Working With Concrete Architecture
Materials Alexandra Grossman Materials Alexandra Grossman

Working With Concrete Architecture

Sometimes we look to the past as we move forward. A well-documented process of previous work before, during, and after completion, is essential to our planning. We draw on the incremental forensic approach that was required of our team during the lengthy restoration of the mid-century historic Park Prospect Building in La Jolla.

We turn to challenging and demanding examples of cast-in-place concrete and materials used on previous projects. We call on our past and present community of master tradespeople and creative minds to get their insight and knowledge. We discuss and dissect how we approached the challenges that others shied away from and how we found solutions without compromise to form or function.

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Getting To Know Your Materials: Corten Steel
Maintenance, Materials Alexandra Grossman Maintenance, Materials Alexandra Grossman

Getting To Know Your Materials: Corten Steel

Corten is a beautiful building material that is featured in several of the homes that West Coast General Building Contractors have built and renovated. The signature mark of Corten steel is the protective oxide patina that gives it its rich brown color and prevents it from corrosion. From La Jolla to Rancho Santa Fe it aesthetically lends itself just as easily to modern architecture as it does to Spanish-style homes with its earthy hues that complement stucco and terracotta and lush landscapes as well.

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