A first

This weekend is Mother’s Day- a first for me and a first for many of my friends.  This post marks my very first interview with an architect, a series I hope to continue monthly.  It happens to be with Jen, a fellow new Mom and friend I’ve had for several years now.

Meet Jen.

This is kind of exactly how I picture Jen when I think of her.  Smiling face and orchids.  She loves orchids.  I had the pleasure of meeting her back in January of 2005, when we were both traveling to Switzerland for an architecture studio.  We were seat mates.  Seat mates once we finally got on our way after being side-lined in the Newark airport for a full 24 hours due to a blizzard.  Seat mates during a very bumpy, turbulent flight highlighted by lightening and air sickness.  I won’t tell you which one of us got sick, but needless to say we became fast friends.  Jen is easy to like because she’s just so darn sweet.  And completely sincere.  Jen is the friend who I trusted to do my hair for my wedding, and she put up with all my nit-picky opinions of hair-doing even though I have no idea of what I am talking about or skill to back it up.  She also did hair for my attendants.  And sat up with me the night before the wedding folding napkins.  And the next day, in the June heat of Georgia, she arranged all the place cards on strings in our backyard.  All 285-odd of them.  A task I had no idea would be so tedious and difficult (apparently all the cards wanted to flip over on themselves and in general be big pains-in-the-neck). 

This is the kind of girl Jen is.  She’ll give 110% no matter what the task.

This is the kind of architect you want working on your building.  One who won’t rest until it’s just as it should be.

I could go on and on about the things Jen has done for me.  But I need to get on to her interview.  She graciously spent some time answering some questions for me so you could get a better idea of what it’s like to be an architect these days.

Here we go!

Tell us a little about yourself- where you're from, where you went to school, what you are doing now, etc.

I was born and raised in the northwest side of Chicago.  I stayed in the city for architecture school at the Illinois Institute of Technology, because what better city to study architecture and what better studio space than Mies's Crown Hall.  I worked at the Chicago firm VOA Associates from my second year all the way through the summer of my graduation.  The experience I gained there was truly invaluable.  I then moved to Austin, Texas to pursue a post-professional M.Arch degree with an urban design concentration.  I stayed in Austin for an additional three years, working at ERO International, a firm focusing primarily on educational and civic architecture.  I know live Denver, Colorado, where I've been for three years.  In 2009 I earned my architectural license and LEED accreditation.  Last spring I had my first child, and I now am a project manager at a small commercial firm, Kenney Architects.

How did you get interested in architecture?

I was always captivated by downtown Chicago growing up, but had no real thoughts as to designing buildings myself.  I grew up interested in art - particularly drawing & painting, and it was later pointed out in high school that I also had a knack for physics, geometry, and writing.  So my parents prompted me to consider architecture.  I honestly studied it because it made logistical sense - not really out of an intense passion for it.  It wasn't until my semester abroad in Europe, where I traveled to 12 countries in four months, that I really found my love for architecture.  And, the more I worked in an office the more I loved it as a career.  

What projects are you currently working on?  

Well, we all know times are tough right now, so I'm currently doing more marketing work than anything.  But I do have a new bank under construction, as well as an attorney's office that's about to going into the construction document phase.   Other than that, I'm trying to get a design-build team up and running for some dental office work, I recently revamped our website, and I'm working on a variety of proposals.  You’re jealous...I know.  :)

What do you think is the biggest misconception about architects or architecture?

Probably the glamour of it all.  People outside the profession seem to assume more hours are spent on the creative ideas than is really accurate.  Few people realize a typical day is more likely to include redlines, RFI's, and product research.  Fortunately, I love the day to day tasks as much as the coveted design moments.

What's your most memorable project? 

At this point it is still probably the Weslaco Middle School in south Texas.  That project was my baby, having worked on it pretty much since day one all the way through its construction.  While I didn't do it alone, I certainly lived and breathed it pretty much ten hours a day for a year.   

What was the worst project you worked on and why?

