I woke today wondering if architecture causes depression. I’ve had a challenging month. My depression has come back once every ten days or so. My meds have been overwhelmed by the incessant rain and gloom of late winter in the south. I’ve avoided sounds, and lights, and people. I’ve slept a lot. But today I woke up looking for something …

It’s exhausting really. Always being the smartest person in the room. Always the most talented. Am I the only one in this ballroom that finds the carpeting derivative? Am I the only one who’s seen those light fixtures before? i think they were used in a fast food restaurant that my competition designed. They’re not bad fixtures, but they don’t …

No one will judge you here. You’re free to share you architect confessions here with no judgment from anyone. I’ll start. I have exploded a hatch in autocad I’ve told a client that something was required by code, but really I just didn’t want to change it. I told the client that it would be finished by the end of …

The other day I asked a simple question on Twitter and Facebook: “What is the perfect name for an architect?” Jody on Twitter After over 180 responses we may be no closer to the answer, but we have some suggestions: Long Span, AIA Les Moore, FAIA Max Headroom, Intern Iso Lates, AIA Loos Von Cept, AIA Drafts Mann, AIA Preston …

Can you be hired by someone only to tell them they’re wrong? Biting the hand that feeds you? If you’re hired as an expert on the topic can you tell them that they don’t know what they’re talking about? Can your expertise cause these confrontations? The fact that you’ve been trained to understand the nuance of the problems, you’ve practiced …

You will make a phone call to explain to someone that their idea would lessen the design intent and is therefore wrong. This person will be your client. They will not enjoy this conversation. You will make a fresh pot of coffee at 4:00 pm, and 4:00 am. You will not rest until the vision that you have, that no …

The last thing I think of before going to be will be toilet partitions, the first thought in the morning will be about toilet accessories. This will happen often. Weekly. I will spend an inordinate amount of time working on something that very few people care about, including my clients. I will find myself sexually aroused by board-formed concrete. daily. right …

Have you ever noticed something that doesn’t align? I mean noticed something that doesn’t align every time you open your eyes. Every. Time. Sprinkler heads, HVAC vents, light fixtures, outlets, light switches. They are all placed as if by accident. Or on purpose and someone is trying to kill me by making my head explode. Seriously, things that are not …

Good Habit #1 – Alignment A good architect will align some of the things. A great architect will align all of the things. All of the things. But you may say that if I align this thing with that thing then that thing will not align with this thing. These are the musings of a lesser architect. Align the things. …

Modernism is the artful replacement of everyday amenities with glass. Modernism is the creation of an open plan primarily by removing all the furniture. Modernism wants you to leave your shoes next to the front door, and your coat, and your preconceptions of spatial concepts Modernism would like to mention that it studied under Mies Van Der Rohe. Modernism would …

The first thing you need to realize when trying to stay on budget is that every idea or concept for the design that you’ve ever had in your entire life is over budget. All of your ideas. Every one of them. Do I need to mention the rain screen phase you went through in college? The next thing to realize …