An array of building types and architectural vocabularies
Combining cultivated knowledge and facility of today’s transformative design, presentation
and production tools with thoroughly honed traditional architectural design capabilities
Traditionally-inspired Custom Homes – New England and California
Historical references enrich contemporaneous
design sensibilities in East and West Coast residences
The Rhode Island waterfront home was constructed on a historic 19th century property. Inspiration is drawn from estates throughout Newport, and cottages along the New England shore, and exemplifies an evolved seaside vernacular. A new home on the peninsula shares the references and aesthetics represented in the Aquidneck Island residence.
The East Coast residence features an Entry Hall that also serves as the design’s primary organizing element. The majority of spaces rotate around this dramatic two story centerpiece avoiding a linear scheme. Terraces extend the living spaces to unique outdoor areas with varying degrees of privacy. The vast lawn rolls up to the home and accentuates the spectacular waterfront view. The massing of the home evolves from the dynamic hierarchal volumes that delineate the individual rooms; creating an engaging silhouette. The vocabulary and aesthetics that characterize the residence inspired the design of a new West Coast home on the peninsula.
Waterfront Residence, Middletown, Aquidneck Island, RI
w/ Charles Fink, Architect
Seaside estate seamlessly melds traditional vocabulary with the openness of today’s contemporary homes. Upon arrival, the Sakonnet Light, is framed through the Porte-Cochere. The sprawling layout embraces the site; carefully composed water views appear as artwork as one meanders throughout the residence.
Private Home, Burlingame, CA
w/ N. N. Gabbay, Architect
Custom Homes with contemporary flair, from rambling ranch to cozy cottage
Interplay between interconnected volumes and hierarchical massing,
open floor plans and the benefits to a building that harmonizes with its site
Addressing solar influences, maximizing views, and bringing the outdoors inside create a vibrant environment; and enhance the daily lives of the residents. The homes featured here share dynamic interconnected three dimensional interiors that are reflected in the resulting expressive massings that comfortably assimilate with their site.
Under the cupola, the double story Family Room is the organizing element of the home. A mezzanine wraps around this dramatic space and provides numerous sitting nooks and overlooks to the adjacent rooms, as well as access to balconies that provide views to the distant horizon above the tree tops. A similar relationship between massing and volume is embodied in a cozy cabin built along the backroads of Maine. On a modest scale compared to the former, with five bedrooms and two baths are contained in under 1,200SF. The airiness of the open plan belies its compact design and efficient use of space.
Private Residence, Dean Estates, Cranston, RI
w/ Charles Fink, Architect
An origami inspired folding roof creates an expressive massing that reflects the discrete volumes that demarcate distinct spaces and functions. Many of the roof planes coalesce to a cupola that caps the double story Family Room, the crowning pinnacle, of this central space.
Private Home, Searsmont, ME
Marc Rousseau, Architect
Spec houses, designed to become inviting distinctive homes
Capitalizing on a site's unique characteristics and challenges,
working with inherently restrictive parameters of steep hillside lots
Completed with separate teams these projects successfully address restrictive setbacks and height limits. Architectural ideals presented in the Custom Homes above are embodied here as well, though the budget structures differ fundamentally from those. Dynamic interiors reflected in the massing, spectacular views, a strong interior/exterior relationship define the distinctive dwellings.
The designs make the most of the distinguishing characteristics of the setting including: maximizing daylight along with other solar considerations, orientation of rooms to capture distant views, bringing the outdoors inside while maximizing opportunities for privacy. These intrinsic environmental features when fully incorporated into a holistic design support in the creation of site specific, site responsive inimitable homes. A myriad of issues needed successful resolution in moving the projects forward including: addressing concerns of various neighborhood groups, compliance with CC&R’s and Planning Commission policies, along with operating within budgetary constraints.
Twin Sister Spec Homes, El Cerrito, CA
w/ RED Architecture
A spine, parallel to the grade, runs through the sister houses in El Cerrito, with gables and dormers extending perpendicularly from this axis creating a unifying silhouette along with dynamically interactive interior spaces. Generous outdoor balconies and terraces effortlessly extend the living space outdoors.
