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Mission Statement:
Leger Wanaselja Architecture was
founded in 1991 by husband-and-wife team Karl Wanaselja and Cate Leger. It is
an award-winning architecture and general contracting firm with a specialty
in ecological design. Our work includes design, ground-up construction, and
renovation. We turn our hand-sketched visions into beautiful, well crafted
and original buildings. It is our belief that, at its essence, a work of architecture
is a functional work of art.
Leger Wanaselja Architecture creates architecture specific to its place. We integrate programmatic requirements with the specific geography, sunlight and weather patterns of a site so that our projects emerge naturally from their surroundings. Through careful siting and planning, our buildings make the most of the environment. They are climactically comfortable inside and efficient in their use of energy. Graceful transitions link rooms together and connect the indoors to the outdoors. Skylights, well-placed windows and doors, and sight lines through rooms and beyond create a sense of spaciousness and connection to the surrounding environment. Where possible, we use local materials and reuse existing materials, reinforcing the relationship of project to place.
To achieve the best possible design
for each client, we are committed to innovation both in design and construction.
We regularly review new and alternative materials and construction methods to
improve upon aesthetics and performance, and to reduce the ecological impacts
of architecture.
Selected Construction Projects:
Principals:
Karl
Wanaselja
Karl Wanaselja has been studying,
teaching and practicing architecture since 1978. He received a Master of Architecture
degree from U.C. Berkeley in 1991 and his California Architecture License in
1995. While at Berkeley, Karl received several fellowships including the
American Institute of Architects Scholarship and the prestigious Branner Traveling
Fellowship for excellence in design. Karl also taught undergraduate and
graduate design courses as a teaching assistant. He received his Bachelor
of Arts in Art History/Architecture History from Cornell. His photography
and architectural designs have been exhibited in galleries across the country.
Karl also has been building since 1982 and obtained his California General Contractor License in 1992. He has worked with concrete, wood, steel, adobe, and straw structural systems. He also has extensive experience in the use of salvaged materials and is particularly proud of his car part tool shed.
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Cate
Leger
Cate Leger has focused on green architecture since she began her graduate work
at U.C. Berkeley. While at Berkeley, she was awarded several fellowships including
ones from the American Institute of Architects and the American Association
of University Women. She also taught undergraduate design as a teaching assistant.
She worked at William McDonough Architects and Sim Van Der Ryn Architects, leaders
in ecological design, before joining Wanaselja Architecture. She received a
Master of Architecture degree from U.C. Berkeley in 1994 and her California
Architecture License in 1999. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from
Tufts University. She lectures regularly in the Bay Area on the firm's work
and ecological design.
Prior to graduate school, Cate spent five years in Washington, D.C. as an environmental
advocate working for nonprofits, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Congress.
Her expertise was in pollution prevention and water quality protection.
