY CLASSROOMS ADMINISTRATION STORAGE

SECOND FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR

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MULTI-PURPOSE CLASSROOM CLASSROOM MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM TOY STORAGE STORAGE

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT COPY ROOM PROGRAM DIRECTORS OFFICE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OFFICE ACCOUNTING OFFICE VOLUNTEER OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM STAFF ROOM MECHANICAL STORAGE 39

Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

SONOMA RESIDENCE Location:

Sonoma, California

Type:

Residential, New Construction

Size: 2,000 sqft Completed:

2005

Architect:

CCS Architecture Cass Caulder Smith, Principal

Photography:

Claudio Santini

The house was carefully located to nestle up to the existing trees and to be within the field, so that it became a pavilion in the landscape. Hardscape, softscape and trees were added to create a blended effect and to provide outdoor living spaces. The swimming pool is located on axis with the house and further takes advantage of the setting.

The design is rooted in the notion of radical simplicity for aesthetic effect and for budget. The house is a 20ft by 100ft box with a slightly sloped roof, which is then counter-posed with the metal roof for effect, and for shade. This metal canopy is also there to link the house to the legacy of ‘farm vernacular.’

The house has exterior walls and a roof built from SIPS (structural insulated panels), which replaces typical ‘stick framing.’ This expedites construction, provides for higher insulation, and is a more sustainable way to build than typical methods.

There are two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and one large open space for cooking, eating and living... all of which open up equilaterally on both sides to the site.

Off-the-shelf 8ft high sliding glass doors are the windows and the doors – proving light, views, and vivid connections to the land. Cabinets are painted MDF to blend in with walls and ceilings, while floors are pre-finished bamboo and carpet. The two fireplaces are gas only to avoid the burning of firewood. Light fixtures are standard exterior types with metallic finishes. The exterior walls are clad in vertical slats of stained cedar over painted plywood.

Project completed while employed at CCS Architecture. My responsibilities included: schematic design, design development, and construction documentation.

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FLOOR PLAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

LIVING DINING KITCHEN ENTRY GALLERY BEDROOM BATHROOM

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MASTER BEDROOM MASTER BATHROOM OUTDOOR SHOWER SHADE + SHELTER CANOPY FIREPLACE WASHER/DRYER

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

HAUS MARTIN Location:

San Francisco, California

Type: Residential Renovation Size: 1,800 sqft Completed:

2004

Architect:

CCS Architecture Cass Caulder Smith, Principal

Structural:

GFDS Engineers

Contractor:

Ben Davies

Photography:

Cesar Rubio

This new, single-family home replaced an existing home with the same footprint and number of stories. It was designed for a single European man, and is located in the Buena Vista Park District.

Aside from the client’s program, the house was designed to respond to two contextual influences: the excellent views of the park to the east and of the ocean to the west, plus the richly ornate facades of the adjacent neighbors. The existing house, which was demolished, was a small home with little distinction wedged between a flamboyant turn of the century Victorian and an elaborate 1920s Craftsman-style mansion.

The two-level plan is about clever restraint and unorthodox minimalism. The first floor accommodates sleeping, and the clients’ wardrobe in an open plan without doors that leads to the deck and views to the west. The master bathroom is the only one in the house, with a wc-room that allows for access from two sides. Floor two is for cooking, eating, and living, which are arranged in an axial diagonal that terminate at a freehanging fireplace called a ‘fire-orb.’ This diagonal axis is oriented toward the views of the Pacific Ocean to the west – over Cole Valley and the Sunset District. The kitchen cabinets and appliances are entirely contained within a stainless steel assemblage that extends to become the walnut dining table – with an overall length of thirty feet.

Project completed while employed at CCS Architecture. My responsibilities included: facade detail development, construction documentation.

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

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SECOND FLOOR 1 2 3

LIVING KITCHEN DINING

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FIRE ORB SKYLIGHT

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FIRST FLOOR 1 2 3 4

BEDROOM CLOSETS BATHROOM GARAGE

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ENTRY DRIVEWAY DECK REAR YARD

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

DELICA Location:

San Francisco, California

Type:

Restaurant, Commercial Tenant Upfit

Size:

2,000 sqft

Completed:

2003

Architect:

CCS Architecture Cass Caulder Smith, Principal

Structural:

John Yadegar, Yadegar Associates

MEP: Arb Kitchen:

Federighi Food Machinery

Lighting:

Michael Webb, Revolver Design

Contractor:

Eugene Hom, Plant Construction

Photography:

Cesar Rubio

Owned by Rock Field, Japan’s largest prepared food company, Delica is the first US installation of Japan’s highly successful RF-1 gourmet take-out shops. Delica purveys freshly made salads and other delicacies from its 2000 square foot location in the heart of San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace.

