PROTO-ARCHITECTURE

This post is part of a coalition of architects posting on a single topic, each interpreting it in their own way, known as Architalks. This month the topic is “Homecoming”

I find the topic of a homecoming rather…disjointed…for an architect.  I can’t think of a literal analogy for it in my career, with then pushes me into thinking of it figuratively.  Home, being the safe, warm place one retreats to made me consider my intellectual refuge where I often find solace amidst the realities of this career.  When confronted with the banality of the profession, the overwhelmingly prosaic, the debilitatingly formulaic, I often revert to my first learned theories.

We work in a time where architectural theory is in decline.  We think in ‘systems’, not in processes.  There is an obsession with explicit solutions, technical achievements…green roofs and photo-voltaic curtain walls can be more important than human spaces and an appropriate sense of scale.

When I feel overwhelmed with this, I revert back to my educational years and remind myself again and again how to think about architecture.  How architecture isn’t just a derivative product of Archdaily images, nor is it assembly of Sweets catalogue pre-designed building components.  It is a process of innovation and discovery.

Read the rest of this entry →

This post is part of a coalition of architects posting on a single topic, each interpreting it in their own way, known as Architalks. This month the topic is your “Mentorship”

Mentorship.

Ugghh…

This is the kind of the topics I hate.  Architecture bloggers are going to write long posts about their favorite mentors, or plug a local professional organization’s mentorship program, or possibly elaborate on how wonderful their office structures their learning.

Blah, blah, blah…

You know who you greatest mentor is?

You.

Read the rest of this entry →

This post is part of a coalition of architects posting on a single topic, each interpreting it in their own way, known as Architalks. This month the topic is your “Advice to Clients”

There is a vast array of project types and the architects that design them, but in almost every instance, the role of the architect is much, much more than just another consultant.  We are their advocate, and it is our responsibility to protect their interests on the project. Read the rest of this entry →

“Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. ”

-Alexander Hamilton

Read the rest of this entry →

Destroyed insurance company office on Hwy 66 in Rowlett

This post is part of a coalition of architects posting on a single topic, each interpreting it in their own way, known as Architalks. This month the topic is your “New Year, New _____”

On December 26th, around 7pm, my home town of Rowlett was hit by an EF4 tornado.  This is the sort of thing you hear about on the news, that you don’t see first hand.  I can’t recall that I’d ever seen a disaster of this scale in person, and certainly not in my community. It really makes you stop and think about your priorities.

Read the rest of this entry →

Once again we’re here with the annual The Most Impressively Astounding Last Minute Designer’s Shopping Guide now for 2015!  I know, Christmas is only about a week away, why so late?  Because, I know you…I know all designers.  We’re procrastinators, hem haw-ers, and generally so dissatisfied with most products out there that we put it off as we keep hoping for something, anything better.  Where is it is, the best list to find something to satisfy any designer you may know!

Read the rest of this entry →

This post is part of a coalition of architects posting on a single topic, each interpreting it in their own way, known as Architalks. This month the topic is your “From an Architect’s Table”

Ok, never before seen, never before published, here is the official Brown Family Holiday Breakfast Quiche.  If you think you’re too manly for this meal, I dare you to get down two whole pieces and not unbutton your sleepy pants.  Read the rest of this entry →

Recently NCARB published a list of the 13 Must Follow Twitter Accounts for Aspiring Architects which I was happy to find had some of my favorite twitter friends on it including the inimitable storytelling of Bob Borson, and the prolific business insight of Enoch Sears.  That said, aside from this dynamic duo, it’s a pretty vanilla list.  You could throw in quite a few others with that, including Mark R. LePage and Jeff Echols who also write on the business of architecture, or  Marcela Abadi Rhoads who posts excellent content on Barrier Free Design,  Cherise Lakeside, the #CSIKracken engaged in specification and project delivery, Tabitha Ponte who is laser focused on creating a new education paradigm, or even Randy Deutsch dissecting the digital, and the data behind the design.  Call me a maverick, but networking tips from AIAS and updates from NCARB aren’t why I got into architecture.  Inspiration, agitation, disruption…twitter is a chaotic crucible of thought and provocation, a place to connect with one or thousands.  Here’s my version of this list.  I hope that it will get your design blood flowing: Read the rest of this entry →

Image via Forgemind ArchiMedia on Flickr

This post is part of a coalition of architects posting on a single topic, each interpreting it in their own way, known as Architalks. This month the topic is your “Citizen Architect”

The AIA has staunchly promoted the constructed notion of a Citizen Architect a sort of paragon within the profession who, by their definition, “…uses his/her insights, talents, training, and experience to contribute meaningfully, beyond self, to the improvement of the community and human condition.”   I’m generally not a fan of this distinction, as I feel every architect should conduct their practice in this way.  To elevate a certain constituency simply because they sit on local boards or get elected to office I think misses the point of the profession.  The value of the architect isn’t as a legislative tool or a cocktail party fundraiser, the value of the architect is in their power to see what the world can be, and help craft that world from  the trenches, not atop an ivory tower. Read the rest of this entry →

This post is part of a coalition of architects posting on a single topic, each interpreting it in their own way, known as Architalks. This month the topic is your “Work/Life”

How does work balance with life?  Architecture is the haven of horrific stories about all-nighters and coffee induced caffeine overloads.  It’s typically a tale rife with tragic figures suffering for their art and domineering villains cracking a whip to drive them on.

Well, let’s see:

Read the rest of this entry →