Magnificent Home Improvements

Daniel Marshall on Waiheke

The first of two houses by Daniel Marshall on Waiheke Island that are finalists in our Home of the Year award is at Waikopua Bay, at the very eastern end of the island. The house is located at the bottom of an incredibly steep driveway, and faces slightly southeast. Daniel decided to arrange the buildings - a carport, the main house and a guest room above a boatshed - around the path of an old stream bed that ran through the site. This creates the feeling of an encampment centred around the sunken courtyard at the rear of the living pavilion. These photographs - most of which we couldn't fit in the article on the house in our Home of the Year issue - are by Simon Devitt.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509840877572649186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTzTL7_wBAbsS3GdAkz8ia0ozhwf84bgAc7W9Evs42gw2IPHz7c-wm95bYkk9aTAGVFnkVjOd8wSeGOgwYJpURJwMlnn7nP18DIkibPSRVY-88KF6aDQTFWSBVTdnDRNolNKx_SH1RinF/s400/G2342.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" /><br />This view from the water shows the way the building nestles into its site. The Felipe Tohi sculpture out the front provides a useful navigation point, apparently, when guiding the fishing boat back in the evenings.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509840878807445938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZXiydMjaHLev55-gp19TXClPDpcfzoy-E3p2JuIxNyFfRtBpOmto44bcGI21X5suhF10atxwJeFWW-AhVP1QOh1lE0DvPuwfdMGB9AH9uYKtwmhXLp7f1QczQU40PF-Vm5KylQYReiDe/s400/G2403.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /><br />Daniel chose the black colour for much of the exterior so it would blend in with the dark trunks of the manuka trees behind it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1_OcOuM61sLSdH-EqE4r7OGZN9opM8tJdz41ZLQAvvyMY8Dvi28y4TBJMVxPHini4fvUsCVJ7HAcwvu1VYJFjunGLvoNs_av2OFfvrvy2umal32CkWWHL-HbwwnrEBOeczt_soYXF5fA/s1600/F8690.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509840893162271522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1_OcOuM61sLSdH-EqE4r7OGZN9opM8tJdz41ZLQAvvyMY8Dvi28y4TBJMVxPHini4fvUsCVJ7HAcwvu1VYJFjunGLvoNs_av2OFfvrvy2umal32CkWWHL-HbwwnrEBOeczt_soYXF5fA/s400/F8690.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>This view shows the stone wall of the living pavilion that borders the old creek bed and the path between the two structures.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69-w-WjDYbIW4x8k1MK2SY4gM_kQeDG_mMZhQWmeigS258S_rR7-33CKM_40qD9_oPQafHmHBRzHjEtmNhs1LFDLiQA6k75Emwm1cOykpNzpCpWxJHBSHa1n-per-OJiKhoYukgLSzFjS/s1600/CF007144.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509840889558828722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69-w-WjDYbIW4x8k1MK2SY4gM_kQeDG_mMZhQWmeigS258S_rR7-33CKM_40qD9_oPQafHmHBRzHjEtmNhs1LFDLiQA6k75Emwm1cOykpNzpCpWxJHBSHa1n-per-OJiKhoYukgLSzFjS/s400/CF007144.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div>

