‘Citizen Starchitect’ is not an Oxymoron
Interior view of a Ladies Hair Salon during construction of a lease space build out
Welcome to #ArchiTalks #6- A compendium of posts penned by practicing architects, Initiated and Curated by Bob Borson, AIA, author of the famed blog Life of an Architect.
Mr. Borson has challenged us with a very broad writing prompt this time (which also happens to be the first time I’m joining the coveted #Archi-Talks blogging forum: posts written by real world practicing architects. (Please scroll down and check out the website links and Twitter handles of my esteemed fellow architect bloggers- at the end of my post).
So, let’s get started….
Why should we say: “ARCHITECTURE” in the real world? Why not talk about “BUILDINGS” in the real world or “PHYSICS” or “HEALTHCARE” or “TEACHING.”
All these are worthy topics to explore but nothing is as eye-catching and fun as “Architecture… In The Real World”
We are at once mesmerized and mystified by it. A funny, but fitting tee-shirt quote shared by Amanda Kay Hurley (@hurleyak) on Instagram says:
The meaning of the word A R C H I T E C T from Greek translation means: “Master” (or “Chief”) + “Builder, Carpenter, Mason”)- see Wikipedia link, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture
Almost every architect is keenly aware people are enamored with Architecture and feel that they can design their own houses, spaces, and buildings better than a “professional.”
What floor plans or sketches have you drawn lately? I’m sure there’ve been many and you probably have some great ideas!
However, I’ve been privy to “horror stories” from diverse folks recounting challenges and irritations on a wide range of projects– whether it’s someone who’s just been through the process of building a home from the ground up, or a restaurateur/ entrepreneur who’s renovating a new space without the help of an (according to them “unnecessary, expensive and meddlesome”) architect. Contrast that with the good experiences of a high-powered developer who actually has found value in his/her architect.
One thing most of us can agree on: it costs an enormous amount of time, money, and energy to build and/or renovate. And the process is usually far more complex than we ever anticipated.
But… Let’s Be More Specific
Perhaps you’d prefer that I cite another Case Study like I’ve done in the past on my blog, showcasing and telling the salacious behind-the-scenes details of what really went on in the process of my last two projects. I’d love to– just not today. Well, maybe. But only if you twist my arm enough. Okay, see snippet below…
Or perhaps you’d rather read only the positive edits, the highlights, of all that I’ve accomplished since I last posted on my site back in June 2014– umm, no, that’s boring, in my opinion. You’d rather have the dirt, I suspect.
So, what is Architecture in the Real World?
It’s many, many things. It’s an infinite topic.
Here’s what I can tell you: I learn something new about myself and others on every project I take on.
We define our own Architectural Experience
One thing I’ve learned over the past few years is stated in the heading of this section: we define our own architectural experience. There’s no right or wrong way to practice architecture– other than to abide by good building standards and the laws of physics and materials.
So, Asking the Obvious: Why Hire an Architect?
Why indeed.
As you may or may not be readily cognizant of this fact, several people are involved in the putting together of a building or in the renovation of a space. You have the client (most likely, you) and the Contractor, and the behind-the-scenes folks such as the cast of engineers (structural, electrical, mechanical, etc), the consultants (sound techs, color experts, designers, etc) and then you have the architect. What function does the architect play? Well, unlike the other significant members of the AEC (architect-engineer-construction) team, we coordinate with all of the aforementioned players. We know what specific role each of the players must play in the erection of your building because we are the ones who designed it. Do you (know the role of each party)? Did you (design and draw the instruments of service)?
Architects design buildings with much thought, hard work, and expertise. But what happens when communications among the vast team break down? As the 1980’s movie theme song cries: “Who you gonna call?”
How About a For-Instance Example:
Say you are an attorney and you need to build-out a new lease space. You have been given a 2-d diagram of a potential layout from the landlord (prepared by a non-architect draftsperson) that seems to meet your needs and you have been provided with the multi-page CDs (construction documents) and specifications from the previous build-out (you note that these documents total 25 pages). So, you decide upon looking at your space that you need to have something special in your conference room, a high-tech glass wall that allows light to transmit but maintains privacy of your meetings and prevents gawking from the bull-pen of administrative assistants just outside the double doors. You Google and find an architect who just happens to have designed such a conference room. Bingo! You call her up and state your need and then in follow up convos you finally admit that you’ve been quoted xx (undisclosed amount of money) to build out your space but you’d like to build it for 20-30% less than the other professional’s price. Really? Sounds good to me. But, one minor detail: What was that price quote. I need the exact dollar amount. Otherwise, how can I know if the subsequent contractor’s quotes are 20-30% below what you’ve been quoted? Makes sense, right…?
