A few recent projects

Not all of my projects are my designs, but most of them.  But they all share important characteristics.

Smart envelope construction

Metal roofs

Covered outdoor spaces

Local materials and products

Efficiency of space

Low maintenance

Energy efficiency

Red List compliant (non toxic)

Relationship to nature

Happy clients

Gilman, designed by Taproot Architects
built by dbBrad

 Most of my projects strive to be more than the budget would allow.  To compensate for this, I rely on skilled, proud and invested workers.  And simple designs.

Rapfogel house, 900sf heated, two buildings, 600sf covered outdoor space, Gorgeous!

In graduate school for architecture, or even in undergraduate school, instructors priased the 'Box"

Learn how to design, to detail, to construct and to elaborate on the Box first.

A simple garden shed somewhere in Washington state.  We called it Bob'em!
Built off site and flown in with a crane.

Never being one much for senseless curves and expensive details, i have lived the box all my life. I have practiced it.  I have perfected it.

BRMB, or Belinda Robert Micro Buildings

And so I continue to build boxes.  But boxes that make sense.  Boxes that are good investments.  Boxes that are healthy and efficient.  Boxes that relate to their environment and need no maintenance.

Luginbill, 2019, Greenbank WA.

But most importantly, boxes that live large.  That have punch.  That meet the prescribed requirements for design, use and budget.  Boxes that aren't just boxes!

A micro building, and so much more!

What is a Micro Building?  

It can be so many things, but in a nutshell it is small, portable, recyclable, non permitted and as a result, much more affordable.

Affordable, what a terrible word to ever associate with architecture, quality, longevity or efficiency.  Most people hear affordable and they think cheap.  This building, while being affordable, was not cheap-in a cost per square foot basis.

However in an overall picture, cost which would include things like interest rates, maintenance, environment, longevity, efficiency and quality of life, it was very affordable.

To put it another way, if this building had been an addition to a residence, it would have required permitting, engineering, inspections, earthwork, demolition, and on and on.  But being free standing, it required none of the above.

 While it serves as an additional living space associated with a residence, it's cost was but a fraction of what a permitted addition to the residence would have cost.

 Enter quality, efficiency, and simplicity.  By adding a freestanding and simplistic structure, we were able to pay less money for design, engineering, permitting and all the related costs associated with buildings under the IBC, and were able to pay more attention to details. 

Salvaged windows (not allowed in new construction), recycled wood walls, metal roof and siding, 100% toxic free products, smart wall construction, vented floor and a structurally integrated box that can be picked up and moved anywhere.  

A quality, healthy space which requires no maintenance, cost a fraction of what a typical remodel would cost, and which can be moved anywhere needed.  Which means when the use changes, when the property sells, when people come or go, the building still has value and a future.

When a building has a future, we are guaranteed a human will be more comfortable and that there will be less construction debris in the Landfill.  

This is good, 

hence MICROBUILDINGS 

only by dbBrad
Only on Whidbey Island, WA

BAPOW

Yessican

Oh Really

Outrageous

Inconceivable

God Dammit!!