Daniel Marshall on Waiheke

26Aug2010

Dear Rhino,

<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwxkoQ5igxp3hoIbsaikG0xphCaaCxu9cE89P6Pb366JWkNH9qVe-djP0yyrsPbbH6dtHyhLhqStEGZe9pKjRA7Brl16Pb1KAo3UUXvyStRBzQCSlodQByTakxTUXHTmk34kfr19yuqo/s1600/19542_Rhinozeros_schw_bisk.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507467204139889202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwxkoQ5igxp3hoIbsaikG0xphCaaCxu9cE89P6Pb366JWkNH9qVe-djP0yyrsPbbH6dtHyhLhqStEGZe9pKjRA7Brl16Pb1KAo3UUXvyStRBzQCSlodQByTakxTUXHTmk34kfr19yuqo/s400/19542_Rhinozeros_schw_bisk.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 431px; height: 503px;" /></a></div>How silly of me hoping that <a href="http://www.nymphenburg.com/us/products/animals/clara/19542.html">you</a> would share my feelings after we met.  It's been two weeks since we last saw each other and I can't stop thinking of you.  Silenced by the perfection of your body and your seductive rustic, perfectly done skin, I couldn't tell you for how long I've been coveting you.  Ever since I saw your roving presence overshadowing the already cute Nate Berkus’ office, I was forever enchanted by your charm.  How naive of me.  It didn't occur to me that perhaps you would just be one regular mortal contaminated by the world's greatest sin, <i><span style=";font-family:";" >greed</span></i>.  There goes my love, with your hunger for more.  Always more.  But for three thousand dollars am I hanging like this?  Just not fair.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutYw0NR_olG7RrThnKqFVRf-XNfF1L6GnHrlRIrRU6YVMAY0QHb8vvUyeikq5hLYGK-d1HZ6P5s6TbdsP1ns9aqmrY1lgZctzDojTMLWAzBVStqcaAtJxkc5HwEkXzEWvcmJpZTSbQBY/s1600/spaces_107_350x263.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507467212200128930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutYw0NR_olG7RrThnKqFVRf-XNfF1L6GnHrlRIrRU6YVMAY0QHb8vvUyeikq5hLYGK-d1HZ6P5s6TbdsP1ns9aqmrY1lgZctzDojTMLWAzBVStqcaAtJxkc5HwEkXzEWvcmJpZTSbQBY/s400/spaces_107_350x263.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 435px; height: 326px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lDARYr2a2tRYHmJ9N96SzheBTO5gIftRfQL_poSyE7BsLqoJV_Y8tOg-deh89o9w2tg4tB6ZuZZDQo0_dQfvcKq9dwL6vG8hxCH-Cn1tvjtt-WX6s_f7X6NK_HTi3CJKiAEMP6PFlIs/s1600/Nate+Berkus+mantel+art.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507472035439723026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lDARYr2a2tRYHmJ9N96SzheBTO5gIftRfQL_poSyE7BsLqoJV_Y8tOg-deh89o9w2tg4tB6ZuZZDQo0_dQfvcKq9dwL6vG8hxCH-Cn1tvjtt-WX6s_f7X6NK_HTi3CJKiAEMP6PFlIs/s400/Nate+Berkus+mantel+art.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 435px; height: 564px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b6FDBBVh-svwCX7UyiqhTNYbPlfzEcn62Laob3gVMGe_6aqyRn7wrPHpDGE6fYJAfHjk63fonUEx9VT8K7VvHxAKpmkQzhzWbz88-FeqyQRvyukl1Y-RuJfcXEfL7n0P93nDsDflcOk/s1600/3028171483_0e1b6b7eda.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507471806934976242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b6FDBBVh-svwCX7UyiqhTNYbPlfzEcn62Laob3gVMGe_6aqyRn7wrPHpDGE6fYJAfHjk63fonUEx9VT8K7VvHxAKpmkQzhzWbz88-FeqyQRvyukl1Y-RuJfcXEfL7n0P93nDsDflcOk/s400/3028171483_0e1b6b7eda.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 434px; height: 289px;" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >I'll go away to a place where your beauty and reality will be surpassed. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqs361wLXhXFej6lOJcuC3aLJwSwimui749fipk90gBK_XyANFq27vMgQPlHIqKCn5PEN-R7dX2y5V0x-BKpE4s_AtrofAaU3dF30jrO-nWFd9378UvZeW4loTEVV5vjnUWQvKtaKPEEI/s1600/Istanbul+guide-ipad.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507482752002952290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqs361wLXhXFej6lOJcuC3aLJwSwimui749fipk90gBK_XyANFq27vMgQPlHIqKCn5PEN-R7dX2y5V0x-BKpE4s_AtrofAaU3dF30jrO-nWFd9378UvZeW4loTEVV5vjnUWQvKtaKPEEI/s400/Istanbul+guide-ipad.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;">images credit. Top via Google images, 2nd and 3rd via Oprah, 4th via <a href="http://www.greytheblog.com/2008/11/sleeker-house-style.html">Grey the blog</a> and last via my kitchen. </span><br /></div></div>

Dear Rhino,

How silly of me hoping that you would share my feelings after we met. It's been two weeks since we last saw each other and I can't stop thinking of you. Silenced by the perfection of your body and your seductive rustic, perfectly done skin, I couldn't tell you for how long I've been coveting you. …

20Aug2010

The Top 5 American Architects working right now (according to me)

