COUPAR Collaborations: Feldman Architecture and Kasten Builders

Rendering of open kitchen and living room

COUPAR Design's clients own a 1963 Northern California Modernist house designed by Henrik H Bull. The homeowners met the legendary Norwegian American architect before he died in 2013 when they found him wandering through the garden of their San Rafael home. It became a collaborative friendship. Henrik advised them on the Fairhills property's stewardship and sketched a guest cottage. After COUPAR designers completed the main house, the clients wanted to build the auxiliary structure. They turned to Founder Krista Coupar and Principal Teresa Kintz to curate a team of architects and builders to align with aesthetic and budgetary goals.

 Henrik H Bull sketch of the cottage dated September, 11, 2008

Krista and Teresa selected Jonathan Feldman of San Francisco's Feldman Architecture to interpret Henrik's vision. Jonathan and his studio dubbed the project Bullseye. Since Henrik sketched the guest house in 2008, there have been advances in materials, construction techniques, and systems. The studio approached Bullseye as if they were conversing with the late architect, honoring his modernist design while modernizing the function. To execute project management and the craftsmanship necessary to complete the cottage, COUPAR and Feldman chose Kasten Builders. Denny and his son Peter Kasten have specialized in high-end residential construction throughout the North Bay since 1972.

Rendering of living room

Feldman and COUPAR drew design inspiration for Bullseye from Henrik's main house. The redwood structure showcases a low-gabled roof bisected by a ridge skylight running the length of the building. Feldman took the shape and metamorphosed it into a butterfly roof. COUPAR used a warm, neutral color palette interspersing shades of indigo and rust for the main house. They utilized mid-century style furnishings. For Bullseye, Teresa, Lead Project Manager Mary Eaton, and Design Assistant Annika Littlehale employed the same silhouettes in muted shades of green and brown.

We look forward to seeing Henrik's guest cottage completed now that Kasten has broken ground on the project.