TodayTrained in architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, Candace has a strong background in craft and construction. With an interest in traditional architecture and indigenous spirituality her interest led to a teaching position in architecture at the Ponape Agriculture and Trade School, in Micronesia. While in the islands and becoming critically aware of how materials are harvested, consumed and recycled she now has a strict filter to pass strategies and materials through if being considered for a project. The subsistence island communities, the islands that are now sinking, are considered her number one teacher for how to design and build. The result of this strategy is work that is appropriate, simple and culturally appropriate. The island research also uncovered how a culture is created by the process of building, and in that work the building is the culture. The act of making it is a cultural event.The research resulted in a full year abroad as a fellow at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and Queensland University of Technology in Australia where she wrote the building specification for, te Maneaba, the meeting house of the Republic of Kiribati.
Over the past 12 years her work in San Diego has focused exclusively on regenerative design/build projects, curriculum development and teaching. Programs include the Village Design Project, a renewable energy curriculum, Habitat Heroes - a native plants restoration program, Design/Build Women's Collective, and the Schoolyard Pizza Oven project. Recent work includes a green, modular residence for Katrina victims; the launch of the "Del Mar Studio", a prefab-modular dwelling for off-grid use. The dwelling is on display in the award winning, "Modern Homestead", a garden display in the Paul Ecke, Jr. Garden Show, at the San Diego County Fair through July 4, 2012. Candace is also the owner of RainThanks & Greywater, a water conservation, design/build company in San Diego. She was on the founding Board of the Natural Building Network and is currently the Executive Director of Las Casitas - Design/Build Lab. Today, she is focused on raising awareness about the 20,000 species of solitary native bees that pollinate most of our food. These bees require safe, clean cavities to nest, but with habitat loss and pesticide use they are in need of shelters. Candace is manufacturing beautiful shelters and shipping them around the world to help bees reproduce and thrive.
Over the past 12 years her work in San Diego has focused exclusively on regenerative design/build projects, curriculum development and teaching. Programs include the Village Design Project, a renewable energy curriculum, Habitat Heroes - a native plants restoration program, Design/Build Women's Collective, and the Schoolyard Pizza Oven project. Recent work includes a green, modular residence for Katrina victims; the launch of the "Del Mar Studio", a prefab-modular dwelling for off-grid use. The dwelling is on display in the award winning, "Modern Homestead", a garden display in the Paul Ecke, Jr. Garden Show, at the San Diego County Fair through July 4, 2012. Candace is also the owner of RainThanks & Greywater, a water conservation, design/build company in San Diego. She was on the founding Board of the Natural Building Network and is currently the Executive Director of Las Casitas - Design/Build Lab. Today, she is focused on raising awareness about the 20,000 species of solitary native bees that pollinate most of our food. These bees require safe, clean cavities to nest, but with habitat loss and pesticide use they are in need of shelters. Candace is manufacturing beautiful shelters and shipping them around the world to help bees reproduce and thrive.