<span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ever since Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim and then up and died, people have been waiting for the next great American Architect. As I have written in the past, the average person is really not familiar with Architecture, let alone any one Architect in particular. Some people may be familiar with names like Gehry or Meier, but this is only because newspapers and magazines have publicized their work (albeit to mixed fanfare). </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Recently, someone asked me who I thought were the best American Architects practicing today and I thought that this might be a good topic for a discussion. So before people start getting angry that their favorite Architect is not on my list, let me qualify the criteria that I think makes a great Architect in today's world. I don't know if all these would apply a hundred years ago, but here goes:</span> <div><div><div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1. Great Architects satisfy their clients. They do this by solving complex problems involving functional needs, budget, schedule, available materials and environmental challenges. It doesn't matter if a building looks great if it doesn't serve its intended use, comes in over budget and leaks. Great looking buildings are nice as sculpture, but most people wouldn't want to pay millions of dollars for a sculpture.</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2. Great Architects know how to build their designs. I believe that great Architects should carry on the tradition of the Master Builder or someone who knows how to get the work done. Most contractors I have met do not hold Architects in high regard, largely because most Architects are lost on a job site. A great Architect must not only know construction but be able to develop new means and methods when required. Architects like Frank Gehry and Richard Meier have built some impressive structures, but the details for their buildings are more often figured out by computers and design Architects than themselves.</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3. Great Architects are both current and timeless. A building may look good when it's finished, but only time will tell if it will be around in 50 years. How many buildings from the 80's still look relevant? A great Architect can draw on the timeless tools of proportion, rhythm, scale, and physics to produces works that will be useful and desirable for years to come. </span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">4. Great Architects must get their hands dirty. Some notable Architects are successful because of their pedigree and connections. They get the work, but they don't do the work. This is evident when you attend a lecture by that Architect. They can talk about the overall concepts and ideas, but they are lost when asked to discuss specific details. Great Architects stay involved with their projects and care more about the quality of the work than the size of their firm. </span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">That being said, here's my top 5 contenders for great American Architects practicing today. These are in no particular order.</span> </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_jhzRjNIloSS19MSP6KEuStgpIZz4Km7oDfUQCFKFPMgPbDdLjCL-pBRmM9UNx1D2fpoaOz83wbgQa_B4bFqCLWWr_Z2itOnGI3j9JY3cBEyT-VAAx1TAH-wSZWm4OSUzD3iPRBgWLc/s1600/cutler.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506842547120411874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_jhzRjNIloSS19MSP6KEuStgpIZz4Km7oDfUQCFKFPMgPbDdLjCL-pBRmM9UNx1D2fpoaOz83wbgQa_B4bFqCLWWr_Z2itOnGI3j9JY3cBEyT-VAAx1TAH-wSZWm4OSUzD3iPRBgWLc/s320/cutler.jpg" style="WIDTH: 275px; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1- James Cutler - Cutler is one of the most successful architects working in the Pacific Northwest because he is an impeccable detailer and creates many beautiful structures from humble materials. Although he did alot of design for Bill Gates' compound in Washington, he is most known for elegant residences that elevate everyday living to a real art form.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5j3sWMsZOugYJsX8rTjsLs_vZJRXkwlhyphenhyphenzVqrDjdhnS-g4Iln4LPT2TYssYz8kDavzgrnrkrXNs5STKgG79uilAcwG2i70tWJp-gXBrW-se8USXdL-Fs4-oWLXIR7PAIVQ8Hy5sCf9M/s1600/kundig.