Designer Profile: Architect Ron Metzker creates contemporary masterpieces

Ron Metzker’s love of architecture began early, when the Northern California native would check out architectural books from the library and build small structures from scrap wood for his pets to inhabit. His parents built a custom house, and Metzker found himself drawing up house plans for their contractor while still in high school.

The vice president and principal of LPAS has assembled an impressive portfolio over the years. Among other projects, his firm conceptualized the Palisades, a community of 56 single-family detached homes in Hunter’s Point. The unique construction provides every home with a roof deck, views of the water and many ground floor includes a bedroom that could serve as an au pair or in-law suite.

In this interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Metzker talks about some of his favorite projects and why his designs lean toward the contemporary.

Q: What’s some of your favorite pieces of architecture and why?

A: This is a hard question as there are many projects and I appreciate them for different reasons.

I feel the work of Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall is an amazing piece of architecture based on the unique geometrical configuration and technological innovations that were used to design and construct the building.

Across the street is the Cathedral of The City of Angels which is outstanding in its use of architectural restraint to create a meditative mood in contrast to the character of the concert hall.

The Salk Institute in La Jolla takes advantage of its site to create a place that transcends time and space.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: We are working on a lot of urban infill housing throughout northern California in both market rate and affordable housing markets. Projects include 500 units of market rate...