WE'RE HIRING • December, 2022
SEEKING TALENTED STAFF FOR MULTIPLE ROLES
PROJECT ARCHITECT
SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
scroll down to view full job descriptions & download PDFs
OUR TEAM: ARMOUR ARCHITECTURE is a well-established custom residential firm, known across the Bay Area for design rooted in traditional architecture, with functional spaces that support 21st century living. We've kept our studio intimate, taking on select projects with clients whose vision matches ours. We consider ourselves their partners and challenge staff to think beyond beauty and grace to create designs that truly support their lives. Our penchant for drawing thoroughness and quality has made us a highly sought collaborator of top builders, interior designers and repeat clients. We truly love what we do and have a shared sense of pride in the homes we create.
OVER THE YEARS, our portfolio has expanded consistently within San Francisco, Marin, Wine Country, the South Bay, and Hawaii, including several historically significant homes and an exciting slate of new projects. Our work spans historic renovations, aesthetically sensitive transformations, contemporary interventions, and new construction. Each team member at Armour Architecture has the potential to collaborate on remarkable work with our talented team, all in our newly renovated, light-filled 1920's studio in San Francisco’s dynamic Lower Haight.
PROJECT ARCHITECT (10+ years) • December, 2022
ARMOUR ARCHITECTURE SEEKS CANDIDATES FOR PROJECT ARCHITECT to lead design and delivery of high-end residential projects under the direction of the principal, with support of junior staff. Located on-site in our inspiring new, light-filled studio in San Francisco’s Lower Haight neighborhood.
ROLE: Lead the design and delivery of residential projects, including directing junior staff. The qualified candidate will amplify the principal’s design vision; demonstrate zeal and acumen for the language of high-end architecture; communicate with polish and confidence; delegate and instruct succinctly and positively; and have a solid work ethic based on commitment, organization, clear communication, and acute attention to detail. The ideal candidate will show evidence that they can produce work of very high quality on a consistent basis.
REQUIRED
• 10+ years architecture experience (license a plus, not required)
• Complete fluency in the language and execution of high-end residential architecture
• Demonstrated success managing and prioritizing large, multi-faceted projects
• Superb communication skills - verbal, written and graphic
• Mastery of commonly-used 2D architectural software programs and office programs
• Bachelor’s degree in architecture
• US-based (only)
OUR OPTIMAL CANDIDATE
• Navigates deftly between granular and big picture, the scale shift required for design refinement & efficient project management
• Has experience managing teams, including delegation, instruction, and positive motivation
• Has a proactive, shared-ownership approach to representing and developing the company
• Presents and communicates confidently and with polish, both inside and outside the company
• Takes and gives direction gracefully, with a focus on needs and interests
• Has familiarity with 3D modeling
• Has worked within the San Francisco Bay Area (or a few other US metro areas that typify our work)
• Has a healthy sense of humor and diversity of interests to add to our friendly, dynamic atmosphere
SCHEDULE: Full-time
COMPENSATION: competitive salary, commensurate with experience
BENEFITS: competitive, including health, dental, 401K with matching, LT disability, and fee reimbursement for ARE tests passed
LOCATION: Lower Haight, San Francisco – centrally located within the city, steps from multiple transit options
AVAILABILITY: Immediate/ASAP
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
Please email cover letter, resume, and current work samples—including notes indicating your roles on the projects—with the subject line Project Architect to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
We are only able to respond to candidates who fit our criteria and are based in the United States.
>> DOWNLOAD PDF: PROJECT ARCHITECT <<
SENIOR DESIGNER (7-10 years) • December, 2022
ARMOUR ARCHITECTURE SEEKS CANDIDATES FOR SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER to manage design and delivery of high-end residential projects under the direction of the principal, with support of junior staff. Located on-site in our inspiring new, light-filled studio in San Francisco’s Lower Haight neighborhood.
ROLE: Key design and delivery of residential projects. The role may include directing/mentoring junior staff. The qualified candidate will amplify the principal’s design vision; possess a zeal and acumen for the language of high-end residential architecture; and adhere to a work ethic based on commitment, organizational rigor, clear communication, and an acute attention to detail.
