It’s been a while since I went into the vault here at Coffee with an Architect. Yes, the stainless steel fur-lined vault of Architectural secrets I keep behind the portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright holding a pear. Frankly, I’ve been hesitant to reopen it since the last time (HERE). Some things are better left in the dark aren’t they? … Read More
An Architect in 140 characters or less
Maybe these could be my new Twitter bio. Or, we could just think of it as an elevator speech… for the lonely. . I’m just an Architect, standing in front of an ideology, asking it to love me; Also, can I have a dollar? I’m an Architect, like Howard Roark from the Fountainhead, only fatter, and underemployed. I’m an Architect, … Read More
Cats do not care about Modern Architecture
. Has it been 12 hours? Really? I spent all day by the floor to ceiling glass wall and watched a sparrow build a nest in the River Oak by the pond. Then I threw up a white hair-ball on the terrazzo floor. Yes, I heard what you said about “servant” and “served” spaces. I understand that my litter box … Read More
Dear Svehn
Dear Svehn, We need to talk. I’ve been working as your intern architect for 5 weeks now and I’ve been noticing this very disturbing trend. You see, the longer I work for you, the more I feel like things are… off. I’ve been asking around to my other friends and they inform me that things are not normal. 1. … Read More
Survivalist Architecture
It’s no secret that we’re an apocalypse obsessed culture. The building industry at-large has done a relatively effective job focusing on the threat of climate change, but there are a variety of worst-case scenarios that a holistic approach to sustainability will better prepare the general public to survive. . Whether the apocalypse du jour involves the arrival of peak oil, … Read More
Procrastination (and the A.R.E.) can wait
There are many hurdles in the path of becoming an architect, the ones they don’t tell you about: sleep deprivation, having to learn Starbucks lingo, having to learn the lingo of the coffee shop you swear is better than Starbucks, even though you secretly want a Frappuccino, becoming opinionated about pens. And the ones they do: a professional degree, completing … Read More
Maybe I would be stronger than I am
If I were to sit with myself for a while at this table, I would tell me that it didn’t go the way I thought it would. I was young, and looked so thin, and sure of my ideas in that over-sized flannel shirt. With the world in front of me, believing I had the purest thoughts, standing cleanly aligned … Read More
Great Works of Architecture taken out of context
The English respond to the French with a desert – The Trifle tower Because Napoleon liked the Black-eyed Peas – The Arch de she-humps If moved to Portugal – The leaning tower of Siza When designed by nerds – The hanging gardens of Babylon 5 If Egypt smack-talked – “Great pyramids of Giza”, or is it “the Greatest pyramids of … Read More
Architectural living will
I think it’s safe to say that Architecture has not been feeling very well lately. He’s just lying there, hooked up to “machines for living”. Indeed, the profession has weakened to the point that it may have fallen into a coma. Are we prepared? Do we have a living will? what do we do with the body of work? < … Read More
10 ways you annoy rich people
you know you probably do: . You know the difference between veneer and solid wood, but you don’t give a shit. You did not sign the check. You are watching Mad Men because the redhead is hot. You are blocking the view. Why are you looking at me? You are wearing a jersey on the Jersey shore. You just used … Read More
The Architect Interviews you
Lately, I’ve come to believe that Architects, and the very profession of Architecture have become detached from the day to day realities of the culture and people we serve. So, as a small step to begin to bridge this gap, I have decided to reach out with a few simple questions and interview, you! ( the casual reader of this blog ). … Read More
10 Ways Architects Ruin Puppies
10 ways Architects ruin puppies Arrange the puppies by percentage of recycled content. Allow the mechanical engineers to place the supply and return grilles in the puppies without adequate architectural coordination. Over Articulate the puppies. Juxtapose the puppies with kitties. Put non-operable shutters on the puppies’ openings. (note, use of shutter dogs, not withstanding). Provide more than 2 exits from the puppies. Put … Read More