Designer Profile: Architect creates timeless, high-end designs throughout the Bay Area
Given a choice between trendy and timeless, Eric Dumican will chose timeless every time. The San Francisco-based architect has no interest in creating a design that will look dated 20 years from now. His goal, he said, is to create a design that transcends.
Born in Connecticut, Dumican came to California nearly 20 years ago. while working for a Massachusetts-based firm that was opening a branch office in San Francisco.
For the past 12 years, he’s been a partner at Dumican Mosey Architects alongside Matthew Mosey. About a dozen people work at the firm whose portfolio contains a blend of high-end, single-family homes and mixeduse projects in Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Russian Hill, Potrero Hill, Noe Valley, Menlo Park, Los Altos, Napa and Atherton
Dumican received his degree in architecture from Roger Williams University, a liberal arts college in Rhode Island.
In this lightly edited interview with SF is Homes, Dumican talks about his background, his favorite places to design, and looking at life through the eyes of an architect.
Q:What’s your favorite part of San Francisco?
A:“My interests are with the neighborhoods themselves — how different neighborhoods have different site amenities. The goal is to address challenges, while also taking full advantage of opportunities with what you are given. For instance, you’ll have a dense, urban site in Russian hill, whereas a lot in Atherton is a blank, open canvas. These two contexts lead to different architectural responses.”
Q:What’s a design style you’re not fond of ?
A:“There’s a post-modernist era that came after the midcentury modern era. It was a response to modernism. Modernism was about clean, minimal lines, and somewhat utilitarian. Post-modernism took it the other way, Elements were added to buildings that were just frivolous. The elements weren’t grounded in strong reason or rationale. They
were just there because the architect thought it would be fun for them to be there.” Q: What is your inspiration? A: “Often times, inspiration comes from specific experiences of being at the site. We’re involved with continuing education and learning about new materials, technologies, and systems through the American Institute of Architects, as well as other conventions and seminars. We’re also inspired by other architects, artists, industrial designers, and craftsmen. Or, you’ll get inspiration from the clients. They may say they really want an amazing high-end modern house with a ‘wow’ factor, but want it composed of low-cost, and zero-or low-maintenance materials.” Q: What’s your design philosophy?
A: “One of our strong philosophies is we develop pieces that will hold up to the test of time. We want to create something that still looks relevant 10, 20 or 30 years from now. We want it to stay relevant in any age. So we stay away from stylistic moves that are trendy but will date a place. Stylistic moves is fine for fashion but not for architecture. Architecture is going to be there for a long time, so you don’t want to create something that’s a fad.”
Q: How does being an architect affect how you look at buildings and houses in your day-to-day life? A: “It’s interesting. I’m always looking at buildings and architecture and cities and urban environments through the architect’s lens. I’m looking at how they feel and work and how they are experienced. And it’s something that works both ways. I’ll see great architecture and that will influence my work, or I’ll see something that I see as substandard, and it’s hard to look at those.” Q: What’s next for Dumican Mosey Architects?
A: “We probably have a dozen projects in various stages of design. Three or four are just finishing up. One is a really nice little modernist gem in Russian Hill with views out to the bay. It’s unique because it’s pushed off the street about 50 feet. So we developed the home with a pedestrian pocket park, which is unusual because homes in San Francisco are generally right against the street.
We also have a home in Atherton with high volumes, a folded/facetted ceiling plane, stone and staingrade wood throughout, and walls of glass in the front and back. Then we have a mixed-use project in SOMA that is finishing up. It’s has an artist’s studio/ gallery on the lower level and a 4,500 square foot one-story New York style loft on the second floor.”