SAN FRANCISCO, CA (July 28, 2011) - The American Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter (AIA San Francisco) and Center for Architecture + Design present the ninth annual San Francisco Living: Home Tours, a two-day open house event featuring a select number of modern residences.

Taking place September 17-18, the popular weekend showcases modernism at its finest and is the first tour series in the Bay Area to promote residential architectural design from the architect's point of view. Projects are showcased with the designer(s) via an open house format, and tour participants have the opportunity to see some of the latest residential projects from the inside out, meet design teams, explore housing trends, and discover design solutions that inspire unique San Francisco living.

An exclusive program of the Architecture and the City festival, the AIA San Francisco Home Tours Series aims to enhance the public's understanding of how innovative architecture can enrich daily living. The program also examines the intimate bond that is created between architects and their clients as they explore design's relationship with lifestyle and our region's built and natural terrain.

The 2011 San Francisco Living: Home Tours features a wide variety of architectural styles, neighborhoods and residences, including state-of-the-art single-family homes, contemporary renovations and multi-family residences in Bernal Heights, Castro/Upper Market, Clarendon Heights, Glen Park, Golden Gate Heights, Inner Richmond and Noe Valley.

Participating firms include Addison Strong Design Studio | Andy Rodgers Design Studio| Feldman Architecture| H+H Creative| John Lum Architecture| John Maniscalco Architecture| Kennerly Architecture and Planning| Kwan Henmi Architecture Planning in collaboration with Fougeron Architecture| MaK Studio| Studio 12 Architecture.

Homes are open on either Saturday, September 17 or Sunday, September 18 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tours are self-guided with design teams and docents available at each home. Visit www.aiasf.org/hometours for more information on the 2011 San Francisco Living: Home Tours Weekend.

The following events take place in conjunction with the Home Tours weekend:

Electric Ink: Attracting Attention in the New World of Publishing
September 14, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Modern Fever Showroom
San Francisco Design Center, 101 Henry Adams Street, Suite 442, San Francisco
$50 General Admission

There have never been more ways and places to have your work published, yet it's increasingly difficult to find the right venue. Print or online? Blog or digital issue? Is it possible to be published on paper and online? This panel - moderated by Erin Feher, Executive Editor of California Home + Design and comprised of the editors everyone is targeting - will be sure to answer those questions and more. Join us as we navigate the ever-changing terrain of the new media world.

The Architect's Forum
September 15, 6:00-8:00 pm
BTicino, 111 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco
Free for Home Tours Ticketholders | $20 General Admission

During this educational panel discussion, participants will learn more about the design and construction of each residence showcased during the weekend as well as gain a deeper understanding of the unique relationship between architect and client as they navigate the design process.

Home Tours Headquarters
September 17-18, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
B&B Italia, 2211 Alameda Street, San Francisco

Located in San Francisco's Design District, B&B Italia is the headquarters location of this year's San Francisco Living: Home Tours. At the Home Tours headquarters, you can purchase tickets or pick up tickets, meet one on one with members of AIA SF's Small Firms Committee on how to work with an architect, and learn more about B&B Italia's unique products.

• Working with an Architect
  September 17-18, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
  Whether imagining a new bathroom or a new home, talking to an architect is a great way to start the process. Members of AIA San Francisco's Small Firms Committee invite you to stop by to discuss your ideas. No appointment necessary, drop-ins welcome.

• San Francisco Living 2011 Exhibition
  September 17-18, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  A special exhibition that takes an in-depth look at the unique residences on the 2011 tours.

• Cocktail Reception at the Home Tours Headquarters
  September 17, 4:00 pm
  Free for Home Tours Ticketholders | $10 General Admission
  After enjoying the first day of the San Francisco Living: Home Tours weekend, join AIA San Francisco and California Home + Design for Saturday afternoon cocktails, music and conversation.

TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased online at www.aiasf.org/hometours or by calling 415.362.7397.
Please note: Children under 12 years old are not allowed on the tours.

AIA San Francisco Members:
$60 one day before September 1.
$70 one day on or after September 1.

General Admission:
$75 one day before September 1.
$85 one day on or after September 1.

AIA San Francisco members must have a valid AIA member ID# to receive the member rate. For more information on student, bike and teacher discounts, visit www.aiasf.org/hometours.

2011 Home Tours Selection Committee
Paul Adamson, FAIA
Kiley Arroyo
Nilus de Matran, Assoc. AIA
Lise de Vito, Assoc. AIA
Michelle Kriebel
William Kyle
Cecilia Quezada, AIA
Payton Stiewe Sarah Willmer, AIA

Sponsors
A special thanks to all our sponsors and supporters!

Media sponsors:
California Home + Design| 7x7|Curbed SF| FORM| The Architect's Newspaper| Handful of Salt| Inhabitat| Remodelista| Where San Francisco

Partners
BTicino| B&B Italia| Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders| Caesarstone| Hamilton Orchids

Sustaining Sponsors
ARC Northern California| SmithGroup| ARUP| Ideate| Rutherford & Chekene| Winzler & Kelly

AIA SAN FRANCISCO
Serving the Bay Area for more than a century, the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter (AIA San Francisco) is one of the largest of the AIA's 300 chapters. Headquartered in the historic Hallidie Building—one of the world's first glass-curtain-wall-buildings, designed by Willis Polk and completed in 1917—AIA San Francisco is the Bay Area’s premier destination for architecture and design. Representing more than 2,300 members in San Francisco and Marin County, our mission is to improve the quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting architecture and design. We further this goal through community involvement, education, advocacy, public outreach, member service, and professional excellence.

CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN
As one of the first centers of its kind on the West Coast, the Center for Architecture + Design enhances public appreciation for architecture and design both locally and internationally through exhibitions, lectures, tours, film series and other programs that aim to reveal the richness of the design arts. Founded by the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter in 2005, the Center for Architecture + Design celebrates the larger diverse design community and is a collaborative environment where design organizations and affiliates share not only space, but ideas.

ARCHITECTURE AND THE CITY FESTIVAL
Celebrating San Francisco’s unique built environment and design community, Architecture and the City is the first festival of its kind in the Bay Area to feature architectural tours, film screenings, exhibitions, design lectures and more. Created in 2003, Architecture and the City has now grown into the nation’s largest architecture festival, showcasing San Francisco's diverse architectural talent and presenting a forum to promote new ideas for innovative design and development in the city. Whether festival participants are looking to become involved with the local architecture and design community or simply want to learn more about the city in which they live, Architecture and the City offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO LIVING: HOME TOURS
AIA San Francisco’s popular San Francisco Living: Home Tours weekend is the first tour series of its kind in the Bay Area to promote a wide variety of architectural styles, neighborhoods, and residences—all from the architect's point of view. The annual program provides design enthusiasts and the general public with an inside look into the world of distinctive residences in San Francisco. Projects are showcased with the designer(s) via an open house format, and tour participants have the opportunity to see some of the city's latest residential projects from the inside out, meet design teams, explore housing trends, and discover design solutions that inspire unique San Francisco living.