Cass Calder Smith conceived Delica as a unique retail experience where the prepared food is the foreground component, while the process and raw product is the essential background. On another level, the architecture is meant to evoke an expression of perceived opposites: nature to technology, raw to prepared, finished wood to stainless steel. The result is minimalist and soothing.

Project completed while employed at CCS Architecture. My responsibilities included: code research, coordination of specialty equipment and casework, construction documentation, and construction administration.

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FLOOR PLAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

PEDESTRIAN PASSAGE ENTRY BENTO + REACH-IN CASE SALAD DISPLAY CASE POINT OF SALE HOT DISPLAY CASE SALAD + BENTO ASSEMBLY

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SALAD PREP HOT PREP HOT COOKING DINING/CONFERENCE/LIBRARY OFFICE RECEIVING/WASHING/STORAGE STORAGE

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

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OCTAVIA BOULEVARD COMMUNITY DESIGN COMPETITION

San Francisco, California // 2005

a 03

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BB

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bikes

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roof garden

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solar power and community garden and terrace

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main stair and community terrace facing hayes green

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linden alley residential entry

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hayes street sidewalk facing east

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outdoor seating area and community terrace

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community roof garden

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trellis at center of community roof garden

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community terrace and main stair

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01 :: open air walkway 02 :: two bedroom unit 03 :: three bedroom unit 04 :: community garden 05 :: trellised seating area 06 :: individual garden plots 07 :: herb spiral/water catchment 08 :: roof terrace 09 :: main stair

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fifth floor plan P4

solar panels

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corner of hayes and octavia

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garden

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01 :: one bedroom unit 02 :: two bedroom unit 03 :: three bedroom unit 04 :: community terrace 05 :: open air walkway 06 :: community/laundry/computer room 07 :: main stair

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typical upper floor plan P3

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open air walkway and residential bridges

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octavia boulevard

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steel grating

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hayes street retail

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octavia street retail

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stucco

01 :: retail/bicycle shop 02 :: outdoor seating 03 :: retail/cafe o 04 :: lobby 05 :: recycling/trash 06 :: hayes street residential entry 07 :: interior alley/bicycle parking 08 :: linden alley residential entry 09 :: retail/work-live unit 10 :: one bedroom unit 11 :: mech/utility room 12 :: retail

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linden alley

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ground floor plan P2

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night view at octavia boulevard

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hayes street

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octavia boulevard [northbound]

glazing

octavia boulevard [southbound]

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linden alley

bird’s eye view of roofscape from southeast

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bird’s eye view of hayes and octavia

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bird’s eye view of octavia

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bird’s eye view of roofscape from southwest

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view from hayes green

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view from linden alley

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S1 section aa 01 :: hayes green 02 :: north building [solar] 03 :: south building [garden] 04 :: east building [garden] 05 :: walkway roof

wood fell street

hickory street

site plan P1

stucco

S2 section bb

growing community project narrative ::: This proposal for the development of mixed-use affordable housing on parcel k of the Octavia Boulevard redevelopment area is driven by four primary design imperatives: the creation of open green space as zones of community interaction, providing a strong, well-scaled urban landmark at the intersection of two prominent pedestrian and transit corridors, thoughtful consideration of the resource consumption and efficiency of the project, and the proposal of a progressive, alternative ownership model-- a community land trust*.

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open green space as zones of community interaction:: The project’s organization was derived as a response to Hayes Green, the new public open space at the terminus of Octavia Boulevard, and from a desire to establish relationships to this open space and generate a variety of differently scaled open spaces within the project. To achieve this, the housing and commercial components of the project are separated into three distinct buildings that are organized around two clearly articulated zones of outdoor space.

The first zone, the internal circulation for the residential portion of the project, takes the form of a covered exterior walkway running along the north-south axis of the site. At the ground floor this walkway is expressed as a landscaped “green alley” which hosts ample bicycle parking for the residents. On the upper floors the individual units connect to the walkway by small “bridges” that define an entry area for each unit as well as provide for an intimate transition zone between public and private realms to create a sort of “aerial stoop.”

The two buildings facing Hayes Green are separated by a second zone of outdoor space comprised of two vertically stacked spaces. At the street level, an outdoor seating area for a café/restaurant activates and engages the sidewalk and faces Hayes Green. Above this, on the second floor, a community terrace provides a place for residents to gather, contains the main stair and elevator serving the residences, and allows for ample natural light to the residential units in these two buildings. The terrace and stair also look back onto Hayes Green and create elevated visual relationships with the public space of Octavia Boulevard and Hayes Green.

