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Archeologists Working During Excavation Implementing Studio Milou’s award-winning design was occasionally held up by archeological discoveries on site—worth the wait in an area that was the site of a Knights Templar fortress and a prison that held the royal family during the French Revolution. Photo Credit: Fernando Javier Urquijo/studioMilou architecture.
Archeologists Working During Excavation Implementing Studio Milou’s award-winning design was occasionally held up by archeological discoveries on site—worth the wait in an area that was the site of a Knights Templar fortress and a prison that held the royal family during the French Revolution. Photo Credit: Fernando Javier Urquijo/studioMilou architecture.
The Lofthouse is built one of the many hills separating it from the couple’s main residence. "Excavation was a challenge, as we wanted to maintain as much of the existing landscape as possible, but needed to clear out trees for the foundation," says Tarah.
The Lofthouse is built one of the many hills separating it from the couple’s main residence. "Excavation was a challenge, as we wanted to maintain as much of the existing landscape as possible, but needed to clear out trees for the foundation," says Tarah.
The project’s unique challenges—a tight budget and steep, difficult terrain—led architecture firm _naturehumaine to a creative solution that gave the house its delightfully sculptural appearance. Making the first floor’s envelope slightly narrower than the top one’s saved money while minimizing the amount of excavation required.
The project’s unique challenges—a tight budget and steep, difficult terrain—led architecture firm _naturehumaine to a creative solution that gave the house its delightfully sculptural appearance. Making the first floor’s envelope slightly narrower than the top one’s saved money while minimizing the amount of excavation required.
The Bunnings found the boulder that marks the entryway (above, left) during the home’s excavation.
The Bunnings found the boulder that marks the entryway (above, left) during the home’s excavation.
This also made it possible to include a pool that seamlessly joins with the rear terrace, since the rocky terrain prevented excavation work.
This also made it possible to include a pool that seamlessly joins with the rear terrace, since the rocky terrain prevented excavation work.
Respecting the existing site, Suyama and his team left all of the trees in place. They also ensured the trees were fully protected during the excavation process.
Respecting the existing site, Suyama and his team left all of the trees in place. They also ensured the trees were fully protected during the excavation process.
The Second Home Pavilion is located on a grassy ellipse next to the La Brea Tar Pits—the only urban, consistently active Ice Age excavation site in the world.
The Second Home Pavilion is located on a grassy ellipse next to the La Brea Tar Pits—the only urban, consistently active Ice Age excavation site in the world.
One of the architects’ main challenges was to maintain the site’s white pine trees. As a result, the construction made use of sophisticated excavation and tree-conservation techniques. This also ensured that there was minimal disturbance to the riverfront during the build in 2019.
One of the architects’ main challenges was to maintain the site’s white pine trees. As a result, the construction made use of sophisticated excavation and tree-conservation techniques. This also ensured that there was minimal disturbance to the riverfront during the build in 2019.
The courtyard and pool are adjacent to the entry stair and half a level above the street, so that no excavation was required. This brings the courtyard closer to the upper level living areas, while still allowing the guest suite on the lower level to feel connected to the courtyard.
The courtyard and pool are adjacent to the entry stair and half a level above the street, so that no excavation was required. This brings the courtyard closer to the upper level living areas, while still allowing the guest suite on the lower level to feel connected to the courtyard.
An object lesson in waste not, want not: Brown’s shed was built of leftover siding and houses firewood culled from the site excavation.
An object lesson in waste not, want not: Brown’s shed was built of leftover siding and houses firewood culled from the site excavation.
During the renovation, Pawson and Gill added an entirely new building to the former hospital and convent. In the new structure, Pawson has created a modernist lobby, highlighting remnants of a 13th-century Crusader’s bastion wall that was uncovered during the excavation.
During the renovation, Pawson and Gill added an entirely new building to the former hospital and convent. In the new structure, Pawson has created a modernist lobby, highlighting remnants of a 13th-century Crusader’s bastion wall that was uncovered during the excavation.
Architects who practice in dense cities know its almost impossible to add square footage to an apartment. Yet at a garden-level residence in Boston's historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, Chris Greenawalt of Bunker Workshop was able to unearth 70 square feet of living space through a little excavation.