Probably a toss up between an elementary school trash enclosure and a printing press addition in an existing room.  I'm guessing your savvy readers don't need me to elaborate.  :)

What architect or architects inspire you and why? 

At the moment, I'm particularly inspired by Cameron Sinclair & Architecture for Humanity.  They are a non-profit that does pro-bono architecture work around the world.  I've always wanted a way to utilize my skill-set in a way that gives back.  While I'm not at the liberty of picking up and taking off for a 9 month stint in another country, I have been fortunate enough to get involved with the local Denver chapter of AFH and was recently made one of the new co-directors.  The Denver chapter has already had a successful relationship with Feed Denver, working on developing local urban farms.  We are also exploring projects with the Denver Rescue Mission and Edge of 7.

What is your favorite city for architecture?

Berlin - such an amazing mix of old and new all jumbled together.

Do you read any architecture magazines or blogs, or design blogs?

Primarily just the magazines that come with the AIA memberships.

What work of architecture would you most like to visit?

Well, I'm very fortunate to have seen many amazing works.  I always welcome a chance to visit Renzo Piano's various museums. 

I think my next desire would be to see the architecture in Asia - Japan, China, India, etc. - but that won't be anytime soon.

What, if anything, would you change about architectural education?

I think it’s important to work on integration with real practice - through internships, collaboration with the engineering department, more study into building code and city codes, and a better education on working within a budget.  Don't get me wrong, architecture school is a place to dream up big ideas, but wouldn't it be nice if the student could learn how to make them become a reality?

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Thanks, Jen!  And Happy Mother’s Day!

to think about

My friend Robyn, an architect down in North Carolina, sent me an email recently with some words of wisdom from one of her favorite local architects, Randall Lanou who works in the Triangle area.

[source]

Some Things I’ve Learned:

Making Things Is Fundamentally Satisfying

You Never Know Who Is In The Room

Learn-Do-Teach Is A Powerful Cycle

There Is Only One Way To Make Good Home Design Available To More People

Service Matters

Listen First

Design Is A Business

Building Is A Business

Even Mission-Driven Businesses Must Be Profitable

The Design-Make-Design Loop Is A Powerful Learning Circle

Expensive And Difficult Mistakes Are Well-Learned And Incredibly Valuable

Wide-Ranging Travel Yields A Healthy Perspective

The Best Choices Are Ones That Allow Your Conscience To Rest Easy

Sustainability Is An Old Idea Rooted In Frugality

Utility Often Equals Beauty

Great Projects Only Happen With Great Clients

Green Building Is Simply Better Building

Mimicry Is Not The Best Design Process, Even In A Historical Neighborhood

Memories And Stories Are More Important Than Finishes And Area

The Actual Thing Is Far Better Than A Facsimile

Parameters And Constraints Can Inspire Good Design

Doing The Right Thing Is Harder The First Time Than The Second Time

There Is No Situation Where Your Actions Are Without Consequence

An Even Balance Between Work And Play Is Critical

Relationships Are More Important Than Contracts

Life Is Too Short To Eat Bad Food And Drink Light Beer

A Formal Education Is A Tiny Part Of A Good Education

Responsibility, Fairness, And Stewardship Are Fine Guides

You Don’t Get Where You Want To Be Unless You Make Plans To Go

Looks like we made it

 

Well, good readers, Mark and I survived the trip down to Richmond last week to tour the Rice house by Richard Neutra.  I’d even go as far as saying we thrived rather than just survived!  I’ll spare you the details of the early morning drive south, other than to say that there was a necessary outfit change just prior to the tour and I am so thankful for a nearby Starbucks- not for its coffee but for the availability of a changing table in the bathroom.  [Side note:  fold-out changing tables in public bathrooms are great, but can we please start demanding that a hook be available nearby to hold the diaper bag?!  Moms- let’s get together on this one.  Just like there should be a hook on the back of every stall door for our purses, there NEEDS to be a hook near the diaper changing area.  I’ll do my part as an architect to lobby for these!]