Spec Home, Montclair in Oakland, CA
w/ S. J. Sung & Associates
Townhomes – neighborhood infill; suburban planned unit development
Acknowledging context, responding to established built fabric;
Creating context, developing a new community with a sense of place
The community building projects presented here respond uniquely to their context. The Noe Valley project involved extensive negotiations with concerned neighborhood groups in order to eventually garner their support. The Hayward project attempts to create a tranquil enclave surrounded by suburban developments, thoroughfares and railways.
The San Francisco project echoes the corner properties throughout the neighborhood. The façade is articulated with a contemporary interpretation of traditional bay windows that contribute to the built fabric. The solid massing at the corner was reduced, (through negotiations), minimizing building’s presence to gain favor with concerned neighbors. The Hayward townhomes are conceived from a singular floor plan; variations of the scheme and massing allow for 3 or 4 bedroom units. An engaging streetscape is derived from a design vocabulary wrought to create distinctive facades. Covered entries and terraces provide transition from the public sphere to the private domain.
Noe Valley Townhomes, San Francisco, CA
w/ 10d Architecture
The units are distinguished on many levels starting with separate entrances with their own street address. The lower unit’s primary feature, a lofted living space opens to a lush garden. The upper unit is highlighted by a living area opening to a generous rooftop terrace with views to the East Bay Hills.
Proposed Townhomes, Planned Unit Development, Hayward, CA
w/ N. N. Gabbay, Architect
Multi-Unit Housing, Apartments and Condominiums
Projects with a wide array of stylistic influence addressing the interests of:
respective project teams, neighborhood groups, and Planning Commissions
Presented are numerous projects and proposals, (apartments and condominiums), throughout the Bay Area. The process always defined by mitigating multiple, often conflicting concerns with the primary goals and objectives of the client, the developers. Coordination with multiple team members and continual negotiations with various stakeholders help to assure success / an integral part of the process.
Maximizing the development potential of the site is often the primary challenge while negotiating with numerous concerned groups in opposition, seeking to retain the character of their neighborhood. Iterative refinements addressing these concerns along with Planning Commission feedback is often necessitated to gain project approval. My objectives in this pursuit are to create buildings that are responsive and sensitive to specific neighborhood issues and an asset for all residents, working to bring much needed housing online while contributing to a sense of place, and helping to further define 21st century community development in the Bay Area.
Various projects throughout Bay Area
w/ Architects as noted
Presented here are several developments influenced by negotiations along with Design Guidelines issued by various municipalities. The examples represent various styles influenced by: fluctuating trends, developer preferences, interests of participating architects, and feedback suggested by those with vested interests.
Proposed Restoration and New Construction, Oakland, CA
w/ Kirk E. Peterson & Associates, Architects
Offices, Health Care facilities, Institutional Housing, Restaurants, etc. . .
Balancing and prioritizing budgetary and programmatic requirements,
ADA compliance issues, sustainability and other logistical concerns
Projects ranging in size and scope from: modest space planning to campus reorganizing strategies; from tenant improvements to branding, identity reinforcement and alignment with or creation of a distinctive signature style. Projects that meet and exceed defined expectations, the process made a little easier with today’s innovative design and production tools.
The work often includes solving complex and conflicting programmatic issues. Patience and an ability to counsel and encourage parties with divergent interests to negotiate and compromise when inevitable conflicts arise is a critical, cultivated skill. The design process often involves considerations for phasing of construction work to assure uninterrupted functionality. Compliance with ADA regulations and issues of historic relevance often affect the scope of work. Notable projects include: the consolidation of Kaiser’s psychiatric services at Julia Morgan’s Kings Daughters Home on Broadway in Oakland and initial designs for and integration of Yoshi’s into the mixed-use Fillmore Heritage Center.
Various projects throughout New England and The Bay Area
w/ Architects as noted
Work on an array of building types, with a wide variety of consultants, (structural and mechanical engineers, interior designers and landscape consultants, among others) to satisfy a wide variety of concerns. Deliver cohesive projects that surpass stated goals and objectives.
(Schematic Design and Design Developmental Phases)
in the Fillmore Jazz Preservation District, San Francisco, CA
w/ Morimoto Architects
CONTACT INFO
375 Church Street, SF, CA 94114
marcrousseausf@gmail.com
Marc Rousseau @ LinkedIn
Link here to my resume
Phone: 415.722.8972
"I don't think that architecture is only about shelter, is only about a very simple enclosure. It should be able to excite you, to calm you, to make you think."
- Zaha Hadid
Copyright © 2019 Marc Rousseau
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