Morse and Clever Architects – Our Team
Claudia Cleaver – Architect
Claudia has been a principal at Morse & Cleaver Architects designing award-winning green buildings since 1982 and a registered architect since 1980. She is committed to creating beautiful, healthy, and sustainable buildings and has worked on a wide range of building types, including low-cost housing, eco and co-housing villages, sacred buildings, resorts, offices and homes. Her experience includes several alternative building methods such as straw bale, cob, concrete structural panels and insulated concrete forms. Claudia is a LEED AP, a Permaculture designer, and has studied Feng Shui and Sacred Architecture/Geometry. She is a long-time member of Architect Designer Planners for Social Responsibility and a founding member and past board president of the Redwood Empire Chapter of the US Green Building Council.
Claudia Cleaver is interviewed by Bruce Hammond of U.S. Green Building Council of California:
https://usgbc-rec.org/bruce-hammond-interview-with-claudia-cleaver-rec-usgbc/
Jeff Morse – Architect
My work to date ranges from the design and build of custom individual residences and custom residential remodels to historic restorations of both residences and commercial buildings. My work also includes the design of inns, lodges and hotels, as well as multi-building personal estates, intentional communities, and affordable housing. In the last decade, I have also designed several new winery projects as well as completed one winery’s entire historic restoration. I work principally In Sonoma and Marin counties, California.
I hold an MA-Arch from UC Berkeley, and worked initially in design at Skidmore Owens and Merrill (SOM) in San Francisco, then the office of Warren Callister in Tiburon.
I started my own practice as a design-build firm in Marin County. This early work allowed me to develop a mastery of construction detailing that is often lacking in architectural education and has greatly informed my now award-winning design work as Principal Architect, along with my long-time business partner Claudia Cleaver, at Morse & Cleaver, based in Sonoma County since 1982.
I favor using heritage materials where possible, passive solar strategies where feasible and in my timber projects, salvaged or sustainably harvested timber where and when I can.
I work with my clients through all phases: the concept, site and spacial development, building materials, details and costs (these often in collaboration with a chosen contractor), through to project completion.
The process is a close and interactive one and I bring detailed oversight and continuity throughout. The result is a very satisfying building experience for my clients.
I work principally, but not exclusively, in Sonoma and Marin counties, where I have decades of experience, knowledge of local permitting agencies, and a strong working relationship with a network of talented craftsmen, contractors and engineers.
AWARDS
Architect of the Year – Burbank Housing/Burbank Housing Development Corporation, Santa Rosa, CA
Eisner Prize for Creative Achievement in the Field of Architecture – UC Berkeley Department of Architecture
Heritage Homes of Petaluma Award for Historic Remodel – Heritage Homes of Petaluma
Petaluma SPARC Award: Grace Building
Oakland Firestorm Excellence in Design Award: Diamond Residence – AIA East Bay Firestorm Awards
Sunset Home Award: Briarcombe Multi Structure Artist Residency – Sunset Magazine