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506843234957517538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5j3sWMsZOugYJsX8rTjsLs_vZJRXkwlhyphenhyphenzVqrDjdhnS-g4Iln4LPT2TYssYz8kDavzgrnrkrXNs5STKgG79uilAcwG2i70tWJp-gXBrW-se8USXdL-Fs4-oWLXIR7PAIVQ8Hy5sCf9M/s320/kundig.jpg" style="WIDTH: 270px; HEIGHT: 187px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2. Tom Kundig - A self proclaimed 'gizmologist' this Architect could easily work in the engineering department of any Hollywood studio. From giant doors designed to be opened by an eight year old, to moving facades that close up your house, this Architect approaches function from a very technical level and blurs the boundries between Architecture and Engineering. If you want to see something really special, check out a project he did for <a href="http://www.rollinghuts.com/">http://www.rollinghuts.com/</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYmpP30nEwZQeFV4wj8vI6B-v4OjNbQmc1zvgx4SIKu2kChGjQoU4ocVvrGreaDF2eU4qpZL4m8w01Gz3YuTFQDjga0rq4c2L9GN3G-7_a6_dHfEbX84tpXbWHKo1TPHEC4Y6S-ns9ec/s1600/p_sculpture_9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506843425274915234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYmpP30nEwZQeFV4wj8vI6B-v4OjNbQmc1zvgx4SIKu2kChGjQoU4ocVvrGreaDF2eU4qpZL4m8w01Gz3YuTFQDjga0rq4c2L9GN3G-7_a6_dHfEbX84tpXbWHKo1TPHEC4Y6S-ns9ec/s320/p_sculpture_9.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">3. Stephen Kieran - One half of Kieran Timberlake, and the only East Coast member of my list. His work in the area of prefabrication as well as his portfolio of Social and Educational design is breathtaking. If you are ever in New Haven, Connecticutt you have to check out his work at Yale, specifically the sculpture gallery (above) and the dormitory that was erected in under a week through an advanced prefabrication process.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><div><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7bJcaslRPJAVroPkL4Mg0xhO0YMqqVRUxh8gXgkCg-EJ9g0L_shSfOl5uuKRv0iH7fjNSEg9vNJM5HL6vLIOosvNtpJyxKR1FqGCt_SK5xcCCEI6b7WOdakTJRQOYsfRnRbiI-YNp3Q/s1600/segal.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506843341140145394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7bJcaslRPJAVroPkL4Mg0xhO0YMqqVRUxh8gXgkCg-EJ9g0L_shSfOl5uuKRv0iH7fjNSEg9vNJM5HL6vLIOosvNtpJyxKR1FqGCt_SK5xcCCEI6b7WOdakTJRQOYsfRnRbiI-YNp3Q/s320/segal.jpg" style="WIDTH: 278px; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. Jonathan Segal - Some days, I wish I had never heard of or met Jonathan Segal. If this were true, I may never have quit my corporate job to pursue development as an Architect. His work in San Diego is changing the profession of Architecture by empowering Architects to build on their own without clients. He lives by the Golden Rule (He who has the gold makes the rules) and has transformed the fabric of downtown San Diego with thoughtful and efficient buildings that have become highly coveted living spaces. With his own team of Architect/Contractors, he builds every project himself to ensure a high attention to detail and proper execution. He has also started a separate company (and a Master's program) whose sole mission is to educate Architects and all those interested on how to positively affect your surroundings through Design based development. We need more of that.</span></div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKnHW7Clw98MVii5ngm_u2mv8h1ABM4wmS6xYYsinHH_wUVVOvLh75byxF6WdGk38A4MiG6fdrETuNPLlSkRRFoUhHDgImWWJ1nyN5BHsx_N80t3CMh1x3J2YdnJ0l5m32DxH-OFM87U/s1600/radziner.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506848348220356130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKnHW7Clw98MVii5ngm_u2mv8h1ABM4wmS6xYYsinHH_wUVVOvLh75byxF6WdGk38A4MiG6fdrETuNPLlSkRRFoUhHDgImWWJ1nyN5BHsx_N80t3CMh1x3J2YdnJ0l5m32DxH-OFM87U/s320/radziner.jpg" style="WIDTH: 275px; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">5. Ron Radziner - To say that Marmol Radziner is the most diversified Architectural Practice in the United States is probably an understatement. They are a Design Build firm that does both new work and Historic Restoration. They have more Construction Employees than Design staff. They have Architects running their own Millwork shop. They design everything from furniture to jewelry and they have their own prefab company. Pretty sweet. The design half of all that sugar is Ron Radziner. No disrespect to Leo Marmol, but these two guys do different things. Ron Radziner is the Design Architect. A master detailer and craftsman, his own home is the stuff that Architect's dreams are made of. When you can own a firm that spends five years faithfully restoring Richard Neutra's Kaufman House and then design schools for inner city kids, I think that's worth noting. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">In conclusion, please do not be offended if you did not make the list. I didn't even put myself on my own list. All I can say is that there's always next year, right?<br /></div></span>