Architects who practice in dense cities know its almost impossible to add square footage to an apartment. Yet at a garden-level residence in Boston's historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, Chris Greenawalt of Bunker Workshop was able to unearth 70 square feet of living space through a little excavation.
Inspired by a sifter at an excavation site, the Sifter coat rack has a handy tray to stash gloves, mittens, bags, or any loose items that may ned up on the floor.
Inspired by a sifter at an excavation site, the Sifter coat rack has a handy tray to stash gloves, mittens, bags, or any loose items that may ned up on the floor.
His patio was constructed with bricks salvaged in the excavation process.
His patio was constructed with bricks salvaged in the excavation process.
Stone boulders which were discovered during the excavation process and retain the earth.
Stone boulders which were discovered during the excavation process and retain the earth.
Providing the best quality construction and excavation services in South Central Ontario, Allto Construction is a family-owned and operated company with residential, commercial, and industrial properties since 1969. Located in Orangeville, ON, our experienced team has the skill and state-of-the-art equipment necessary to take on projects of any size and get it done right the first time. At Allto Construction, we offer a range of construction and excavation services. These include the design and installation of septic systems, excavation and hydro excavation, driveways and parking lots, demolition, trucking, emergency services, and snow removal. With over 10,000 projects completed, Allto Construction works hard with your satisfaction in mind. For the best in construction and excavation services, contact Allto Construction today at 800-265-3348 to schedule your free estimate and consultation. Allto Construction 23 Robb Blvd #1, Orangeville, ON, Canada L9W 3L1 (519) 941-6402 https://www.alltoconstruction.com/
Providing the best quality construction and excavation services in South Central Ontario, Allto Construction is a family-owned and operated company with residential, commercial, and industrial properties since 1969. Located in Orangeville, ON, our experienced team has the skill and state-of-the-art equipment necessary to take on projects of any size and get it done right the first time. At Allto Construction, we offer a range of construction and excavation services. These include the design and installation of septic systems, excavation and hydro excavation, driveways and parking lots, demolition, trucking, emergency services, and snow removal. With over 10,000 projects completed, Allto Construction works hard with your satisfaction in mind. For the best in construction and excavation services, contact Allto Construction today at 800-265-3348 to schedule your free estimate and consultation. Allto Construction 23 Robb Blvd #1, Orangeville, ON, Canada L9W 3L1 (519) 941-6402 www.alltoconstruction.com
Back of house view. Boulders direct from excavation site
Back of house view. Boulders direct from excavation site
All of the stone used for this house was recovered from the excavation of the site for the house.
All of the stone used for this house was recovered from the excavation of the site for the house.
Backyard excavation created a sunken courtyard, where the side entrance to a new 750-square-foot office space lies. The exterior is clad in Corian, a surface normally found on countertops. "The clients love that they can go to another wing of the house and have an office," says Brooks. "There's a physical seperation. We’ve designed it so in the future, if they close the firm, they can open up the door between the office and the dining room and connect the entire basement floor."
Backyard excavation created a sunken courtyard, where the side entrance to a new 750-square-foot office space lies. The exterior is clad in Corian, a surface normally found on countertops. "The clients love that they can go to another wing of the house and have an office," says Brooks. "There's a physical seperation. We’ve designed it so in the future, if they close the firm, they can open up the door between the office and the dining room and connect the entire basement floor."
lower level master bedroom walks out into yard, created with 12' of excavation
lower level master bedroom walks out into yard, created with 12' of excavation
The mountain ridge required significant excavation to create a flat base for the slab on grade home to be built.
The mountain ridge required significant excavation to create a flat base for the slab on grade home to be built.
With a construction budget of less than $200 per square foot, architect Les Eerkes (with the mentorship of Tom Kunding) looked for ways to build the structure efficiently. He specified glulam—glued laminated timber—for the structure and spanned the skeleton with structurally insulated floor and roof panels. The structure is stationed atop a six-column foundation. "The 'six-footed' solution was balanced against a spread footing and stem wall approach," Eerkes says. "Cost analysis led us in the direction of the column footing approach because it minimized excavation and form work costs."
