about m/ap
Joel Mendelson is an Architect registered in California. He specializes in the design of new homes and alterations, as well as with site design, mixed-use design, small institutional, and commercial project design. Joel has led project teams of varying sizes on built projects in California, the East Coast, Europe and the Middle East. He often works happily as a sole practitioner.
Joel recently completed a five-year project for Ellis Partners at Google, working as an Owner’s Representative and Development Manager with major design oversight for the new YouTube Campus Expansion in San Bruno, California. This award-winning, multiple building, LEED Platinum project opened in November of 2023.
Great houses
M/AP’s sweet spot is single family homes, additions/alterations, and small institutional/ commercial work. We listen carefully, and will iterate with you to create a great design.
Joel has proven abilities in project leadership and team coordination. Most of his single-family experience has been in nearby Bay Area cities and counties - Sonoma, Napa, St. Helena, Glen Ellen, and Lafayette, as well as San Francisco.
California sites are ideal for locating a beautiful home, but often carry challenges related to fire safety, steep grades, and infrastructure development. We love challenges.
Calm and sculptural
Our exterior designs tend toward a sculptural building massing and materiality that fits well in California, with simple geometries, time-tested materials, and a constant search for balance.
Our interiors focus on natural light and shade, with a relaxed interplay of interior and exterior spaces, and a seamless blending of spaces.
We strongly believe that buildings and landscape are integral to each other and should be designed together. We will always provide guidance toward siting, grading, and landscape setting.
Realísima arts
Realísima Arts is a new print journal that creates lush translated images from photo, to pixels and ink. Architecture, food and culture are the general subject matter, and Joel has mostly focused on Japan as this summer’s hot-spot. Prints are available for sale, printed on heavy-weight archival watercolor paper by Berkeley Gicleé.
Joel can provide editorial and architectural illustration work upon request.
We also invite you to check out more ink, gouache and sculpture in our project Archive.
Contact us
M/AP is available to advise on your development project, new house, or residential addition. Also let us know if you are choosing land, or if you are visiting a house you may be considering for renovation.
As an Owner’s Representative, Joel is experienced at working through complicated permitting and project entitlement issues requiring agency approval. He is adept at assembling a great consultant team, and overseeing design and construction until a certificate of occupancy has been granted.
Featured Projects: Mixed Built Work
Portfolio: Local and Global Design Work.
Realisima ‘24: Recent illustration work.
Bio/Contact: Bio, CV, and Contact Info.