The Top 5 American Architects working right now (according to me)

Ever since Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim and then up and died, people have been waiting for the next great American Architect. As I have written in the past, the average person is really not familiar with Architecture, let alone any one Architect in particular. Some people may be famili…

18Aug2010

If not money, then how about respect? A Designer's Tale

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the past few years, many Architects and Designers have seen their paychecks shrink. When asked, most people would say that this is probably due to the general economy and the recession. Three years ago, I might have said the same thing. Now I don't think that this is true. I believe the real culprit, the thing that we must overcome as a society is something far more devastating: Ignorance. Recently, I had a couple of exchanges with Clients that led me to believe this is more true than ever. Read on.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">About three years ago, I was introduced to this guy who wanted to open a high end restaurant. Let's call him James. James was a seasoned Operator, which means he knew how to run the place. But he needed the money. James was looking for an investor and he was trying to assemble a team that would help sell the investor. I was placed on that team based on my experience as a Hospitality Designer and Architect. In addition to myself, James also had a notable chef, a marketing team, and a graphics and branding team. For two and a half years, James made his pitch to a variety of investors. No one wanted to commit. Finally after almost three years, James found a guy who was excited about the project. By now, the rest of the team had evaporated for one reason or another. I got a call from James and he said that he wanted me to meet with his investor to see if this bird would fly. At the meeting, I showed the investor my portfolio, I spoke about my credentials and I told him the process that we would implement in order to make the restaurant a reality. After he heard me describe everything soup to nuts, he looked at me and said that everything sounded great. He asked me to submit a proposal and we would go from there. Two days later, I submitted a very aggressive proposal, with a very competitive fee. Because I had been tracking the project so long, I wanted to make sure that I could get it, so I cut my usual fee by 20% to ensure my appointment to the team. About a week later, I got a call from James and he told me that the investor was overwhelmed by my fee. He then asked if I could cut my fee by an additional 50%. I said that I couldn't. I was then informed that the investor knew an Architect who could do it for the low fee. I told James that they should go with that guy, no hard feelings. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Story number two begins with a pair of Clients who want to renovate the interior of their house. They purchased a builder's home and after three years have found out that the layout does not work at all. When I met this Client I told them that a house was a machine for living in. That Client told me that his machine was broken. I made two visits to this Client and spent over 10 hours talking to them and writing proposals. When they got my detailed proposal (which described what we would need to do, room by room) I could see that they were 'overwhelmed' by the Design fee. I then proceeded to explain to them that their house was not designed by an Architect but was instead built by a builder. It is common knowledge that most homes are built by Builders who are unassisted by Architects. Most people would rather spend their money on builder upgrades than Design sensibility. That's just how it is. Now I am standing in front of a client who has a budget upwards of $50,000 to repair his broken machine but will not give me the go ahead to spend a few thousand in Design fees. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">These are both very true stories. What is also true is that I have a five year Architectural Degree, 15 years of practical experience, have passed 10 different professional examinations, and am legally liable for every project that I touch. Unfortunately, most people do not place a value on these things. The value that they assign to your services is only comparable to their lowest price option. If you are printing letterpress business cards for $400 and someone can get overnight laser printed cards for $15, most people will want to pay $15. Our retail economy has taught people this very well. Don't look at the quality, look at the price. Practically every big store speaks to price in their slogans. "Save Money, Live Better". "Get More, Spend Less." "More Saving, More Doing".</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">And whether your competition is a Builder or a peer who wants to low ball you, I am asking you please not to compromise your quality as a Design Professional. These kinds of compromises are why we find ourselves in the mess we are today. Eventually you will find those clients who appreciate the value of your services and you can just say no to those clients that want you to cut corners. That's what I ended up doing with the restaurant. I told James, "Thanks, but no thanks." If I'm not going to be compensated fairly, then I demand to be respected, if only by myself. </span>

If not money, then how about respect? A Designer's Tale

In the past few years, many Architects and Designers have seen their paychecks shrink. When asked, most people would say that this is probably due to the general economy and the recession. Three years ago, I might have said the same thing. Now I don't think that this is true. I believe the real culp…

