architecture | west
TOP: Bamburg residence, nestled in the foothills of Mt. Hamilton overlooking expansive views of the Santa Clara Valley. Bamburg’s remodeled 1948 home shows off his versatility as an architect. BOTTOM: Aqui Restaurant; San Jose, Ca. The 4,400 sq. ft. restaurant is divided into a dramatic array of dining rooms, bar (seen here), kitchens and prep areas. The design uses a variety of strategically placed ceiling planes and wall openings that are meant to guide customers to spaces and provide a sense of privacy when dining. Photos courtesy of MBA Architects.
TUCKER CONSTRUCTION, INC.
resources in a wise way and consume less. We have proceeded to acquire our LEED accreditation as well as Build-it-Green.” Keeping his clients’ vision at the forefront of his design approach is what sets Bamburg apart from other firms in California, and even nationally. Rather than push a certain aesthetic on his clients, Bamburg emphasizes the importance of listening to his clients and creating a residence or building that fits the clients’ needs and aesthetic taste, rather than his own. Bamburg steers away from “faddish architecture” as he calls it; instead his team focuses on creating architecture that is timeless, while suiting the needs of the client and the community. A fan of modern and contemporary aesthetics, Bamburg says that whenever possible, he will encourage clients to take a more modern approach to design. While Bamburg has steered clear of indulging industry design trends in his work, there are two “trends” that Bamburg has embraced over the years: technology and sustainability. “When I graduated we didn’t worry much about energy conservation and sustainable design,” Bamburg said. “It wasn’t that we didn’t understand
these things but they weren’t emphasized as they are now. There have been a lot of new techniques that have come forward because of the sustainable push and the construction industry has been able to codify it.” Since graduating in 1958, part of Bamburg’s design approach still consists of paper and pencil sketches, something Bamburg says is important to the creativity of the design and outcome of the project. Even with his “old school” approach to design, Bamburg’s firm is completely computerized. Bamburg and his team recently completed the Japanese-American Museum located in California’s largest Japantown, which combines forwardthinking design with a traditional Japanese look. Replicating the style of a Japanese farmhouse, the museum’s design aims to tell the story of the Japanese internment during World War II. Bamburg said he was “honored” to lead the project and embraced a Japanese aesthetic in his design wherever he could – low roof structure, white stucco, dark wood trim, circular windows and columns. The museum’s design provides for a flexible photovoltaic film to be adhered to the south facing metal roofing. The solar power augmenta-
tuckercon.com As a full-service general contractor with a diverse portfolio and over three decades of experience, Tucker Construction, Inc. is a go-to builder throughout the greater South Bay Area and the Silicon Valley region. With respected owner and president Mark Tucker at the helm, the construction firm has grown at a pace of nearly 20 percent annually and shows no signs of stopping. In honing their talents and broadening their range across a variety of sectors, Tucker Construction, Inc. has a heavy hand in commercial and residential construction as well as restaurants, focusing on independent operations as opposed to large corporate chains. Additionally, the company has built lasting relationships through municipal clients and contracts, all alongside many public works programs. Tucker Construction, Inc. contracts with many municipalities in the region, including the Mineta San Jose International Airport and the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. The company also maintains the best of relationships with local property management and development companies such as Stegner Development, Imwalle Properties and DuckettWilson Development. Tucker has also built a large reputation within the local arts community. Tucker has completed detailed fine arts installations such as the cyber cafe in the San Jose Museum of Art for the ZeroOne Festival and the children’s playground made of recycled tree parts at the San Jose Seven Trees Library and Community Center. Throughout their more than 30 years of experience, Tucker Construction, Inc. has sustained their legacy, largely through word-ofmouth marketing. Their insistence on customer satisfaction, high-quality products and a stable, secure workplace contribute to the company’s defining elements.
tion helps to lessen both the museum’s electric bill and reduce carbon emissions resulting from commercial power generation. Bamburg credits the success of his firm to the simple principles of client relations, solid architecture and repeat business; but, also said the last five decades have been a learning experience. “There’s a lot of hype in architecture and it’s something I’m not very good at and I don’t believe in getting good at it,” Bamburg said. “We provide a good solid service, good architecture, solid documents and a very good value to our clients and that’s basically our goal.” ALT September/October 2011 147