in Situ

"There's a deeply personal and detailed account of how these homes came about that can't fail to inspire the would-be house builder to push a little harder to create something beyond the ordinary that will truly stand the test of time." — enki UK Magazine

Mark English Architects believes every home is a prototype, developed in collaboration with the client, landscape, topography, climate, and cultural considerations. in Situ: Unique Homes Crafted for California Living invites readers into seven of the firm’s residences to learn more about the studio’s approach to architecture and design.

Landscape and climate play a vital role in every Mark English project, with buildings and spaces designed to celebrate their California location, whether it’s the city, coast, or mountains. Each residential design is a sensitive and creative response to the site and environment and reflects the firm’s inherent understanding of the Golden State’s relaxed indoor-outdoor lifestyle. The practice draws on the California vernacular of open-plan living, light-filled spaces, and natural materials to blur the boundaries of inside and outside, and embeds every design with a layer of artistry to create meaningful homes for their residents. 

This beautifully presented monograph features seven outstanding homes, illustrated with colour photography, renders, plans, drawings, scale models, and site photographs that showcase Mark English Architects’ design and construction process and reveal how the firm crafts these unique homes for California living.

Mark English AIA is a Bay Area native and founded his practice, Mark English Architects, in 1992. Mark has served as a board member at AIA San Francisco, AIA California, and AIA National Small Firm Exchange. He has also served on several design awards juries including the 2020 AIA National Small Projects Awards, 2018 AIA California Residential Design Awards and 2013 AIASF Constructed Realities Design Awards.
Mark’s work has won numerous design awards including an AIASF 2024 Design Award, 2024 RD Residential Design Architecture Award and several SARA Design Awards. He is the editor of respected online magazine The Architects’ Take, which features original interviews and commentary. As an early proponent of social media, Mark has presented to the AIA and affiliated groups regarding the effective use of new media.

Zahid Sardar, the editor-in-chief of SHLTR™ magazine, is a San Francisco–based writer specialising in architecture, interiors, and design. He has authored many design books, curated exhibitions, and was the San Francisco Chronicle’s design editor for two decades. His work also appears in The New York Times, Dwell, and other publications.