16Aug2010

Mirror Mirror

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">When I visited the Munich Residenz, a palace that served as the seat of government and residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918, and I walked through this magnificent hallway, I was instantly transported to the beautiful kitchen (last bottom picture) designed by <a href="http://www.elledecor.com/image/room_finder/95?pause=0&page=3&designer=Scott+Slarsky+and+Katarina+Edlund" target="_blank">Scott Slarsky and Katarina Edlund</a> that was featured in former Metropolitan Home magazine in 2007.  Impressive resemblance.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-wVlDzgXusjL5-p29K-inkhp06tqr9uVkVLPZ5o_rqF2J9mQWPqUapyQqCDXFbdfXC-XAqcFnab7wyWYwDNtuGNqmTDN8B6wQc2tTPODuA0Pyu6D3VoiLV1suTRQnv1rAaF-mIdnOi0/s1600/mu_res_theatiner.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504587434941973346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-wVlDzgXusjL5-p29K-inkhp06tqr9uVkVLPZ5o_rqF2J9mQWPqUapyQqCDXFbdfXC-XAqcFnab7wyWYwDNtuGNqmTDN8B6wQc2tTPODuA0Pyu6D3VoiLV1suTRQnv1rAaF-mIdnOi0/s400/mu_res_theatiner.jpg" style="height: 402px; width: 468px;" /></a><br />  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7nNNwTUNMPUXY3-qeG3rP8vhEwGZCzJH1t91CRJ0XDgrXUiwgeEP2QWSQpANWJAdf1v6x1KnOSoz0qi61a5jICmCilMONQQKdNI1aoNEXCB7hH4fIsqfSNPsikYbW_dhN30oZf7HJ9U/s1600/3835752341_c8d9fb5d25.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504587428456473522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7nNNwTUNMPUXY3-qeG3rP8vhEwGZCzJH1t91CRJ0XDgrXUiwgeEP2QWSQpANWJAdf1v6x1KnOSoz0qi61a5jICmCilMONQQKdNI1aoNEXCB7hH4fIsqfSNPsikYbW_dhN30oZf7HJ9U/s400/3835752341_c8d9fb5d25.jpg" width="461" /></a><br />  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv593iUBBDqN73uE6pM5owmmkvd12Mj7fqbRh7kcItjsWs9Hzr1t3rhsuN_tHLeJkxnXgdeX9cXTNmcfpsOcCx6IQcgku8DmPqA1SfuKD9kro3E8ATSFFyRizZ008nqg4PDQxJfd7n6M/s1600/scott+slarsky+and+katarina+edlund.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="590" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504537649370114834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv593iUBBDqN73uE6pM5owmmkvd12Mj7fqbRh7kcItjsWs9Hzr1t3rhsuN_tHLeJkxnXgdeX9cXTNmcfpsOcCx6IQcgku8DmPqA1SfuKD9kro3E8ATSFFyRizZ008nqg4PDQxJfd7n6M/s400/scott+slarsky+and+katarina+edlund.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">photos via <a href="http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/rooms/objects/mu_r_th.htm">Munich Residenz</a> and Elle Decor.</span></div>

Mirror Mirror

When I visited the Munich Residenz, a palace that served as the seat of government and residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918, and I walked through this magnificent hallway, I was instantly transported to the beautiful kitchen (last bottom picture) designed by Scott Sl…

