Proto-Architecture - Latest Comments

Re: Bah Humbug!

Ilaria — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 10:51:49 -0000

I agree with you. Best designs are made in team, and a good team is made of open minded people who are willing to listen and help and for whom the first goal is the design. After all your design isn't "yours" - unless you aren't designing your own home - it's made for someone else. To please someone else's requests and needs. There's no place for ego.

Re: Bah Humbug!

Jonathan Brown — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 10:24:51 -0000

Agreed. That matches what I meant by noting "You need to associate with the people, the projects and the techniques that help refine your skills."

Re: Bah Humbug!

Jonathan Brown — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 10:22:04 -0000

I honestly believe to succeed at architecture, you have to check your ego at the door. We work in coalition with other architecture firms on an array of projects and if we both brought unalterable egos to the meetings it would be an incredible disservice to our clients, and the design would inevitably suffer. The same is true within a firm. That said, knowing what you don't know is the first hurdle, and that can take people a while to get. The note on modesty is true as well, and maybe I should have included the notions of patience, because these things come. Listening for two years sounds like an eternity for a fresh grad, but I can honestly look back on my first two years our of school and say I shouldn't have been talking, I should have been listening and observing more. And it really isn't that long. Be an apprentice before you think you're already a journeyman.

Re: Bah Humbug!

Ilaria — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 03:58:21 -0000

Despite once a teacher told me that "the ones who are arrogant and obstinate have the chance to be big architects" I don't believe that. Nobody likes pretentious people.
I would add "be modest".
You need to be modest to be able to really listen an learn.
Plus - at the very end - you need to learn how to be a good vendor!

Re: Your Architect is your Advocate

markdstephens — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 17:00:20 -0000

Hi Jonathan No problem - easy to happen - Mark

Re: Your Architect is your Advocate

Jonathan Brown — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:40:42 -0000

My apologies, I'm not sure how I missed this comment. Thanks!

I definitely agree. We're an asset, not a liability.

Re: Bah Humbug!

Bob Borson — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:34:42 -0000

the keys words in my comment (amongst the many) were "what you are already thinking about"

Mentors are not there to tell you what to do or how to behave - their role is to provide support and guidance. This is what I like to think of as empowering people to make decisions for themselves.

Re: Bah Humbug!

Jonathan Brown — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:08:03 -0000

Of course I'm cranky. I admit that at the open. I ain't Cratchit in this scenario.

You're right, clearly. And maybe this advice is more for the self motivated than those who need a nudge. That said, none of what I said precludes your premise. I have many people I consider mentors. In our office alone, Mellisa Joesef taught me how to think like a designer and not a self serving idealogue, Mark Wolf taught me how to focus intently on what a client really needs from their architect (see previous post on advocacy), Carl Malcolm taught me that codes are only restrictive if you think linearly, Paul Woods taught me the critical importance of understanding construction before you even have a chance at design, and John Schrader taught me that good design, while it's more work, is always more fun than bad design. Just a few examples.

But there was no structure that facilitated this, no team building lunches, no trips to the AIA, no pep talks. I sought them out. I worked hard. I listened to what they said and remembered. I practiced. I made mistakes. But I learned. I refined my craft. So that is my advice.

Re: Bah Humbug!

Bob Borson — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 13:32:45 -0000

This is all well and good unless you are an idiot as worst, or gullible/naive at best. There's nothing wrong with aligning yourself with someone who can be a sounding board for what you are already thinking about - and mentorship does not abdicate personal responsibility and individual ownership in the process.

... but we all know that you can be cranky from time to time

Re: Your Architect is your Advocate

markdstephens — Wed, 10 May 2017 06:36:04 -0000

Great advice - yes I like the idea advocate - it's to have the clientss' best interests at heart - even if they aren't liking what they hear - Mark

Re: New Year, New Priorities

A.C. Flory — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:39:19 -0000

Wow. Are tornadoes 'normal' in the Rowlett area? Apologies if that's a stupid question but I'm in Australia and we don't really get tornadoes here. We do get bushfires though and many of us have bunkers. I think designing your new house with a defensible basement is commonsense. Best of luck for the future.

Re: New Year, New Priorities

Jonathan Brown — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:36:37 -0000

Thanks. Ohh...that sounds like fun. I hope you post some pics! I'll definitely be posting on the progress of my house once we get underway.

Re: New Year, New Priorities

octhse — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:26:38 -0000

I'm sorry to hear about your town :( Sometimes it feels like nobody can ever catch a break. I'm am heartened to read about your new house. I am definitely interested in your project since I'm buying a house in February built in 1920 and will be hiring an architect in the near future to redesign it completely. I look forward to seeing your own house progress :)

Re: From an Architect’s Holiday Table

Jonathan Brown — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:25:23 -0000

Thanks! You really should, it's killer. And pretty much foolproof. I make 4 pies for the office every year about this time and they tear into them.

Re: From an Architect’s Holiday Table

Matthew Stanfield — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 00:10:53 -0000

Sounds great. While i am not much for cooking, i do generally pull breakfast duty, so this is one that i may actually try to undertake.

Re: 13 Twitter Accounts [maybe not] Every Aspiring Architect Must Follow

Jonathan Brown — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:57:58 -0000

I'm glad you stumbled on some new ones. That was the whole point of the exercise. You're very welcome, cheers!

Re: 13 Twitter Accounts [maybe not] Every Aspiring Architect Must Follow

Enoch Sears — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 14:17:03 -0000

Jonathan - a great and well-informed response to the NCARB article!

You uncovered some goodies for me that I wasn't aware of (as well as my already faves - @entrearch, @jeff_echols, @randydeustch and @archispk).

Also - thanks for the nice but un-needed ego boost at the beginning. ;)

Keep up the great content.

Re: Citizen Architect – Form out of Time

Jonathan Brown — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:41:45 -0000

Agreed. The very nature of what we do, as a profession, engages the citizenry, local municipalities, and community groups in ways that few others do inherently.

Re: Citizen Architect – Form out of Time

Lee Calisti, AIA — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:06:52 -0000

Nice take on the subject. I've always felt there's no award given for doing what one ought to do in the first place.

Re: The Big Idea

Jonathan Brown — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 11:58:04 -0000

I've a client who's famous for always saying "follow the thread", and it's very true. It doesn't matter how good the design looks in SD if it loses that magic through the process.

Re: The Big Idea

Jonathan Brown — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 11:56:32 -0000

Thanks!

Re: The Big Idea

Lora — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 11:34:44 -0000

Great thought. Always important to make sure the important things stay important.

Re: The Big Idea

Lee Calisti, AIA — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 13:30:37 -0000

Love it. It's that simple.

Re: The Big Idea

Jonathan Brown — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 23:13:54 -0000

Agreed, and frankly, that narrative is the best source for guidance when faced with such a challenge.

Appreciate the comment,
JB

Re: The Big Idea

Jonathan Brown — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 23:13:00 -0000

I thought it safe not to use any real life examples, but that's is very indicative of what I run into a lot. Ok...I take that back, I'll give one real example. I literally had a fellow (who no longer works with us, mind) put a bathroom in the middle of a 15' wide paseo and looked at me nonplussed when I challenged him on it. "But we need a bathroom somewhere" was his answer. *smacks head*

Cheers
JB