This network of outdoor spaces culminates on the roofs of the east and south buildings in the form of two separate roof gardens and a small roof terrace that looks out onto Linden Alley. The gardens serve multiple roles in the life of the project. They provide an opportunity to cultivate plants, herbs and food, and foster an urban connection to nature and its processes. They offer residents open space above the bustle of the city with access to sunlight, fresh air, dynamic views and aerial perspective of their neighborhood. Water necessary for the cultivation and care of the garden plots is provided for by rainwater collected on the roof of the walkway, then stored in basins on the roof. In addition, a portion of the waste water generated on site is recycled and provides the remaining necessary water to maintain the gardens and landscaping. In this way, the gardens become both a literal and figurative symbol of regeneration and growth.

Finally, to provide access to private outdoor space for the residents, each unit has a modest balcony that connects to both a bedroom and the main living spaces within the unit. These small outdoor spaces increase the experiential quality of living within the complex and round out a network of open spaces ranging in scale from grand and public to intimate and private.

urban landmark:: The architectural expression of the project seeks to strike a balance between a strong, bold, contemporary structure and a warm, human-scaled composition of buildings and spaces that connote community, openness and home. The situation of the site at the intersection of two prominent urban corridors demands a compelling yet sensitive design response. To achieve this, the project employs a creative composition of color, material and form.

The color composition attempts to unify the three buildings while responding to the different urban conditions at the site. A warm grey concrete base expresses solidity and heaviness upon which brightly colored wood-framed stucco volumes are situated. On Hayes Street, the combination of crimson and deep golden yellow is active, vivid and energetic, paralleling the activity and energy on this commercial section of Hayes Street. On Octavia, the golden yellow is coupled with a creamy beige creating a warm and softer expression across from Hayes Green. The addition of natural wood slats offers an organic, welcoming gesture that turns the corner from Hayes to Octavia and further unifies the three buildings.

In order to accentuate the juncture of Hayes and Octavia, the corner building tilts out in plan to form an acute angle akin to the prow of a ship. Below this striking corner volume, the heavy concrete base which encloses the retail space dematerializes at the corner as a mullionless glass façade, creating a bold visual juxtaposition between “heavy” and “light.” This gesture provides visual transparency from Hayes Street through to Octavia Boulevard and Hayes Green.

Carefully considered, integrated retail signage completes the composition-- bold and whimsical yet clean and rational.

nada, bradley and logan :: a new san francisco family

resource efficiency:: This project attempts to be conscious of its resource inputs and outputs-- both initial and long term. This consciousness takes three forms: consideration of energy, water and transportation.

The disposition of the three volumes that comprise the building complex allows for generous amounts of natural light to enter the buildings and light interior spaces, thereby reducing the amount of electrical energy necessary for well-lit interiors. Further, the installation of a photovoltaic array on the roof of the north building could generate up to 14 kilowatts of energy-- enough to meet the building’s electricity needs.

Water consumption and waste water are considered together to form a strategy for reducing the environmental impact of the building while increasing the value and experiential quality of the project. Rain water is collected on the roof of the walkway and stored on the roof of the adjacent buildings to be used for landscaping and watering the gardens. In addition, the building is fitted with a greywater system to divert used water from all sinks and showers away from the municipal wastewater system to be reused on site.

The project aligns itself with the spirit of the Octavia Boulevard planning agenda by focusing on alternatives to car transportation. No automobile parking is provided on site. Instead, easy, secure, convenient bicycle parking is provided for on the ground floor in the “green alley,” fostering access to one of the many transportation alternatives to the automobile.

The design is situated to meet or exceed L.E.E.D. (the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements and serve as a model for intelligent design responding to declining access to energy derived from fossil fuels.

*a community land trust what is a community land trust?

A community land trust (CLT) is a democratically controlled membership organization that develops and/or maintains resident-controlled affordable housing to serve low-income members of the community. The organization is comprised of CLT residents as well as members of the surrounding community.

The most distinctive feature of the community land trust concept is that of separating the ownership of land from the housing built upon it.

Residents maintain ownership of their homes, while the CLT maintains ownership of the land and provides a long-term ground lease to the residents.

This ensures that all decisions pertaining to the use of the land are made by the community, while decisions regarding the buildings are made by the resident owners.

In a community land trust project, homeowners are able to purchase inexpensive homes in exchange for agreeing to sell their homes back to the CLT or to another low income household if they move out. The sale price will be affordable to the new owner while also allowing the seller to build equity. This ensures permanent affordability of the housing and by doing so, allows any public subsidies that go into the project to continue to work for future generations.

glass

E1 hayes street elevation

E2 linden alley elevation

how is a community land trust different from the san francisco redevelopment agency’s limited equity homeownership program?

A community land trust could provide the mechanism to ensure that homes on land dedicated to affordable homeownership remain affordable into perpetuity.

While the SFRA’s limited equity homeownership program accomplishes many of the goals of the community land trust, the affordability of units created under this program is not guaranteed after 45 years, potentially undermining the long term stability of the neighborhood in which the housing was created. The CLT model uses a 99-year renewable ground lease to assure permanent affordability.

why would a community land trust be good for this community?

bikes!

