Beige is not a color, it’s a cry for help

How to choose a color. Try to represent the landscape and the natural terrain around the building. Pull from the tints and textures of the surrounding trees, the grasses, the reeds, the cool depths of an adjacent stream. Get inspired by the outcroppings of sandstone to the south of the site, by the wood, split for firewood down by the … Read More

Architects Should Show Their Work

Architecture is an undervalued profession. There, I said it. I feel like I spend a large amount of my time with clients (particularly new clients) justifying my cost. Clients come to me with a list of things they need completed, and more often than not, they have an idea of how much those “things” are going to cost, and, more … Read More

The Craft of Architecture

It didn’t start out this way for me. When I was younger, I had an idea of what “Architecture” is – Architecture with a capital A. I held that idea in front of me throughout my career to serve as a guide, as I worked on my craft. To me, Great Architects were those that refined their concepts and details … Read More

Success equals sleeping at night

  Sometimes I forget what I’m trying to do here. I get wrapped up in whatever “hot button” issue my client is all worked up about today (It’s usually something related to how hard that’s going to be to waterproof) Then, I shift into “trying to please everyone” mode & work myself into a frenzy. I’m pretty good at this, … Read More

Jack’s scroll

The story goes like this: Jack Kerouac taped together 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper to form a continuous stream to feed through his typewriter. Then he typed “On The Road”, In one long seamless burst of creativity. They call it the “On the Road Scroll“. Jack and his scroll It probably wasn’t as simple and elegant as it sounds. But, … Read More

Architects follow like ants, Giant freakin’ ANTS!

Buildings are very complex and it takes a team to get them built. There’s property owners, investors, Financial institutions, City officials, Architects, Engineers, Consultants, Contractors, Building Inspectors, Insurance agents, Osha inspectors, lawyers, real estate brokers, marketing professionals, and more on the team. Swarming over the “soon to be” building like ants. Giant Freakin’ ANTS! Think about keeping all those diverse … Read More

Why are these chairs making me so sad?

I’ve been reading “The Architecture of Happiness” by Alain de Botton. Because I read anything about architectural philosophy and anything written by anyone named “Alain”. (umm – please ignore THIS POST – as it may undercut the aforementioned “fact”)  And, while reading, I’ve found myself struck by one premise in particular.   We interpret inanimate objects using the exact same process we use to interpret other people’s … Read More