The 5 questions I most like to answer
10.19.2011;)
#5 “What does good design cost?“
Choosing the right architect can save you at least 15 to 20% off the cost of a green home. If he’s specialized in “smart design” and believes that it’s not business as usual then you could actually see an immediate savings. I love working with clients who are open to sustainable design ideas. Those ideas can pay for themselves in just 2 to 3 years, cut down the construction time line, and put your project dollars back into your home! I guess anything slathered with enough solar panels is eventually “green”, but could another strategy actually accomplish even more?
#4 “How can I do more with less?”
“Less is more,” said one of the founding fathers of the modern skyscraper. Interesting thought, when you stop to consider that Architect Mies van der Rohe was primarily concerned with creating flexible spaces that let in lots and lots of natural light. Sounds beautiful to me! I’ll let you in on the big secret; its LIGHT. Lighting is often the last kid picked for dodge ball- but he is also the star player. Lighting design brings drama, subtlety, mood, and emotion to architecture. It’s cost? Forethought. I love sitting down with a client and answering this question: “Have you considered natural daylight?” Its free, its warm, its memorable.
#3 “How do you get to the heart of what is important to me, your client?”
I asked something similar to this when I interviewed as an intern for design positions fresh out of college. “Tell me; what are this company’s client sessions like?” Having studied good design processes for years- I’ve come to the realization that a good Architect is a good scientist for his client; discovering the real needs that lie just below the surface. When I sit down with my clients I like to discover the potential of their dream with them! I’ll use cardboard models, napkin sketches, magazine clippings, computer renderings, field trips to show rooms, and anything else that gets to the heart of the matter.
#2 “What is your design philosophy?“
“Form follows function” What you need it to be and do should not be at odds with its aesthetics, to the contrary, it is the key to unlocking the project’s full beauty and potential. A beautiful project that doesn’t meet its client’s basic functional needs is a failure. When I listen to what you really need, the true beauty of your project will grow. Every great architectural style of the past grew by being in tune with then-current technology and social needs. They were so useful and beautiful that they became iconic- frozen in time as examples of simple, quiet elegance. Today’s successful designs build on the wisdom of those architectural styles.
#1 “Zoinks!...I hadn’t thought of that! What would that cost?”
An ‘ah-ha!’ moment can change a project. Trust me, I’ve seen it. I’m in this business partially because I love to discover your project along with you but also because I know that every project, no matter its budget, has a jewel buried somewhere deep inside. Finding that potential is thrilling, tantalizing, and just plain fun. He's not only innovating on my project, he’s working within my budget! ”