So, we were able to start the tour rested and fed (and changed!) and that made for a much happier baby.  We also lucked out with two very nice gentlemen who carpooled to the site from the Virginia AIA office with us.  One was a Richmond native who told me lots about the Fan District and surrounding neighborhoods and the other entertained Mark in the back seat.  They didn’t seem to mind squeezing into my tiny vehicle made smaller by the car seat that takes over the back, and one even offered to carry Mark’s diaper bag (though, it is an Orla Kiely bag and what design-minded person wouldn’t want to carry that bag?  Dr. Jay doesn’t even mind carrying it)!

On to the Neutra house- okay, okay, it’s the Rice house by Neutra.  It was nothing short of spectacular.  First of all, it’s situated on an island.  An ISLAND!  On the James River.  How incredible is that?  We had to cross a bridge specifically built by the Rices for accessing the island.  

Here’s a view of the James from the drive leading up to the house.

It was a gorgeous spring day.  Our tour guide was Bodil Hanneman, Director of the Foundation Board put together to preserve this amazing work of architecture.  She is also a personal friend of the Rice family (Walter Rice has passed away but his wife Inger is still living).  Here is Bodil Hanneman, who is also an architect.

She explained that the Science Museum of Virginia acquired the house back in 1996 when the Rice family donated it.  It is the only house in Richmond built in the International Style.  It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1999.  She has been working hard with a team not only to determine how best to proceed with renovations and repairs but also to help raise money for the cause.  She mentioned that one of the contractors told her that if they hadn’t intervened when they did, the house would have surely fallen within five years because it was in such a state of disrepair.  There was extensive water damage due to the poor drainage of the flat roofs. 

There were workers on the roof laying new waterproofing on the day of our tour.

See the River out there?  I must mention that all these shots were taken by me while I had Mark on my other arm, so they are not my best work but I certainly tried to capture some details.  I don’t think there were any artificial light sources on at the time of our tour, so you can see how well this house receives daylight.

All of the fireplaces were double-sided, this one to both the interior and exterior.

This fireplace in the living area doubled with a fireplace in the master bedroom.  That’s a cork floor, by the way.

Most of the furniture was built-in, a total work of design by Neutra.  He was known for getting to know his clients really well, and was said to want to “be in love” with them before he worked for them.  Apparently he spent a week with the Rices before he took on the design of their home.  He was reportedly not thrilled to be working in Richmond but was quite taken with the site available to him and that was one thing that swayed him.

Here are a few more interior shots.

One side of the master closet which lead to the bathroom.  There were matching bathroom/closet sequences from the master bedroom, and the bathrooms each had sunken tubs.

Here’s a shot in the dining area with the marble wall which extends from the interior to the exterior.

See the glass?

Mark absolutely loved that wall.

He couldn’t stop touching it and got upset when I finally pulled him away.  It was Georgia marble.  What can I say, the boy has really good taste.

Some shots of the pool:

 

Here are some of the stairs leading to it:

You are not mistaken- that is a very treacherous pathway leading to the pool.  And though there will eventually be a railing along that rooftop balcony, there wasn’t one originally!

I feel so fortunate to have been able to take this tour.  Having learned about houses like this all through school, I didn’t think I’d be able to see a Neutra house unless I took a trip to California.  Having one so close in Virginia is incredible and it makes me so happy that there is such an effort to preserve it.  I came away from this experience certain that Neutra was a true master of the plan.  Each space was so carefully thought out and developed.  It was by no means an enormous house, but Neutra made the most of every square foot and it of course felt more spacious because of all the glass and the fact that there was so much indoor/outdoor living.  That part may have made more sense in California, where Neutra was used to working.  Nonetheless, I have a wonderful memory of the day, as a mother and as an architect.

One last photo for you.  I won’t do this often, but I have to share this with you.

Mark charming our tour guide:

Actually, I think he was charmed by all the zippers on her jacket, and maybe you had to be there, but it was a hilarious way to end the tour.

