Mark Johnson, AIA

Monument Works Design Studio

Studio

The Understanding Business, TUB, has been providing Architectural and Consulting services since 1993. In 2004 the business moved from Berkeley to Jackson CA and opened a new office.

Our studio has now expanded to include new disciplines of interest to the firm’s director, Mark Johnson, AIA. Our new Monument Works Design Studio is the creative intersection of architecture, design, art and craft. The studio’s name and purpose are influenced by our sense of place. We are located in the historic A. Fantozzi Marble and Granite Works. Rehabilitation of the residence and on-site workshops was one of first of several historic preservation projects in the community. Our office site and building rehabilitation will always be a work in progress, and a daily source of enjoyment and surprises. We have come to appreciate our community, the office, and the unique collection of buildings and history as a peaceful place to think and work. The intersection of these creative disciplines is a daily inspiration for curiosity, imagination, creativity, design, art and craft. The owner of the original stone works, Arrigo Fantozzi, was known to be industrious, self-sufficient and thoughtful. We strive to continue this legacy.

The Understanding Business Office and Design Studio

Building was the original tool barn for the monument works in 1921 and fully rehabilitated and stabilized in 2002

Monument works original tool barn

Advanced deterioration in barn and adjacent buildings

TUB Office under construction

Shell of building was salvaged, strengthened and roof monitor added for interior light

Projects

Projects

Architecture, design, art, craft and historic preservation.

01

Architecture
& Consulting

Since 1993 The Understanding Business has been providing architectural and consulting services. We are passionate about historic buildings and have completed many rehabilitation, preservation and adaptive reuse projects. These projects have provided us with a wealth of knowledge and resources for our consulting services.

We help our clients envision scenarios for their proposed projects. Providing options and outcomes combined with our project knowledge helps our clients define their expectations, project requirements and budget guidelines. Completing this planning prior to hiring a design-build contractor is an important factor in the success of a project.

We can assist our clients in establishing the project criteria needed to interview and select an appropriate contractor for the design-build phase of their project.

Berkeley Hills Spanish Revival Home

Built in 1929. Full geotechnical, structural, seismic, architectural, landscape and infrastructure rehabilitation.

Jackson Home

Architectural and infrastructure rehabilitation. Historic, commercial, rolling metal cabinets and restaurant prep table used in kitchen

Telephone Exchange Building

Interior with restored lath reinstalled with original exposed brick walls cleaned and sealed

Home or office furniture

Designed with anodized aluminum tubing and industrial fittings for easy shipping, assembly and modification. Tops are custom shapes and materials

02

Design Studio & Fabrication Shop

We build things at TUB. It is our opinion that being able to build what you design helps improve the design and the finished product. Mark Johnson has been involved with making and building his entire life. The pleasure of working with your hands and mind is still an important part of our design process. We have 3 shops on site where we can explore ideas in wood, stone and metal. One shop is dedicated to wood sculpture and fabrication jigs for custom projects.

The marble and granite works barn provides a unique opportunity for our projects. Drawing on an ample supply of historic marble and granite provides us with materials for products such as our stone water basins. Much like the Tsukubai water basins in Japanese gardens, our basins are carved from hand split blocks of marble and granite. Our design process emphasizes the use of sustainable and recycled material for our projects.

When our projects require complementary trades, we collaborate with skilled craftspeople who can provide specialized services enhancing the quality of our products.

We design, produce and sell our own products. We also work with clients for custom projects and can also assist with buying furniture through our arrangements with trade partners.

TUB anvil table series

Heavy, recycled timber table originally designed to support large anvils in shop forge

Recycled heavy timber stools

Large scale, recycled timber used in our products

Fabrication shop

For the development of prototypes and product fabrication

Anvil table prototypе

Hand forged, arts and crafts wedge straps

Hand carved granite water basin

Granite curbing split with feathers and wedge

03

Art & Nature

We see Art and Architecture as complementary disciplines in the studio. Art increases our creative aperture for creativity in both disciplines; a virtual tabula rasa. Mark Johnson has been actively involved with sculpture in wood, metal and stone throughout his professional practice as an architect. Inspired by the forms and forces of nature, many of the sculptures produced in our studio reflect this interest.

The current Sea | stone series of wood sculptures are inspired by water worn stones from rivers and the ocean. The forms and flowing curves of these pieces are also influenced by principles of neuroaesthetics. Studies indicate that individuals handling smooth flowing forms experience a corresponding response of relaxation and calm reducing stress and anxiety.

Other topics of interest influencing studio work include, objects as memory portals, landscape topography and ephemeral & timeless movement in the environment.

Art Barn.

Sea | stone sculptures in progress

Tectonic stones.

Tectonic Sea | stone sculpture series
Sample stones exitibiting tectonic & geologic malement.

ART. Sea stones.

Sea | stone series
Claro walnut and mixed woods

Tectonic hand stone

Cape Blanco, Oregon cobble study

Architectonic series

Mixed metals and wood.

Topographic study of land forms

Fallow Idaho potato farm land

Architectonic series

Monument for the fallen

Marble Barn

A. Fantozzi Marble and Granite Works main barn and workshop

04

Historical Overview

A. Fantozzi Marble & Granite Works | Jackson, CA

The Understanding Business purchased the historic A. Fantozzi Marble and Granite Works in 2000 and rehabilitated the residence and original buildings. The Understanding Business office is located on the grounds of the original stone works. During the project rehabilitation, historic building envelopes and materials were saved while adding concrete slabs, structural reinforcements, a light monitor and all new infrastructure to the TUB office. Studio workshops are located in three barns on the property.

Arrigo “Fan” Fantozzi operated the stone works from 1921 to 1972 providing granite, marble and concrete for projects in Jackson and surrounding towns. Other Fantozzi projects included civic monuments, tombstones and impressive stone mausoleums in the Jackson cemetery. Fan was also a generous businessman and supported his workers during the depression with meaningful work, paychecks and even places to sleep in the monument works.

Fan was self-sufficient and industrious. The stone works included unique, belt driven stone fabrication tools, a forge for tool repairs and a granite quarry in the local foothills. Fan and his team quarried large blocks of granite and transported them to the shop. The Jackson cemetery includes several large roughhewn, granite tombstone crosses which were recognizable products of the stone works.

During the property rehabilitation many historic stone working tools were saved, restored and now available for use in current projects. Our studio grounds serve as a showcase for historic stonework, methods, materials, tools and finishes used at the Fantozzi Marble and Granite Works.

Stone works rolling crane remains in operation

Signature tombstone from A. Fantozzi

Ratto mausoleum for Jackson family

Contact

If you would like additional information about our products & services or have questions about a new project please use the contact form on this page. We will respond to your request in a timely manner and look forward to talking with you.

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