Uncategorized – Page 9

25 10, 2009

The new rules for downtown

By Steve McKee|2009-10-25T06:16:06+00:00October 25th, 2009|Benicia, Uncategorized|Comments Off on The new rules for downtown

Owning a house or a building in downtown Benicia has long had its own set of extra rules that govern what you can and can’t do with your structure. In 2006 those rules were revisited and rewritten when the city hired an outside group of planning consultants to come in and lead a series of “design workshops” in which interested citizens could participate in discussion groups that would allow the planners to gain insight into the priorities of Benicians. Based on this input, as well as the planners’ own observations about the physical dynamics at work in Benicia, the planners [...]

20 09, 2009

A remarkable San Francisco bike ride reveals the city

By Steve McKee|2009-09-20T06:17:49+00:00September 20th, 2009|Random observations, Uncategorized|Comments Off on A remarkable San Francisco bike ride reveals the city

One day of every month a massive group of bicycle riders assembles in downtown San Francisco in order to ride around the city as a group of cyclists so huge that it gets to take command of the streets and intersections. “Critical Mass” began seventeen years ago in San Francisco as a monthly ride to assert bicycle rights and the idea has since spread to hundreds of other cities. It is prominently known for being a leaderless group. No agenda is set, other than the time and place for the start of the ride. The politics of cycling aside, I [...]

23 08, 2009

How to almost miss out on architecture school

By Steve McKee|2009-08-23T06:19:37+00:00August 23rd, 2009|At the School of Architecture, Uncategorized|Comments Off on How to almost miss out on architecture school

It was working out pretty good knowing by age eleven that I wanted to spend my life drawing up cool stuff. In fifth grade my buddy Paul and I had an unofficial “drawing club” where we assigned ourselves all these detailed drawings of jets and tanks and things like that. We would meet in the library at recess to admire each other’s effort. Our pal Bob was also sort of involved, though his drawings usually showed more “heart” than technical skill. We always found something to praise. I remember we each drew a cross section that showed a cutaway view [...]

2 08, 2009

Visiting Italy in the movies

By Steve McKee|2009-08-02T06:21:09+00:00August 2nd, 2009|Travel Tales, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Visiting Italy in the movies

Can’t afford to visit Italy this summer, eh? If a flat economy has put a damper on travel plans, then you can do the next best thing and visit vicariously, and do so from the comfort of your own home. All with help of movie magic. I’m quite fond of that certain sunny peninsula – you know, the one shaped like a boot – so I had the idea of listing the most engaging movies on that subject. Of course I then had to watch a wide variety of movies. (Thanks Netflix.) All in the line of duty as a [...]

26 06, 2009

Secret weapons of design

By Steve McKee|2009-06-26T06:22:47+00:00June 26th, 2009|Before you begin, My favorite columns, Thinking like an architect, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Secret weapons of design

Over the years I’ve found there are certain tools used in designing a house that are so useful and so powerful that they deserve to be in some sort of Hall of Fame. Barring that, I will at least list them here. I’m talking about the type of design where clients get to be a part of all the important decisions involving their house. Perhaps there is another type of design; if so, I’m unaware of how to make a living doing it. The method that I’ve been using for the last twenty years relies on owner and architect bringing [...]

24 05, 2009

Germany, the war, and why we like life in Benicia

By Steve McKee|2009-05-24T06:25:08+00:00May 24th, 2009|Travel Tales, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Germany, the war, and why we like life in Benicia

The movie “Valkyrie” got me thinking about what might have been. That’s the true story about the German officers who tried to kill Adolph Hitler in early 1944 in order to stop the war before their entire country was destroyed. Their plan required Hitler’s death because only then would the nation be freed from the oath of allegiance they had all individually sworn to that total whack job. A few days later I watched a related movie, a documentary on the carpet-bombing of Germany, and the two movies combined to stir me up pretty good. It’s maddening to realize how [...]