With a construction budget of less than $200 per square foot, architect Les Eerkes (with the mentorship of Tom Kunding) looked for ways to build the structure efficiently. He specified glulam—glued laminated timber—for the structure and spanned the skeleton with structurally insulated floor and roof panels. The structure is stationed atop a six-column foundation. "The 'six-footed' solution was balanced against a spread footing and stem wall approach," Eerkes says. "Cost analysis led us in the direction of the column footing approach because it minimized excavation and form work costs."
The soil on the hill is full of serpentine rocks. Simple planting is like a major excavation. On the plus side, never need to buy rocks.
The soil on the hill is full of serpentine rocks. Simple planting is like a major excavation. On the plus side, never need to buy rocks.
The roughly 5,000-square-foot Lens House renovation, which was finished in 2012 and just won a 2014 RIBA National Award, required six years, major remedial work on the roof and walls, approval from the planning committee, and even a sign-off from a horticulturalist to guarantee the backyard excavation didn't interfere with a walnut tree. "These things aren’t for people who are in a hurry," says architect Alison Brooks. The focus is the ten-sided trapezoidal office addition. "It wraps itself around the house with a completely different set of rules than the Victorian building," she says.
The roughly 5,000-square-foot Lens House renovation, which was finished in 2012 and just won a 2014 RIBA National Award, required six years, major remedial work on the roof and walls, approval from the planning committee, and even a sign-off from a horticulturalist to guarantee the backyard excavation didn't interfere with a walnut tree. "These things aren’t for people who are in a hurry," says architect Alison Brooks. The focus is the ten-sided trapezoidal office addition. "It wraps itself around the house with a completely different set of rules than the Victorian building," she says.
The architect behind this angular New Zealand home used surplus soil from the excavation to create a grassy berm, which acts as a natural fence.
The architect behind this angular New Zealand home used surplus soil from the excavation to create a grassy berm, which acts as a natural fence.
Excavation will begin for CAF Headquarters in the next month or two. The building’s footprint was minimized to augment open space on the ground level. Image by PRODUCTORA.
Excavation will begin for CAF Headquarters in the next month or two. The building’s footprint was minimized to augment open space on the ground level. Image by PRODUCTORA.
There is a precipitous drop off the deck at Maison Amtrak, though the sloping site meant that either serious excavation or a bit of caution would be needed. The Cohens opted to play it safe, and have a planter of red geraniums that guard the edge of the deck.
There is a precipitous drop off the deck at Maison Amtrak, though the sloping site meant that either serious excavation or a bit of caution would be needed. The Cohens opted to play it safe, and have a planter of red geraniums that guard the edge of the deck.
The homestead is designed as a series of east-west running volumes, roughly paralleling the topography and stepping up the hill. Boulders discovered during excavation were located throughout the gardens.
The homestead is designed as a series of east-west running volumes, roughly paralleling the topography and stepping up the hill. Boulders discovered during excavation were located throughout the gardens.
The homestead is designed as a series of east-west running volumes, roughly paralleling the topography and stepping up the hill. Boulders discovered during excavation were located throughout the gardens.
The homestead is designed as a series of east-west running volumes, roughly paralleling the topography and stepping up the hill. Boulders discovered during excavation were located throughout the gardens.
Paint excavation studies revealed the history of paint applied to the home. The team also discovered an early warm gray paint layer that suggests Ray Eames mixed the paint by hand.
Paint excavation studies revealed the history of paint applied to the home. The team also discovered an early warm gray paint layer that suggests Ray Eames mixed the paint by hand.