Random, random Oh how Random

Some search terms I’ve been plugging into Google lately:

- Infant Heimlich YouTube

- How to disable a Maytag dryer buzzer

- Ricotta cheese and cocoa recipes

- Rice house by Richard Neutra

- Glen Echo park Maryland

- National Zoo

- National Cathedral

That’s a little glimpse into my life lately.  How about you?

Image courtesy of the Science Museum of Virginia

I’m taking Mark with me to a tour of the Rice house by architect Richard Neutra on Friday.  It’s being put on by the Virginia AIA all the way down in Richmond.  When I received the email invitation last week I got crazy excited. Crazy excited.  I decided I needed to sign up immediately and think about the logistics later.  The logistics being what to do with Mark.  I’m hoping he’ll put on his big boy pants and behave while I bring him with me on the hour and a half tour.  And become a very cultured 7 month old.  Pray for us [or think positive thoughts, whatever it is you do] that we make it through and I’m not super embarrassed about the way he acts in front of a lot of architects I don’t know.  All in the name of Neutra.

[Don’t know who Neutra is?  Well, he’s one of Modernism’s most prominent architects.  Born in 1892 in Vienna, Neutra studied architecture under Adolf Loos and worked in Germany before coming to the United States in 1923.  He worked briefly under Frank Lloyd Wright before joining friend and fellow Modernist Rudolf Schindler in California.  He lived and worked there for the majority of his career, and was known for his residential work and the importance he placed on clients’ needs and lifestyles.]

Hopefully I’ll be able to snap a few photos if my hands aren’t too full of a wiggly Mark.  Either way I’ll be posting about the trip- may have to use internet photos.  Please come back next week to see if we survived!

the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time

Sometimes I marvel at how completely behind I am on what’s going on in D.C.  Here’s the latest (to me) on the architecture scene:

 

the Bubble addition to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, who also have the coolest website I have seen in a long time.  It’s seriously B.A.)

Here’s how the bubble works.

Got that?

Basically, the inflatable membrane will be erected for one month each spring and fall (beginning possibly in October 2012) filling the void of the museum’s courtyard and acting as an auditorium, cafe and meeting place.  Read more about it here, which is where I read about it.  In the magazine I’ll probably stop receiving soon since I am letting my AIA membership lapse. 

Is anyone else worried about this bubble and the high-strength winds we tend to get around these parts?  Surely they must have considered this possibility.  Looks like they are employing both Wind Engineering consultants and Climatic Analysis consultants.

Goodman, again…

I read this article in the Real Estate section of the Washington Post last weekend, and since I know you depend on me for timely dispersal of information, I thought I’d share.  It’s about the house that Charles Goodman built for he and his family in the early 1950s- a structure that was originally a farmhouse from the 1850s which he gutted and added a very modern glass and steel pavilion for living.  Today the house is on the market, attracting all sorts of interest, and not just from potential buyers.  You remember Goodman, right?  We talked about the neighborhood (Hollin Hills) he and developer Robert Davenport designed in Alexandria.  Or you might remember him from this post about Reagan National Airport.

It was great to read about his personal home design and see photos like this one:

See more images on the Post’s gallery from the article.

One tidbit about the house is that it has its original St. Charles Cabinetry (though they’ve been painted over in black).  I’d never heard of this company, but they produce steel cabinets.   St. Charles Cabinetry is also used at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth house, both on my list of must-see architecture.  Maybe I should go to one of the open houses for the Goodman house?

p.s. Martha Stewart even uses them!

Let’s talk TV

HGTV that is.  I think I first became obsessed with HGTV when Trading Spaces was in its heyday, what, like 10 years ago?  My how time flies.  My mom asked me the other day whatever happened to some of those designers.  Well, the great ones (Vern Yip and Genevieve Gorder) still have shows on HGTV and are still my favorites, style-wise.  And a little known fact about the Babbler?  I actually met Paige Davis, the host of Trading Spaces,

 

a few years ago when I was living in Austin.  I spotted her one morning at Austin Java when I stopped for coffee on my way to work.  She was sitting at a table with her parents and I got all starstruck but had to make sure it was really and truly her, so I went up and asked and proceeded to gush about how great I think she is (like the dork that I am).  Good thing my husband wasn't with me- he would have been completely mortified.  I also met The Bachelor (the Austin-version) on another occasion, in another Austin Java, but that's another story.