A community land trust is an excellent tool for stabilizing housing prices, providing affordable homeownership, and giving community residents a voice in neighborhood development.

The redevelopment of the Market and Octavia neighborhood promises to transform and energize the area and its surroundings and to improve its quality and character. But there is also the potential for the economic and cultural diversity of the community to be threatened as land and housing costs increase.

The process of urban redevelopment paving the way for gentrification and resident displacement is a pattern that has played a significant and troubling role in San Francisco’s history. Therefore, the protections to housing affordability and the decision making empowerment of community residents that a community land trust offers have very real and meaningful value to the Market and Octavia neighborhood.

More information about community land trusts can be found at www.iceclt.org or at www.sfclt.org.

E3 rear elevation

E4 octavia boulevard elevation

Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

FINNISH PAVILION Location:

2002 World Olympics Salt Lake City, Utah

Type:

School Project

Size:

6,000 sqft + 10,000 sqft amphitheater

Designed to fulfill a school brief for bringing international flavor to visitors of the World Olympics, the Finnish Pavilion is comprised of two component forms and an exterior garden. The volume houses a gallery dedicated to the finnish kammos or polar night.

The second volume houses interactice displays showcasing Finland’s advanced technologies. The surrounding terraces and landscaping make-up a sculpture garden and public amphitheater for gatherings and performances.

↑ SOUTHWEST BIRDSEYE

Modern finnish culture is defined by intersections between opposing dualities: modern technology and traditional craft, urbanity and the natural realm, light and dark, day and night. The pavilion embodies these interesections by juxtaposing the two galleries in both a formal and phenomenal intersection where the gallery of the night is pierced by the slender gallery of technology-allowing technology to synthesize with craft, light to merge with dark, and day to enter night.

An important aspect of the finnish experience is a powerful connection to nature and to the earth itself. In order to embue the experience of the pavilion with this connection, the entrance sequence is designed as a descent into the ground. One enters the pavilion via a gently curving ramp which narrows in width and slopes subtly downward leading the visitor to the gallery entrance 12 feet below grade. As one descends, the concrete retaining wall rises up out of the ground next to them, amplifying the feeling of submerging oneself in a chthonic realm. This descent also serves to heighten one’s awareness of the condition of natural light by a gradual process of being distanced from the sky above.

The phenomenon of natural light has an entirely different meaning in the nordic realm of Finland. Daylight becomes a precious commodity during certain times of the year and its presence is treated with reverence. In the Finnish wintertime, the kammos or ‘polar night’ settles in bringing darkness of up to 43 consecutive days and changing the very fiber of the peoples’ existence. The gallery of the night showcases this phenomena and hence its interior is rendered in complete darkness except for a set of small punctures in the south wall allowing a constellation of light to enter the gallery. The wall and its apertures represent the night sky and the celestial bodies that become such a dramatic and important aspect of finnish life.

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SOUTHERN BIRDSEYE / AMPHITHEATER ↓

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RAMP DOWN ENTRY GALLERY OF THE NIGHT GALLERY OF TECHNOLOGY EXIT AMPHITHEATER SCULPTURE GARDENS PEDESTRIAN BOULEVARD 55

Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

↑ FRONT (WEST) ELEVATION

↑ AMPHITHEATER (SOUTH) ELEVATION 56

SECTION THROUGH AMPHITHEATER ↑

↑ NORTHWEST BIRDSEYE 7

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AXONOMETRIC VIEW FROM SOUTHEAST →

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RAMP DOWN ENTRY GALLERY OF THE NIGHT GALLERY OF TECHNOLOGY EXIT AMPHITHEATER SCULPTURE GARDENS PEDESTRIAN BOULEVARD 7

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

TRAVEL SKETCHES Location:

Italy, Paris, SF, LA

Dates:

1999 - 2001

After graduating from college, I had the opportunity to travel to Europe with some of my fellow architecture classmates. Paris was our primary destination.

Two years later, while in graduate school, I was able to return and visit several places in Italy.

These travel sketches represent some of the visual documentation I was able to accomplish during these visits. As well as some others from domestic trips.

The Colosseum / Rome, Italy ↑

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The Parthenon / Rome, Italy ↑

Constantine’s Arch / Rome, Italy ↑

Sacre Coeur / Paris, France ↑

Louvre / Paris, France ↑

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Selected Works / Aaron Richard Maret / January 2024

Church of San Giorgio / Verona, Italy ↑

Courtyard Basilica di San Lorenzo / Florence, Italy ↑

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Santuario di Nostra Signora della Guardia / Levanto, Italy ↑

Japanese Garden / San Francisco, California ↑

Eames House / Los Angeles, California ↑

Arcosanti / Mayer, Arizona ↑

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THANKS FOR YOUR TIME + ATTENTION.

All content © Aaron Richard Maret, unless otherwise noted.

Revised 31 January 2024.