Our Practice
The work of Andrew Mann Architecture expands the tradition of the Bay Area Style to contemporary needs, specifically inspired by the works of, and precedent set by, earlier generations of architects such as Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan, William Wurster, Joseph Esherick and William Turnbull. Andrew Mann continues this tradition by focusing on the particularities of each project’s site and context, by establishing a strong connection between building and landscape and by making use of natural materials.
In keeping with the Bay Area Style, we believe that developing volumes and spatial sequences are the important aspects of architecture that transcend the parameters of traditional or modern. Our designs focus on the abstract qualities of space, such as the play of natural light on surfaces, the proportion of heights and widths of architectural elements, how one moves through rooms, and how one perceives the relationship between those spaces. We believe these characteristics are central in creating timeless architecture and underly all of the work that we do.
When starting a project, Andrew Mann Architecture establishes with our clients their priorities in terms of program, context and budget. Programmatic needs are one’s wish list for the new construction that define the problems to be solved. This might include a list of rooms and elements desired in the new construction, plus an understanding of how you wish to live in those spaces. Context is defined as your existing house, property and neighborhood. We look carefully to see how any new construction will fit with those conditions. Once those criteria are outlined, the firm’s design ideas focus on creating strong spatial relationships between spaces, using light to shape those spaces, and creating customized spaces that fit your needs.
Our Attention to Craft and Detail
Andrew Mann Architecture brings the same attention and finesse to how our projects are built as we do to the development of the overall design concepts. Our work focuses on the crispness of line and simplicity of detail. The elegant designs we arrive at come from a rigorous understanding of how architecture is constructed. At a detailed level, we focus on the inate characteristics of materials, how they meet at surfaces and corners, and how they will actually be installed by your contractor. The importance of craft informs all of our design decisions.
Within this context, our firm is committed to making healthy buildings, which are energy and resource efficient, and make use of natural materials. We find that retaining and reusing existing materials is an important and useful sustainable design strategy. We also bring this same appreciation for craft to the development of our drawings, providing thorough and detailed documents for your contractor to work from.
Our Relationship with Our Clients
We understand that the process of renovating, expanding or building a new home is a substantial endeavor. We strongly believe that the success of our designs relies on establishing strong client relationships. Because of this, our team is very attentive to your concerns throughout the planning, design and construction process. We enjoy guiding our clients through an active dialog to successively identify how you want to live and what we need to provide to support you.
Our office structure is one in which collaboration is central. Andrew Mann has a strong and diverse team of designers working together to meet your goals. We believe clear dialogue and respect lead to effective problem solving.
We also consider your contractor a vital team member, and we recommend working with one as early as possible. Our team will collaborate with your contractor to bridge the transition from design idea to constructed building holistically. We remain involved in all of our projects through the completion of construction to make sure that your vision is fully realized.
Our Mission
We create clean and sophisticated buildings that feel inevitable; they are the design solutions that seamlessly fit their contexts and meet their occupants’ needs and desires. It is our belief that our collaborative approach of working, coupled with our intuitive handling of building materials and space is what makes successful and beautiful projects.
