6450 MORAGA AVENUE MONTCLAIR
seriously local.
BEFORE
landscaping & materials EXTERIOR NATIVE LANDSCAPING AND LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS AND VENDORS Initially the landscaping consisted of dense hedges and thirsty Camilla bushes that offered privacy but blocked natural light, creating a shadowed interior. By adding native plants like the Dianella Tasmanica, we created a soft, natural landscape that grows close to the ground to let in radiant solar heat in the winter and requires minimal irrigation in the summer.
SOURCE: M C CAFFREY BROTHERS LANDSCAPING – BERKELEY, CA & AMERICAN SOIL & STONE – RICHMOND, CA
PHOTOS: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
BEFORE
landscaping & materials EXTERIOR THE LIVING WALL The architectural style of the building was challenging from the start. There was a lot of wall surface and a boarded up void where the previous tenant’s ATM was removed. We had always wanted our workspace to reflect what we enjoyed so much about the local environment: light, lush foliage, the freedom of the outdoors. Instead of adding what would typically come to mind – signage – we decided to add a living wall, mostly lush ferns and native grasses to welcome our clients and staff each day. To our delight, we witness several people a day stopping to enjoy the living wall.
SOURCE: M C CAFFREY BROTHERS LANDSCAPING – BERKELEY, CA
PHOTOS: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
exterior SIGNAGE RED OAK SIGNS We wanted to display our logo and let everyone know we had arrived, but we wanted to do it subtly. We hired Steve Vigeant, owner of Berkeley Signs. An artisan sign maker, he crafted the sign using carefully selected materials that would maintain a well-worn look over time. The goal was to reflect the authenticity behind the brand at Red Oak Realty.
SOURCE: BERKELEY SIGNS – BERKELEY, CA
PHOTO: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
reception LIGHTING REPURPOSED MATERIALS In a commitment to use as much recycled materials as possible, these lights were repurposed from former chemistry lab supplies.
SOURCE: SCHOOLHOUSEELECTRIC.COM
PHOTO: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
BEFORE
COMMON AREA workspace
WORKING WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS HON furniture contains 99% recycled material while open seating reduces HVAC and electricity usage. The common space also cultivates Red Oak culture, allowing agents to collaborate and share knowledge and resources. This open sharing benefits not only our agents but the clients they represent.
SOURCE: AAA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS – SAN FRANCISCO, CA
PHOTOS: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
SHARED TABLE common area SHARED TABLE After several months of scouring the Bay Area, we located two 14x4-foot wood slabs used for the shared table, as well as the receptionist’s desk, at a private residence in Bolinas. The pieces were sustainably harvested from a Redwood tree that had fallen on a barn in Nicasio, Marin County. They were hauled back to our carpenter’s warehouse in Richmond were they were cleaned, sanded, cut and painstakingly hand-crafted into these beautiful pieces.
SOURCE: JOHN TOOPEEKOFF – OAKLAND, CA
PHOTO: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
common area LIGHTING CHANDELIERS AND LOW-VOLTAGE LED LIGHTING By relying heavily on natural light we were able to illuminate most of the work area with only two chandeliers. Each light was custom-made by a local artist in an effort to create the exact amount of light needed while utilizing 21 simple LED bulbs.
SOURCE: LAURA MARTIN BOVARD INTERIORS – OAKLAND, CA & TRINITY ELECTRIC GENERAL CONTRACTORS – WALNUT CREEK, CA
PHOTO: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
conference rooms MEET LOW VOC FISH-OIL BASED PAINT AND MOTION SENSORS The interior was designed using an organic/industrial approach: a lot of wood, steel, concrete and plant art. We wanted the conference rooms to have a touch of glamour so we chose a highgloss lacquer paint for the walls and ceiling. Traditional oil-based lacquer is filled with numerous toxic chemicals, so to get the sheen without the toxins we chose a low-VOC eco-lacquer made from fish oil from Fine Paints of Europe.
SOURCE: MB JESSEE – OAKLAND, CA
PHOTO: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
COMMUNICATE phone booths SHARED PRIVACY We knew if we took away private offices and made our conference rooms available to clients, our agents would still need a place to have private conversations. We created small, stand up “phone booths” for agents to step in during negotiations and talk privately. The walls are painted with blackboard paint to jot down a quick MLS number or contact info, without wasting paper, and redwood shelving was sourced from a felled tree in Piedmont.
SOURCE: FRIEDMAN BRUEGGEMEYER DESIGN & BUILD – BERKELEY, CA & JOHN TOOPEEKOFF – OAKLAND, CA
PHOTO: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
BEFORE
kitchen KITCHEN CONSUMPTION Of course low-flow faucets are a necessity, but we also opted for small-scale appliances. Office spaces generally have no need for full sized appliances which are notorious for their energy consumption. In addition, a bottle-less UV water filter reduces the carbon footprint of water delivery and improves water quality.
SOURCE: AQUA PRIX – HAYWARD, CA
PHOTOS: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
BEFORE
large conference room VAULT THE LIT WALL The vault was a challenge for any potential occupant (besides a bank). Eighteen-inch thick, reinforced concrete walls and fluorescent lighting did nothing to warm the space. We decided to fur-out two walls and the ceiling, cover one wall in dry-erase paint and create the feeling of actually being outside while honoring the limitations of the vault. There are over 200 LED lights that flood the Redwood image, creating what has now become the most coveted room in the building.
SOURCE: BLUE RIVER DIGITAL – SACRAMENTO, CA & LAURA MARTIN BOVARD INTERIORS – OAKLAND, CA
PHOTOS: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
BEFORE
kevin’s office UPSTAIRS KEVIN’S OFFICE Office furniture is expensive and there’s no shortage of it hanging around in landfills. Repurposing used furniture is a great way to preserve resources and find some great stuff. The desk was essentially trash from the Mulholland Luggage Factory in Berkeley. It was refinished, and a cover placed over the original wood top. The stool is a vintage Toledo work stool rescued from Los Rios Community College in Sacramento. The strong box/ cabinet was left by the previous tenant and most other materials were found at various other consignment stores, including those great stuffed chairs in the vault. The chalk board wall saves paper and gives Kevin’s kids a place to draw.
SOURCE: YARD SALES THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA
PHOTOS: ROB JORDAN, WHISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
seriously local. EST.1976