A bold orange vertical excavation of the frame accents the kitchen and provides a second bright counterpoint to the long, grey, Canadian winters. #kitchen #bright #color #orange #hearth #livingroom #beachhouse #oceanfront #beachhouses #britishcolumbia #vancouverisland #interstice #intersticearchitects #bradlaughton #bradlaughtonphotography
A bold orange vertical excavation of the frame accents the kitchen and provides a second bright counterpoint to the long, grey, Canadian winters. #kitchen #bright #color #orange #hearth #livingroom #beachhouse #oceanfront #beachhouses #britishcolumbia #vancouverisland #interstice #intersticearchitects #bradlaughton #bradlaughtonphotography
Topographies is a new wallpaper collection initiated by Calico Wallpaper for their Imagined Landscape collection, designed by New York-based designers Snarkitecture. Topographies was developed by partners Daniel Arsham, Alex Mustonen, and Ben Porto. Building on their exploration of excavation as an architectural process, the collaboration with Calico Wallpaper transforms this three-dimensional exercise into a handmade, two-dimensional wall covering. Stacks of paper are torn by hand to reveal a stepped topography, implying an unknown architectural depth within the wall. Alluding to the aging process of layered wallcoverings, Snarkitecture’s design reveals an unexpected relationship between destruction and construction. The textured contours play between the looseness and depth of the torn excavations and the precision and flatness of the wall surface.
Topographies is a new wallpaper collection initiated by Calico Wallpaper for their Imagined Landscape collection, designed by New York-based designers Snarkitecture. Topographies was developed by partners Daniel Arsham, Alex Mustonen, and Ben Porto. Building on their exploration of excavation as an architectural process, the collaboration with Calico Wallpaper transforms this three-dimensional exercise into a handmade, two-dimensional wall covering. Stacks of paper are torn by hand to reveal a stepped topography, implying an unknown architectural depth within the wall. Alluding to the aging process of layered wallcoverings, Snarkitecture’s design reveals an unexpected relationship between destruction and construction. The textured contours play between the looseness and depth of the torn excavations and the precision and flatness of the wall surface.
Rather than undertaking dramatic excavation, the team instead opted to minimize sitework, stepping up the home into the hillside. “Instead of using large retaining walls and attempting to flatten the steep site, we created a series of terraces that step up the hill and allow the home to connect to its direct outdoor environment at every level,” explain architects Darci Hazelbaker and Dale Rush.
Rather than undertaking dramatic excavation, the team instead opted to minimize sitework, stepping up the home into the hillside. “Instead of using large retaining walls and attempting to flatten the steep site, we created a series of terraces that step up the hill and allow the home to connect to its direct outdoor environment at every level,” explain architects Darci Hazelbaker and Dale Rush.
Installation view of Daniel Arsham's The Future was Then. For his SCAD exhibition, Daniel Arsham took a long, narrow corridor of the museum and transformed it into a dizzying installation. His Wall Excavation, made of styrofoam and joint compound, is an example, he says, of making "architecture do things it's not supposed to do."
Installation view of Daniel Arsham's The Future was Then. For his SCAD exhibition, Daniel Arsham took a long, narrow corridor of the museum and transformed it into a dizzying installation. His Wall Excavation, made of styrofoam and joint compound, is an example, he says, of making "architecture do things it's not supposed to do."
In the high-end kitchen, craftsmanship perfection and original materiality are combined: worktop and stone sink made of massive stone blocks, flush gas hobs and the massive chimney with black steel housing. All the natural stone elements, as well as the complete floor covering, are made of boulders from the excavation pit. A sliding door connects the kitchen with the north terrace on the slope.
In the high-end kitchen, craftsmanship perfection and original materiality are combined: worktop and stone sink made of massive stone blocks, flush gas hobs and the massive chimney with black steel housing. All the natural stone elements, as well as the complete floor covering, are made of boulders from the excavation pit. A sliding door connects the kitchen with the north terrace on the slope.
Cosentino owns a lease to mine this mountain. Here, you can see the various layers of rock in the quarry. Through excavations, they've gradually excised portions until they hit the marble motherlode. The mine has been producing marble blocks for 40 years and has an expected lifespan of 40 more years. The trade name of the stone is "Blanco Macael," referring to the city from which the stone originates. It's one of the many varieties of natural stone the company distributes.
Cosentino owns a lease to mine this mountain. Here, you can see the various layers of rock in the quarry. Through excavations, they've gradually excised portions until they hit the marble motherlode. The mine has been producing marble blocks for 40 years and has an expected lifespan of 40 more years. The trade name of the stone is "Blanco Macael," referring to the city from which the stone originates. It's one of the many varieties of natural stone the company distributes.

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