Theory — If Apple Practiced Architecture
The Architecture business model is an ancient model built on inquiry, whimsy, creativity and criteria. I’ve practiced architecture in six different offices, including my own, and there are certain axioms that pervade every corporate philosophy. I’ve often wondered if this old, tired profession could benefit from a fresh, hybrid business model from an unrelated industry.. read more →
Interview — Nervous Energy
Sweaty palms, elevated heart rate, abbreviated respiration, dizziness. If you have these symptoms it’s time to see a doctor! Wait, these are also symptoms of nervousness, excitement and even preparing for a project interview. read more →
Repeat Clients — Do It Again!
I remember this commercial when I first saw it. I thought it was about parent-child time together, but it was really about savoring a moment that is so good you want to do it again. That sentiment isn’t reserved for lifesavers and sunsets. It’s also relevant to architecture service because nine of my clients (and counting) enjoyed their first WishingRock project so thoroughly that they returned for a second. read more →
Project Could be a Dream — Sh Boom
Remember a time when music, people and life was light-hearted and pleasant. Ah, Life Could be a Dream, Sweetheart, but how about architectural projects? The dream project is the project that compensates the provider, in my case the architect, after design and construction completion and continues to pay dividends. Why would you need a project that pays and continues to pay? Because, architecture is a labor-task profession. A design firm exerts an amount of time/labor to finish tasks and receives compensation for design or consulting task completion. It’s a laborious trade similar to other Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) trades. Effort exerted = money received, but what if the initial architectural effort paid in perpetuity? read more →
Career – The News Knows
What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a daunting question for most people. A purely acceptable answer is “I don’t know, but maybe I’ll try a few trades to discover what I like”. That’s exactly the way I approached the future career question and the first trade I tried was newspaper carrier. read more →
Words are Simple — Too Simple
Words hurt, Words are Power, Words are cheap, Words are Simple — Too simple and that’s why I add the Show-&-Tell step to The Sketch part of the design process. The Show-&-Tell solves the mystery behind personal word definitions. One of the most misused words in architecture is the word, “simple“. Every client uses it,.. read more →
The Dad — The Architect
Doctor, Officer, General. Those are titles that designate a particular status, position or employment. I don’t like them. It’s not these titles specifically that I don’t like. I don’t like titles, period; however, there are three titles I’ve earned in my life that I proudly wear. Husband, Dad and Architect. Over the years, my family learned those titles are not mutually exclusive. read more →
My Husband — The Architect
My husband (the architect) asked me to share what it’s like to live, eat and sleep with an architect. Since I’ve only been married to one person and it’s Eric and he’s always been an architect, I don’t know if life with an architect is any different than life with a doctor, engineer or sanitation worker, except maybe the smell. But, here’s what it’s like to live with my husband, the architect. read more →