Back to HGTV.  Currently, I'm obsessed with a couple of shows on the network.  Home on maternity leave, I'll admit there's occasionally some background t.v. on while I nurse.  Here's where Dr. Jay would interject with "Occasionally?  Try 24/7", but I ignore him because I know HGTV is quality programming and I feel it's part of my job to stay current with design and real estate.  My t.v. watching has actually decreased dramatically lately since our little man has become much more aware of that bright picture box, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says that is a major no-no.  Really, back to HGTV.  I love Curb Appeal: The Block, hosted by John Gidding.  And it's not just because he's another pretty face.

First of all, he's a real for sure architect.  I was skeptical at first, thinking HGTV might be trying to pull one over on us, so I checked him out and though he is a former model (okay, if you want to see something really funny, go here- really, that is John Gidding), he's also a Harvard GSD graduate.  If you watch the show (or another show he does with HGTV- Designed to Sell) you'll see he's a very talented designer.  I just love the concept of Curb Appeal: The Block because they work to upgrade the curb appeal of not just one home, but a few on the street to improve not only area property values but also foster a sense of community and value to a neighborhood.  It's such a design school trope, but the team really seems to pull it off and the results are never the "quick fix" as are so many of the design show solutions.  Check out this slideshow of neighborhood makeovers.  Here’s a before and after.

             

What an incredible transformation from bland to “Come on over and party, friends”.  And there’s a yellow front door, which we all know I heart.

John seems like such a down-to-earth guy.  AND, all his projects take place in Atlanta-area neighborhoods (shout out for the ATL) so it's fun to see some of the places I'm familiar with, and some neighborhoods I'd like to explore.  If I ever ran into John Gidding in Atlanta I would freak out.  Seriously, like an eight year old girl probably does when she sees Justin Bieber.  Who the heck is Justin Bieber?  I have no idea, but I know people go crazy for him.

Next post... the Canadians are taking over HGTV.  Stay tuned.

Mad house in D.C.

Well, actually the winning house from the Washington Post’s Mad Men Look contest is in Silver Spring, Maryland, but it’s all the same up here in the DMV (I’ve heard that’s the new term for the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area). The winner was announced in last weekend’s Real Estate section, and of course I am right on top of things reporting to you, dear readers. The house, built in 1953, is owned by Melissa and Christopher Talley. They’ve been recreating the past with 60’s chic decor since purchasing the home in 2007. Melissa collected mid-century furniture and accessories for many years, so finding the perfect house in which to showcase her collection was like divine intervention. Check out the Post’s slideshow for images of their home, plus those of the other winners. Second place went to a Bethesda home, and third place to a home in Hollin Hills, a neighborhood in nearby (to me) Fairfax county.

In fact, reading the article last weekend lead us to take a trek out to Hollin Hills to check it out for ourselves. I’d originally heard of this neighborhood from a co-worker that’s lived there for almost 30 years. It was developed in the early 50s, designed and site planed by architect Charles Goodman and developed by Robert Davenport. The firm, Charles M. Goodman Associates, designed 14 models of houses for the neighborhood. The current neighborhood association is actually trying to get it into the National Register of Historic Places. Goodman is interesting because he’s also responsible for designing the original National Airport (now known as Reagan National Airport) and also served as head architect to the Treasury Department.

Visiting Hollin Hills was a nice departure from the historic revival styles so frequently seen here in Alexandria and the D.C. area. Though the lot sizes were smaller than I imagined, there are lots of trees and foliage to provide privacy. Most of the facades feature a high percentage of glass, and I’m told each of the lots came with a landscape plan designed to both maximize views, light exposure, and maintain privacy. You might say much of the landscaping looks a bit overgrown at this point. I took lots of photos (while trying not to be too invasive of privacy) so take a look at this mid-century neighborhood for yourself:

I think I’m in love with this house:

This one is for sale:

Want to guess the price?