REQUIRED
• 7-10 years architecture experience
• Fluency in the language of high-end residential architecture
• Demonstrated success prioritizing large and multi-faceted projects
• Excellent verbal, written and graphic communication skills
• Mastery of commonly-used 2D architectural software programs and office programs
• At minimum, bachelor’s degree in architecture
• US-based (only)
OUR OPTIMAL CANDIDATE
• Navigates with dexterity between the granular and big picture - the scale shift required for design refinement as well as efficient project management
• Has a proactive, shared-ownership approach to representing and developing the company
• Has experience managing junior staff, including delegation and positive motivational skills
• Presents and communicates confidently and with polish, both inside and outside the company
• Takes and gives direction gracefully, with a focus on needs and interests
• Has worked within the San Francisco Bay Area (or other US metro area that typifies our work)
• Has familiarity with 3D modeling
• Has a healthy sense of humor and diversity of interests to add to our friendly, dynamic atmosphere
SCHEDULE: Full-time
COMPENSATION: competitive salary, commensurate with experience
BENEFITS: competitive, including health, dental, 401K with matching, LT disability, fee reimbursement for ARE tests passed
LOCATION: Lower Haight, San Francisco, centrally located within the city, steps from multiple transit options
AVAILABILITY: Immediate/ASAP
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
Please email cover letter, resume, and current work samples—including notes indicating your roles on the projects—and with the subject line Senior Designer to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
We are only able to respond to candidates who fit our criteria and are based in the United States.
>> DOWNLOAD PDF: SENIOR DESIGNER <<
daa to restore, open office in former meat & fish market on haight • September, 2019
teresa hammerl for hoodline
DAVID ARMOUR INTERVIEW WITH HOODLINE, David Armour Architecture will make its new office home in a former meat and fish market at the corner of Haight and Fillmore Streets. He's quite excited about its potential, with its double-height ceilings, loft space, and full perimeter of clear-story windows that've lain hidden for decades behind stucco walls (see before images). David plans to restore the exterior of this elegant 1920's building in San Francisco's Lower Haight neighborhood to honor its 1950's life as a Bank of America, assisted by archive imagery from the SF Public Library (see vintage image). The space has been vacant since 2016, apart from an art show in early 2019, so a strong dose of David's vision is in order.
Following a long search for the ideal space, David hopes to turn the new locale into the perfect meld of creative inspiration and commuting convenience for staff, with the added excitement of a dynamic neighborhood that's already proven warm, genuine and welcoming.
We look forward to seeing you in our new space in 2020!
READ THE FULL HOODLINE INTERVIEW HERE...
san francisco decorator showcase: main catering kitchen & service suite • April, 2019
David Armour Architecture and Jaimie Belew Interior Design joined forces to collaborate on the 2019 San Francisco Decorator Showcase House. Come tour their dazzling suite of service rooms April 27-May 27, 3800 Washington Street, San Francisco (benefits the UHS scholarship program).
(April 24, 2019 -- San Francisco, CA) Architect David Armour and interior designer Jaimie Belew are proud to present the Main Catering Kitchen and Service Lounge at the 2019 San Francisco Decorator Showcase. Inspired by Marie Antoinette’s French Beaux-Arts estate, the spaces pay homage to Le Petit Trianon’s classic architecture that Armour holds dear while showcasing contemporary elements selected to suit the entertainment needs of today’s homeowner. Armour reconfigured the kitchen floor plan to create symmetry and grace, while organizing the appliances and workstations into functional groups for efficient traffic. The kitchen's west wall features an elegantly appointed new cooking station, with its range as the focal point, opposite a new doorway created in the east wall to open it to the new Service Lounge. Belew gave the room plenty of period elegance, with a classic checked floor and elaborately styled island--replete with antique bases--elevating the room's grandeur with a contemporary color palette, glamorous stone surfaces and modern art touches.
For press inquiries, please contact Nicole Balin, Ballin PR, 323.334.6917 | email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
images: Drew Kelly Photography
stone: Da Vinci Marble
INTERVIEW WITH JEFF KING & CO • July, 2018
Highlights from David's recent interview with the wonderful team at Jeff King & Co. Construction:
CLEARLY YOU'RE AN ACCOMPLISHED ARCHITECT, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE THIS AS A CAREER?
I grew up in a town in New England surrounded by colonial-era buildings. Looking back, I remember being drawn to the historic homes and churches I saw, so much so that I chose to do a survey of saltbox style homes for a fifth-grade project on our town’s history. In high school, I took drafting as an elective, which taught me the foundational aspect of architectural drawing. Once in college, I first decided to major in historic preservation but broadened that to architecture during my first year. Today, my professional career reflects all of these points along my path.
THAT MAY HELP EXPLAIN WHY CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE FEATURES SO STRONGLY IN YOUR DESIGNS.
WHAT DO YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT IT?
