Darrel DeBoer – Architect

Darrel DeBoer, AIA, president and founder of DeBoer Architects is an internationally known west coast architect named one of the 100 most influential designers by Metropolitan Home. He is an innovator and pioneer in the green architectural revolution and lectures throughout the country. Darrel has facilitated workshops regarding sustainable building techniques and the use of bamboo in architectural applications through UC Berkeley Extension, the Academy of Art College, the County of Alameda and the City of San Francisco. Darrel is current president of the Northern California Chapter of the American Bamboo Society and is the author of numerous articles on bamboo and alternative materials. He is the author of the bamboo chapters in several new books on natural construction systems and is the co-author of Building Less Waste, for the Alameda County Waste Management Authority. He is also co-author of Architects/ Designers/ Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR) Ecological Architectural Resource Guideand the author of Building with Bamboo. His slides on applicable uses of bamboo in the U.S., Germany, China, Colombia and Costa Rica could make you believe that “Bamboo” is the answer to all questions.

Darrel takes a healthful, cost–effective approach to architectural design and detailing. He designs with a couple of specific goals in mind: Placing the needs of the occupants first. He takes into consideration the sun’s path, daylighting opportunities, temperature swings, views, smells, adjacencies; Creating buildings that nurture their occupants; Building in ways that will be sustainable into the future – incorporating wise material choices for durability and long–term cost benefits.

His most recent work – a home with bamboo roof trusses and strawbale / earthen plaster walls was featured on Home & Garden Television’s (HGTV) Extreme Homes. This strawbale home plan entitled Sun, Straw & Earthen Floor is available through Healthy Home Designs.