The Firm

We combine our backgrounds in building, architecture, interiors, and landscape architecture to form a holistic approach to design. We believe that the various parts of a design, from the minute construction detail and selection of a material, to the overall building and site design, are inseparable from the whole. As the well-conceived detail contributes to the beauty of the larger form, the building and the components within the structure embrace the landscape to complete the picture as one design. All blend in a cohesive manner to stimulate the senses beginning at the point of entering the property, to approaching the building facades, to engaging with the interior spaces and finished materials.

Our design process and building skills draw from our early careers in the construction business as owners of small design build companies. As professional designers we have the technical tools to freely express our creative intentions while executing the project efficiently and within our client’s budget. We work closely with our clients to understand their requirements and wishes as evident in the expression and function of the final project.

Jan Longwell

Jan Longwell has practiced landscape architecture since the mid 1990's. Her work includes projects for civic, university campus, commercial and residential clients. Prior to moving to San Francisco she was Founder and Partner at Context in Denver where she received commissions for civic and campus public art projects and taught design studios in the Graduate Program for Architecture and Design at the University of Colorado. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and later attended Cornell University where she received her Master of Landscape Architecture.

Briggs MacDonald

Briggs MacDonald's work ranges from residential and hospitality to commercial and institutional. He formerly held positions as Principal at Alamosa Design Associates, Director of Interior Architecture at EHDD Architecture, and as Design Director at Mancini Duffy, all in San Francisco. He has also worked with Andree Putman and Vignelli Associates in New York, and AAP Atelier fur Architektur und planung AG  in Bern Switzerland.  In addition to his private practice, he is currently an adjunct professor in design at California College of the Arts (CCA).  He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)

Laura Goard

Laura Goard believes that good design can improve the quality of our lives and everyday experiences in the environment. Laura enjoys searching for elegant and unique spatial solutions to architectural problems. While pursuing a Master of Architecture at UCLA, she developed a passion for research-driven design, especially as it relates to fabrication, materiality, and sustainability. Laura's work is primarily residential, yet she also has experience in hospitality, commercial, as well as art installations and exhibition design. After spending time in Los Angeles and New York, Laura is happy to be working in her native San Francisco.

Rika Kurihara

Rika Kurihara  was born in Hiroshima Japan. She received a Bachelor of Arts in the Living Arts Department at Bunka Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan in 1999 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture & Design at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco.  Rika has worked at bmod / Briggs MacDonald Office of Design San Francisco, Thomas Silva Architects, San Francisco, Esherick Homsey Dodge and Davis (EHDD), San Francisco,  Alamosa Design Associates, San Francisco and Makita Design Inc. San Francisco. 

Project / Client List

Anchor Brewery, San Francisco
Applied Underwriters, Foster City, California
Homewood Suites, Newark, California
Woodside Residence, Mill Valley, California
1 Kearny, San Francisco, California
Bean Pole Retail, Seoul, South Korea
Zuckert Clark Residence, San Francisco, California
Artemide Showroom, San Francisco, California
Salt House Restaurant, San Francisco, California
Park Central Hotel, New York City, New York
SF Westin Market Street, San Francisco, California
The InterContinental Clement Monterey, Monterey, California
The Westin Harbour Island, Tampa, Florida
The Westin Canal Place, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Westin San Diego, San Diego, California
Hollinger Residence, Santa Monica, California
English Studios, Redwood City, California
Indelicato Residence, Tiburon, California
Vitra, Inc., San Francisco, California
Artemide, San Francisco, California
Ganter O’Brien Residence, Mill Valley, California
Winter Residence, San Francisco, California
Winter Residence, Saint Helena, California
Scatena Residence, San Francisco, California
Exigen, San Francisco, California
Design Within Reach, San Francisco, California
Baker McKenzie, San Francisco, California
Next Office, San Francisco, California
Lawler + Lawler, San Francisco, California
KPMG, Anchorage, Alaska
ABN AMRO, San Francisco
CAPCO, San Francisco, California
Donaldson, Lufkin, Jenrette, San Francisco, California
Personify, San Francisco, California
Hal Riney & Partners, San Francisco, California
Green Glen, San Francisco, California
Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois
Bay Tree Bookstore and Graduate Student Commons, Santa Cruz, California
Menlo College Library, Atherton, California
Olympic College Library, Bremerton, Washington
Gleeson Library Addition, San Francisco, California
Dorrain Zief Law Library, San Francisco, California
UC Santa Cruz Graduate Commons and Cafe, Santa Cruz, California
Autobahn Motors, Mercedes Benz Dealership Facilities, Belmont, California
Jaguar Showroom, San Rafael, California
Lexus Showroom and Dealership Facilities, San Rafael, California
Stanford Art Department Study, Stanford University, California
Recreation Clubhouse, Las Vegas, Nevada
Recreation Clubhouse, Henderson, Nevada
Vitra Seating Inc, Los Angeles, California
King Residence, Los Angeles, California
Baigelman Residence, Hollywood, California
Cohen Residence, Brentwood, California
Delisle Residence, Santa Monica, California
Post Logic Video, Los Angeles, California
C & C Music Factory, New York City, New York
Bad Animals Recording Studio, Seattle, Washington
Vitra Seating, Inc, Showroom, New York City, New York
Vitra Seating, Inc, Showroom, Chicago, Illinois
Studio I, New York, New York
Bess Cutler Gallery, New York, New York
Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, New York
Crandall Loft, New York, New York
Residential Loft Space, New York, New York
Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center, New York, New York
K I Showroom, Chicago, Illinois
Ebel USA Corporate Headquarters, New York, New York
Ebel Showroom Building, New York, New York
Edelman Residence, New York, New York
Vignelli Offices, New York, New York
Barney’s, New York, New York
Georgian House Renovation, London, England
Low-Cost Elderly Housing, Bern, Switzerland
University of Bern Underground Library, Bern, Switzerland
Pathology Laboratory Building, Bern, Switzerland
Restaurant Building, Bern, Switzerland
Housing Project, Baghdad, Iraq
Sedlak House, Los Angeles, California
2,4,6,8 House, Los Angeles, California