Project Journal

A comprehensive visual log of current passive builds, surf sessions, supervisor pups, and our talented and indispensable crew.

View fullsize Have you ever wanted to stay in a near-passive-house home, maybe just to see what it’s like? Ever wanted to stay in a home we’ve built? (Because who wouldn’t? 😑) We love this home, back doing a little landscape lighting for these a
View fullsize First one was so nice, we’re back for twice. Second remodel, same home, same family, same pups, same awesome neighbors 🥰 (Not in a million years would have guessed that Oasis would be the soundtrack carrying the world today. Missed them first
View fullsize Seeing spaces be lived in and used the way they’re meant to be lived in and used is one of the best feelings. Hearing that they are super comfy, all around, everything - surfaces, the air inside, the sounds or lack thereof - is just the icing o
View fullsize Here’s a FIFTY-DEGREE difference in surface temperatures :) There was a fantastic panel discussion this past Tuesday with four of us from around California talking about Passivhaus, Passive House, high(er) performance building, comfort, health,
View fullsize Tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 9th, at 12:00 pm PST @emubldgscience has gathered a group of seasoned vets of the building industry who are all based here in California for a panel discussion on higher performance construction in our beautiful - and vast -
View fullsize The Bridge. I remember the importance I felt of getting this thing framed, particularly the first joist, before the first weekend in March, and I remember thinking it was an important focal point for @pack_design_group and the clients. It felt like a
View fullsize Blues run the game, baby. 🎶 Finished, lived-in, family-growing, spaces. Nothings done-done until it’s being lived in and used, or, on a current project, you’re finally standing on your roof deck watching your kids race their bikes home
View fullsize Welcome home ☺️ and a Happy Move-In Day today for this fam 🙏 It’s been a real treat to make this come to life and work with everyone involved. The strength is always in the team, the whole team, and this big team had lots of people with lots
View fullsize A pretty staircase…surrounded by a two-car garage; an entry mudroom; a laundry room; a walk-in pantry; kitchen, dining, living room; a powder room; a stunning entry patio; 3 bedrooms upstairs; 2 full bathrooms; four closets (one walk-in, one k
View fullsize The final magician-ry. The pretty that hides every minute detail that, if you’ve been doing this for a while, you can’t help but see and will drive you nuts as you try to sleep at night even though not another soul on the planet would eve
View fullsize Hello, home. Swipey swipey ➡️ to see before. (Also, remember when MySpace let you add music to photos? What a time to be alive…) Today was one of those days where you are just *wildly* grateful to work with good people, good team, good subs,
View fullsize ❤️ Tidying up the previous 95%. I don’t know about anyone else, but I get a little depressed at the end of a big, intense project; coming down off the adrenaline high of all the previous, nonstop thinking and doing and making-happen and jugglin
View fullsize If this were what greeted me every day at my front door, I’d be pretty stoked. Fun enough tying it all together and making all the bits and bobs and details and transitions reach the finish line. 🙏 #exteriorcarpentry #stucco #artistry #softha
View fullsize The very pretty things at the end, too. Aka, the last 5% that makes you forget the other 95% and six months of messy renovation. 🙏☺️ @serenawaddel and @alessandroyorba 📸 #designbuild #renovation #remodel #fossilfuelfree #interiordesign #tile #sho
View fullsize This was fun. This is about the kids, these girls, how The Kids Are Alright, and the absolute inspiration we all got from being around them when it feels like inspiration is desperately needed out here, particularly of late with what’s going on
View fullsize Pretty happy with how this turned out, all around, all the way from client introduction (which began in 2020) and our setting of expectations and right on through to delivery and performance of the home. Our HERS rater and Title 24 QII inspector said
View fullsize Have a weekend! 🙏 Finished up this stair system last week. Sweet to see the morning light sliding in… Heavy on the logistics and planning and pencil-pushing front end, and then the crew knocked it out in about two days. All-in-all, good syst
View fullsize Everything should be beautiful in the end. If it’s not beautiful, don’t do it at all; and if it’s not fun(ish)…why even do it in the first place? So pretty. This beautiful historic home in beautiful downtown San Luis gets th
View fullsize Tuesday, June 24th - that’s *next* Tuesday - at 9 am Pacific Time and 12 Noon, Eastern Time (you guys can figure out your own other time zones :) The Passive House Network will be holding the event “PHN PRESENTS: California, Wildfires, &a
View fullsize A little reminder here - or a first notice if you’re new to the gig :) - that we are consistently interviewing and hiring for positions here at Cairn to come join our friendly crew. These are long term, stable positions with full benefits, good

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