Posts Categorized: Blog
On the Boards: On the Rocks
Uniquely sited on the lake’s edge, this shoreland-zone-regulated camp maintains the governed footprint while transforming the language of the structure into a collection of volumes, reflecting the granite boulders that pepper the waterfront site. Breaking the form of the main...
Resilient by Design: OPAL Wins California Passive House Challenge
OPAL has been awarded first prize in the Contemporary category of the California Rebuilds Design Competition, hosted by Passive House Network and Passive House California. The competition underscored the urgent need, and tremendous opportunity, to advance high-performance, fire-resilient housing in...
The Results Are In, and Maine Is Crushing It
by Timothy Lock Photo by AIA Maine Each year, the AIA issues its 2030 Commitment By the Numbers report, tracking progress toward the Architecture industry’s goal of operational carbon-neutral buildings by 2030. This year, of 460 reporting signatories, 27 firms...
On the Boards: Camp Revamp
Over the years, OPAL has become well-versed in designing within Maine’s Shoreland Zone, which regulates structures located along the coast and lakefronts. Working on existing, non-conforming structures in the restrictive Shoreland Zone necessitates creative, problem-solving design. Too much intervention requires...
Island Projects, Revisited
Over the years, OPAL has completed a number of projects in the Penobscot Bay. Because of the remote nature of these projects, many members of the staff hadn’t yet had the opportunity to see these sites in person—until now! Due...
Nice Shorts!
by Timothy Lock For some reason, designers have a hard time thinking about envelopes holistically. While we’ve made real progress in the average energy performance of new construction, I still see the same recurring mistake: focusing on individual wins rather...
No More Fried Eggs
by Timothy Lock Building orientation has always been a critical part of ecological design. Even ancient and pre-civilization structures show evidence of careful siting—responding to sun, wind, slope, or seasonal migration patterns. Orientation could enhance comfort, ensure safety, or even...
Great Design is Regenerative Design
by Timothy Lock “Regenerative design” is having a moment. It’s the new aspirational label in architecture and planning circles, showing up in panel titles, consultant pitches, and design awards. It’s urgent. It’s abundant. It’s…very poorly-defined. What’s troubling isn’t the...
All Wood, All the Time Receives Thermory Design Award
We are pleased to announce that our lakeside Connecticut project “All-Wood, All the Time” has won the Tiny & Private House Category of the Thermory Design Awards! With a cross-laminated structural system and wood fiber-based products making up all of...