I enjoy the rigor of classical design principles. Generally, I look to establish rational organizations, axial relationships and proper proportions in my work, whether applied to a traditional or modern design. Our portfolio includes a broad range of projects, from historic to modern, that feature this set of core ideas.
HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN INTEGRITY FOR THE HISTORY OF A PARTICULAR HOUSE OR NEIGHBORHOOD IN YOUR WORK?A core value of our firm is to steward our area’s rich architectural and cultural history while creating spaces that support how we live today. For each project, we study the patterns of the surrounding houses, neighborhoods, and region and find inspiration for the new design’s forms, material selection, etc. Whether a project is traditional, modern or somewhere between, our goal is to create an enduring design that meets the needs of our client while creating a dialogue between the past and present.
FROM OUR STANDPOINT, HAVING WORKED WITH YOU, YOU WORK AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, NOT ONLY IN YOUR DESIGNS, BUT ALSO IN YOUR DOCUMENTATION. IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT CONSTITUTES A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH A CONTRACTOR?
This might seem obvious, but I think the foundation for a successful collaboration between architect and contractor is when each focuses on what they do best. In this era of abundant work, too many architects seem to be issuing sets of drawings that are thin on detail, leaving the contractors to fill in the blanks and, in essence, complete their work. We take great pride in proper documentation so that the contractor can focus on execution.
ARE THERE ANY TRENDS IN ARCHITECTURE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE GO BY THE WAYSIDE?
The senseless gutting of old houses in San Francisco—removing all of the walls—is a sad trend. It’s essentially trying to turn a traditional house into something it’s not. The result is usually a house that’s less than the sum of its parts, degrading the cultural legacy of the City in the process.
READ DAVID'S FULL INTERVIEW HERE...
SUBZERO|WOLF KITCHEN DESIGN AWARD WINNER • September, 2017
WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN A GLOBAL WINNER out of more than 1,500 entries from 24 countries worldwide! 25 finalists from 7 countries came together at the famous Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, where DAA Principal David Armour and Project Architect Scott Schneider accepted the honor of 2nd Place Transitional Kitchen 2015-16 for our project “Contemporary Edwardian”. A very warm thank you to SubZero|Wolf and their judges for recognizing our work.
ABOUT THE PROJECT: This 6,500 square foot home was designed for a family with a rich tradition of multigenerational living, creating unique challenges for a vertically-oriented urban row house. Paramount to our work was understanding all facets of the family’s daily life in order to structure the home’s flow and design to respond to them in thoughtful ways. Instead of a simple in-law space, we designed an entire 2nd master suite so that the grandparents would feel completely at home and appropriately honored; for the rest of the active family: a garden with outdoor fireplace and putting green; rooftop hot tub; and music and movie rooms on the ground floor.
THE WINNING KITCHEN: foremost a stunning entertaining space equipped for elaborate food preparation (the owners are in the food industry), the kitchen also had to meet the needs of 3 generations, factoring in everything from schoolwork to booster seats to grandparent mobility. The client sought beauty and light throughout, with a direct connection to the outdoors. Due to site and zoning limitations, the rear-facing space available for a kitchen was narrow at just 25 feet, so we turned the footprint sideways and annexed space behind the garden setback to add a generously sized breakfast room looking out on a side terrace. With the kitchen on the second floor, we used folding doors to the two outdoor terraces to connect indoors to out and provide views of the garden. ...READ MORE about the awards: SubZero|Wolf KDC
SAN FRANCISCO DECORATOR SHOWCASE MAGAZINE • May, 2017
David Armour Architecture was pleased to support the San Francisco Decorator Showcase again this 40th anniversary year, joining with the city’s fine design, architecture & real estate communities to raise funds for the San Francisco University High School Financial Aid Program (www.sfuhs.org). 32 interior and landscape design firms were selected to transform spaces within the 11,000-square-foot mansion at 2698 Pacific Street into a design of their choosing. The 1904 home, originally by Newsom & Newsom, boasts a spectacular circular portico with white marble steps and a grand, elegant foyer leading to an oversized oak stair with a vintage stained glass skylight. With its intricate crown moldings, elaborately detailed plaster ceilings, richly crafted paneling and timeless floorpan, this home embodies the values that our firm holds dear. We hope everyone got to see it!
All funds raised through Showcase support the San Francisco University High School Financial Aid Program.
VIEW PHOTOS of the 2017 house: dwell: a peek inside!
OUR FAVORITE: don't miss Bibliotheek ("library" in Dutch) by fab designer Martin Kobus: Dutch Master at SF Showcase
