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The solution lay in planning and precision. Components were modeled and sequenced well in advance, and Tracery employed full-scale mockups and on-site layout tracing to verify proportions and tolerances before permanent installation.“ Much like master builders who once drew full-scale layouts on cathedral floors, we use mockups to test constructability and longterm serviceability,” Mark explains.“ It allows us to resolve details proactively and think about how the home will be maintained years down the line.”
Beyond his work at Tracery, Mark brings these same values to the broader industry as a NARI Bay Area Remodeling Competition judge.“ I look for coherence – projects where the design intent is clear and the execution fully supports it,” he reveals.“ The best work shows restraint, technical mastery, and thoughtful decisionmaking rather than relying on scale or luxury alone. Craftsmanship should quietly enhance the architecture, not compete with it. Innovation matters, but only when it serves functionality, durability, and long-term livability.”
Great listening
This perspective mirrors a broader shift in the luxury residential market. Today’ s clients are increasingly prioritizing comfort, resilience, and long-term value over sheer size. Healthy living environments, seismic resilience, solar power, battery backup, EV charging, and integrated technology have become essential considerations rather than optional upgrades.“ Our role is to guide clients through that complexity,” Mark says.“ They have demanding lives, but we provide clear, time-tested systems, so they can stay focused on living not add to their stress, we
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