I am no different than anybody else. I cannot pull rabbits out of a hat. I do not have a special “in” or connection with building suppliers and contractors; in short, I cannot control the cost of labor and materials. But what I CAN control (to some degree and notwithstanding much of it is going to be at the mercy of a good contractor to build it ‘right’) is this: what your conference room is going to look like. In your pre-design Schematic, I see that the door is located in the center of the “visual aide” wall– that’s a conflict I don’t think you’re going to like when you’re in the midst of a presentation and someone needs to pop in and open the door that’s doubling as a slide screen. But, mere details you say… Also, which wall do you want the special steel and frosted glass to go?
But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Architects start with a concept (we call it a “parti” diagram), an overall driving force that informs the total design.
And from the working drawings (CDs) we create, your project visions are realized by many disparate parts and people. We help keep them all on the same page, so to speak, much like what a conductor of an orchestra does. An orchestra knows what music they’re going to play and they practice together for many hours. This is not much different than an AEC team of architects and builders. It’s difficult to know when to point to the flutists to begin. But that’s what an orchestra conductor does. Similarly, an architect knows the stages of design: Schematics, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Observation. And we know how to cue the key players and the key players should know their respective roles and parts to play. You can stand up and conduct your own project or you can hire a professional to do that for you. The choice is yours.
We don’t believe in piece-meal design. If you do, then go ahead and be your own “architect.”
List of Bloggers participating in today’s prompt:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bob Borson – Life of An Architect
@bobborson
Architecture in the Real Wolrd … sorta
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew Stanfield – FiELD9: architecture
@FiELD9arch
Welcome to the Architecture of the Real
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Marica McKeel – Studio MM
@ArchitectMM
Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jeff Echols – Architect Of The Internet
@Jeff_Echols
What is the Real World: Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lee Calisti, AIA – Think Architect
@LeeCalisti
Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mark R. LePage – Entrepreneur Architect
@EntreArchitect
The HGTV Affect
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lora Teagarden – L² Design, LLC
@L2DesignLLC
Architecture: It’s a human thing
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nicholas Renard – dig Architecture
@dig-arch
Keep on Architect’n in the Real World
@coterenard
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hawkins, AIA – Hawkins Architecture, Inc.
@hawkinsarch
Here in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jeremiah Russell, AIA – ROGUE Architecture
@rogue_architect
architecture in the real world: #architalks
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Michele Grace Hottel – Michele Grace Hottel, Architect
@mghottel
Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meghana Joshi – IRA Consultants, LLC
@MeghanaIRA
Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Michael Riscica – Young Architect
@YoungArchitxPDX
Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stephen Ramos – BUILDINGS ARE COOL
@sramos_BAC
Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Brian Paletz – The Emerging Architect
@bpaletz
Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jonathan Brown – Proto-Architecture
@mondo_tiki_man
Architecture in the Real World
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Architecture in the Real World – a practicing architect would not have taken the job in your example and would have used this as a learning experience for the lawyer.
The work entailed meant: paying for overhead(office, insurance, labor, travel, consultants) your time and knowledge to review non-pertinent specs and drawings, maybe doing your own set of dwgs and specs to supplement, get the plans approved by the City (building, fire, planning, accessibility, sustainability) have a reliable contractor and sub understand the intent as well as the documents to build it from a google search? Maybe he should call the architect advertisement on the back of a bus.
Architect should have billed the phone time as well!
Hi Javier,
Awesome, thanks for visiting my blog!
I love your comments, they are spot on.
Cheers,
Tara
Great post!
Yes, by hiring an architect you have a lot more tools and leverage at controlling the costs, then just having a contractor do all the design/build work. Excellent example and thanks for writing this blog post!
Hi Michael,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I agree with you that hiring an architect brings a level of expertise that should save the client money over the long run by preventing costly mistakes and ensuring the client gets the best possible design.
Take care,
Tara
I love how you focused on the role of the Architect. In order for there to be Architecture in the Real World, we need Real Architects involved in the work.
I just want to mention I’m beginner to blogging and site-building and definitely liked your blog site. Most likely I’m want to bookmark your blog post . You amazingly have outstanding writings. Appreciate it for sharing with us your website page.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!|
bookmarked!!, I like your site!|
Good day I am so glad I found your webpage, I really found you by error, while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent work.|
This design is spectacular! You certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!|
It can be near extremely difficult to encounter well-qualified women and men on this niche, however you look like you comprehend those things you’re writing on! Bless You
I like what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever
work and reporting! Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve incorporated
you guys to blogroll.
Enjoyed this. Always a challenge with clients that think you can cure it all. As a construction lawyer, I run into the problem of some clients thinking there is a perfect contract that will keep them out of court. It of course does not exist. The idea is to put them in the best position possible if they have to go court so that there is a disincentive to do it.