A World Architecture Survey

Dr. Jay alerted me to this article on VanityFair.com not too long ago, and since he may be responsible for deleting the entire post I’d written for you guys about marble and I’m not up to recreating it for you at this hour of the night, I figured it was finally time to share the VF article with you.

If you’re interested in learning what some of today’s top architects consider to be the most influential works of architecture in the world (constructed since 1980) check out the results of their survey here.  You can click on each participant (most of whom are architects or designers of some reknown) and see their top five picks.  You can also view a slideshow of some of the most popular works of world architecture.  I loved skimming through it to see how many of these buildings or structures I’ve been to or seen in person.  And making a list of where I need to visit.  It’s a long list.

Monday, Monday

And my hubby was gone all weekend, so I’ve taken advantage of him as much as possible tonight.  Not in that way- get your mind out of the gutter.  So far, we’ve been to the dog park (I am dirty from this, and all I did was watch the running around!), made roast chicken and broccoli, ordered a wedding gift, posted an ad on Craigslist (already received about 5 interested parties and someone +might+ be coming by TONIGHT), put together a gift for a friend, oh and mostly assembled a changing table (that was all him- I just supervised).  This is all since I returned from work at 5:45, but its the usual sort of antics around here, which is why blogging can get pushed to the bottom of the list.  I apologize.  I miss you guys.  I have a list of post topics as long as my arm, and I am struggling to stay current.  I don’t want to bombard you all at once, but here are some things that have been on my mind lately:

Virginia bans the cul-de-sac.  Actually, this is old news, as it is legislation that passed last year, but it’s news that probably passed me by since we didn’t live here at the time last year.  I’m still searching for the exact wording of the law and when it comes into effect, but on the surface, I agree.  I absolutely love living in an area with gridded streets.  I think the idea that culs-de-sac (the proper French plural) are safer is a false sense of security, and I like the connectivity and sense of orientation that the grid provides.  What do you think?

One of my professors has a new book.

My esteemed studio professor from UVA, Ed Ford, has a new book about the five houses he’s built for himself and his family and the lessons in detailing he’s learned along the way.  Professor Ford is most well-known for his books The Details of Modern Architecture, volumes 1 and 2.  As was the custom at UVA, I was able to visit one of these homes in Charlottesville he was completing while I was a student in 2001.  I remember being astounded by some of the incredible ideas within this house and how they had been executed.  This man knows his stuff.  I have added this book to my Amazon wishlist.  It’s gotten to be quite the list lately.

And lastly (for tonight):  the Washington Post Peeps contest winner from Easter.  Boy am I behind.  This year’s winning entry featured a scene from the movie Up. Check it out here, along with the other creative confectionary entries.  I’ve taken notes.  I so want to enter this contest next year.  I think my favorite from this year, aside from the winner, was "Peepocalypse 2010: Dupont Circle Snowball Fight", which of course depicted a scene from the infamous D.C. snowball fight that erupted in police intervention.  Oh, Washington.

Today is the greatest

Today has really been a great one, full of good news from old friends, new discoveries, and amazing connections.  I just love the blog-world.  If you had told me last year that this blog would lead me to this many powerful and affirming experiences, I never would have believed you.  But I’m glad Dr. Jay talked me into starting it, as I am with most things he talks me into.

What am I babbling about? Well, for one thing, the universe spoke to my question and I now have an answer.  The architect of Twomey Cellars in Healdsburg, California is Jacques Ullman.  The project won an AIA Chapter design award in 2004 and is featured in Wineries II:  Architecture and Design.  Mr. Ullman somehow found my post on the winery (which was originally called Roshambo) and answered my question in the comments section.  Thanks, Mr. Ullman!  If we make it back out to Northern California, I will definitely look you up.  And thank you, blog-world, for making the universe seem a little smaller once again.