Howard Backen

Architect

Howard J. Backen, FAIA has a wide variety of experience in over 50 years of architecture, design and planning of low cost to high budget projects throughout the world. A 1962 graduate in architecture from the University of Oregon, Backen was a founder and principal of both Backen & Gillam Architects and prior to that, Backen, Arrigoni and Ross, Inc. In addition to the numerous other awards earned by Howard throughout his career, he received the first Presidential Award for Design Excellence in 1984 from President Reagan in recognition of The Gardens, a housing project he designed for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Furthermore, in 1992, he was made Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. One of Howard's many significant projects while at Backen, Arrigoni and Ross is the Delancey Street Foundation, a 325,000 square foot headquarters for an innovative and highly successful rehabilitation program for drug abusers and former convicts. This facility contains 177 units of communal housing, a 400 seat public restaurant, a 150 seat screening room, a health club with pool, a 500 seat assembly hall, and other additional services to create a nearly self contained community for 500 people. For Bridge Housing, a San Francisco non-profit housing corporation, Howard developed Steamboat Point on the Embarcadero, a project with extremely tight budget constraints. This 108 unit facility with day care, rental office and retail space assists San Francisco Redevelopment Agency in making provisions for low income families. Additionally, in Lucas Valley, Marin County, Howard developed an 80 unit senior living facility for the Rotary Club. One of Howard's many noteworthy clients is Robert Redford, with whom he worked closely to design the Sundance Institute in Utah which "combines indoor intimacy with the outdoor experience". For this "Community for the Arts" project, Backen and Redford developed a complete master plan, which provided the framework for the integration of existing, renovated and new facilities in a cohesive, environmentally sensitive arrangement. Included in the facilities was a 150-seat screening room, a conference center, office facilities, a rehearsal pavilion and a 30-guestroom hotel with a unique dining facility. Howard has continued his work at Sundance and in 1997 completed a new home for Jamie Redford on the same site in the mountains of Utah. In 1996, Howard started his new firm Backen, Gillam & Kroeger Architects, which has offices both in Sausalito on the San Francisco Bay waterfront and St. Helena in the Napa Valley near Howard's home in Oakville. Howard has developed his design firm to specialize in resorts, custom homes, restaurants, wineries and retail projects. The firm's 65 employees bring a broad range of experience and expertise to Backen & Gillam’s projects and provide clients with the very best in design and project management. Having an office located in the Napa Valley, Howard has designed a wide array of wineries including the renovation and addition of the 60,000 square foot Sterling Winery for Seagrams, Spottswoode Winery in St. Helena, Stag's Leap Winery in Napa, Edgewood Winery in St.Helena and Harlan's East and West wineries in addition to numerous other private wineries. Howard's recent resort projects include: Cordevalle, a private 1,700 acre retreat in San Martin, which includes golf facilities, luxury villas and a health spa; Auberge Palisades resort in Calistoga; and Kenwood Resort in Sonoma, a 50 unit hotel containing a boutique winery and world class restaurant in addition to apple orchards and olive groves. In addition to the local projects in the Napa Valley and the Bay Area, Howard and his firm are currently working on Esperanza, an Auberge Resort in Punta Ballena, Los Cabos and White Sand Resort, a luxury resort on the Kona coast in Hawaii. As a noted and respected designer and architect, Backen has been involved in the creation of many award-winning projects all over the world. In 1995, Howard was awarded the Hospitality Design Platinum Circle Award recognizing individuals who have helped to create and uphold a high standard of excellence in hospitality design. Some recent hospitality projects include Stars restaurants in Manila, San Francisco, and Seattle; Il Fornaio restaurants throughout the United States, and several other unique restaurants throughout the Bay Area, Napa Valley and the Northwest. In a long and distinguished career, Howard Backen has brought his unique style to a broad spectrum of projects, from boutique restaurants to highly complex master-planning and resort projects. Upon meeting Howard, all of his clients understand his dedication to the practice of architecture and the design of spaces uniquely suited for their occupants and the environment.

Architcture & Design