April 26 & 27, 2025

Over two days and nine inspiring films, discover the bold visions of renowned architects like Eileen Gray and R.M. Schindler, the groundbreaking artistry of Anselm Kiefer and Nam June Paik, the creative courage of women street artists and the timeless innovation of Man Ray’s cinematic masterpieces, all in a celebration of art, architecture and imagination.

Thursday, December 5, 2024

The housing crisis is complex and multifaceted, but together, we can make a difference. Attending the Santa Barbara Housing Conference is an opportunity to engage with the region’s thought leaders, contribute to ongoing discussions, and find ways to get involved in crafting solutions for our community.

By working together, we can bridge the affordability gap and move toward a future where Santa Barbara’s workforce has access to housing that’s both affordable and accessible. We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday, October 19, 2024

Housing Santa Barbara Day, organized by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, is an annual event dedicated to promoting awareness and providing valuable resources to those seeking affordable housing. This year, the event will be held on Saturday, October 19, at De La Guerra Plaza, with activities running from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The day features a mix of informational booths, expert-led workshops, and community resources, making it an essential occasion for anyone interested in affordable housing opportunities in the area.

The goal of this meeting is to provide actionable multi-benefit strategies that can build off of the State Street Master Plan in an effort to support future projects.

Saturday, Orctober 5, 2024

ArchitecTours 2024 is a unique event, bringing AIA members and the general public together to tour projects that exemplify design excellence in Santa Barbara.

The 2024 Southern California Multifamily Forum will be held at the Hilton LAX on June 6, 2024. First held in 2012, the conference consistently brings together 600+ multifamily executives from across California, as well as national multifamily owners, investors and developers active in California markets.

AIASB is hosting its 14th annual ArchitecTours on October 7th. One of our projects, Mid Century Modern, located on the Mesa will be featured on the tour.

Every eight years, the state of California determines the RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) number of housing units each jurisdiction is expected to produce locally to collectively address the statewide lack of housing.

This year’s Santa Barbara AIA ArchitecTours will take place on October 1st, 2022. Bildsten Architecture and Planning is proud to have one of our projects, Modern Farmhouse Renovation, featured on the tour.

The Monterey Design conference is a biennial conference for architects and designers hosted by the California AIA. Our team always looks forward to it, and three of us will be attending this year.

We were asked to contribute a tip to Redfin’s article 14 Expert Tips to Consider Before You Build an ADU. The article is full of interesting insights from other professionals who work regularly with ADU design and construction. See our tip below, or click here to read the whole article.

By signing Senate Bill 9 into law, Newsom opened the door for the development of up to four residential units on single-family lots across California.

The American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara is proud to announce its 12th annual ArchitecTours event. This year’s tour will celebrate “Design Excellence” and will highlight projects that demonstrate green building, small efficient spaces, are built in harmony with nature, demonstrate live/workspaces that meet the needs of a 21st-century workforce…

The Santa Barbara City Council has voted 7-0 to create a master plan for State Street and established a committee to oversee it. State Street, a hallmark of downtown Santa Barbara, has undergone many changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the question of where it will head next is on many people’s minds.

The Santa Barbara chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIASB) just concluded its 2020 Design Charrette where members of the design professions and the community at large gathered virtually over the past six weeks to consider this year’s theme to "re-invigorate, re-invent, re-imagine, and re-purpose downtown Santa Barbara for the future".

Santa Barbara City Council adopted the following amendments to the AUD Multi-family Housing Program in the Central Business District (CBD) effective September 3, 2020

In 2020, it became easier than ever to build Accessory Dwelling Units in California, thanks to changes in state ADU law.

We have compiled a comprehensive set of information that may be helpful to you if you are looking to rebuild after losing your home in the Thomas Fire. See below for links to city resources, planning information, required documents, helpful websites, and more.

In collaboration with the AIA of Santa Barbra, Ellen Bildsten, Brian Cearnal, and Detty Peikert organized “Making State Street Work”, a design charrette and day of urban planning and architecture.

Last weekend, SBBIKE raised $43,125 at its Connecting Our Community Fundraiser. SBBIKE is a countywide advocacy and resource organization that has been working to make bicycling safe and accessible in Santa Barbara for more than 25 years.