12Aug2010

Déjà Vu: A Munich Review

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF6SvUqx2izWmhLAlpWB964daO5LKjvhoDGFI447nDZrkNdiT10unsfkH29zHGNqfMs5eziGo2EQTuZ7ge3JhteA5Vi8YZFpXt-SSskd0URTcFhDlv8qPpKQJo6dAC0hwit7D9l03tNU/s1600/DSC00703.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503115702809533618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF6SvUqx2izWmhLAlpWB964daO5LKjvhoDGFI447nDZrkNdiT10unsfkH29zHGNqfMs5eziGo2EQTuZ7ge3JhteA5Vi8YZFpXt-SSskd0URTcFhDlv8qPpKQJo6dAC0hwit7D9l03tNU/s400/DSC00703.JPG" width="460" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"> A beautiful view of The Siegestor in Munich </div>The reason for my long and total absence conjures one full sentence "I've been biking in Munich."  Literally.  I've been biking up and down for days of sightseeing, eating, shopping, and mostly going into quite secluded neighborhoods and into small and "only-locals-know-about" shops.  Because that's what I prefer to do when I travel.  I like to act and do everything like a local.  I first walked around and sensed the environment.  It didn't take me long to realize that Germans have everything figured out when it comes to sustainable living.   Munich has more bikes on bike-paths taking you everywhere in the city, than cars driving on the streets.  God, New Yorkers would be happy to have at least half of those bike-paths.  </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgCUBeuiy7yhPKT0FW9_7gxmk2kRxqvc4NxNl63vmlrFiC2qp1pWq7Eog0HGPbS4k9fHTxAO811GgEjiiJl_UnZUv5quajdT8S13q8rnB5T3yQWuWeCG6OS2ojfMT0fu89SaVWzWJxsQ/s1600/DSC00755.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503033217276306290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgCUBeuiy7yhPKT0FW9_7gxmk2kRxqvc4NxNl63vmlrFiC2qp1pWq7Eog0HGPbS4k9fHTxAO811GgEjiiJl_UnZUv5quajdT8S13q8rnB5T3yQWuWeCG6OS2ojfMT0fu89SaVWzWJxsQ/s400/DSC00755.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have to say that what I loved the most about Munich was going around Schwabing's quite neighborhoods while appreciating the gorgeous Art Nouveau architecture.  Due to the City's strict laws for building skyscrapers (height limitations) it's easy to enjoy the beauty of Munich's Neoclassical and Gothic main buildings without any view interruption.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvWUGFfcJ_X656KZYDe_2kb4AElpgYMvvt595sr8JG4jLCl77-WHgQxPd4UsCnQUTQiUh2tICqeL7J4MgXb4nFgg4h5VTXr4KB7ZE6eDqooaW4BlvsqIdKc77ymE8CB0RPd9XADGso2Y/s1600/DSC00701.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503115713121532226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvWUGFfcJ_X656KZYDe_2kb4AElpgYMvvt595sr8JG4jLCl77-WHgQxPd4UsCnQUTQiUh2tICqeL7J4MgXb4nFgg4h5VTXr4KB7ZE6eDqooaW4BlvsqIdKc77ymE8CB0RPd9XADGso2Y/s400/DSC00701.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgho7GEPuQVN4stZogwZ2CjhdLWv6BH1FqN6cAnMmyT6MGb_q1MRIQRVJ2sKPMGC57MVdZUD1P5r-nvIZ1a56u8Vkrh0CKz8kN_gLBOl2ZfVo-3m6V0PAqLCkvO5doHBip9yGUk7eddQg4/s1600/DSC00727.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503033209070558562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgho7GEPuQVN4stZogwZ2CjhdLWv6BH1FqN6cAnMmyT6MGb_q1MRIQRVJ2sKPMGC57MVdZUD1P5r-nvIZ1a56u8Vkrh0CKz8kN_gLBOl2ZfVo-3m6V0PAqLCkvO5doHBip9yGUk7eddQg4/s400/DSC00727.JPG" style="height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD34fxfmeO314hNfBAUiT93gdx3xAAjQ_B4as3ZZ7IVvWuGe45tRrim7VNNu6_-Wep0UmcBZSFnJn1-0H9YLKqBRoAPkmoPR6bwVpq1WXraVYa8vU7kCULl0WLT7HuCxa4w8c8TgtQGt8/s1600/DSC00683.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503031270603052306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD34fxfmeO314hNfBAUiT93gdx3xAAjQ_B4as3ZZ7IVvWuGe45tRrim7VNNu6_-Wep0UmcBZSFnJn1-0H9YLKqBRoAPkmoPR6bwVpq1WXraVYa8vU7kCULl0WLT7HuCxa4w8c8TgtQGt8/s400/DSC00683.JPG" width="460" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The wires hanging on this street belong to the tram system.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPv_cbT2J157ZwAtno6Gas0jltMW1b5Gh4087QkpaVrdAPpxfwaumRGZODVxAZo2ORvbPk5ytxW623foM6p5T_BsRiqE0JqSZkWC9XYCWgRI-3gC42URQUxVQHTbRPAr_v0aHqkkbvLEk/s1600/DSC00679.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503031262712071762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPv_cbT2J157ZwAtno6Gas0jltMW1b5Gh4087QkpaVrdAPpxfwaumRGZODVxAZo2ORvbPk5ytxW623foM6p5T_BsRiqE0JqSZkWC9XYCWgRI-3gC42URQUxVQHTbRPAr_v0aHqkkbvLEk/s400/DSC00679.JPG" width="460" /></a></div>  <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitekPXvshfELWV_buRk_HJd9AVeGaVtovVZtxFw88xrw5Hj2b-IVbOqv0pV2MNuqfnQvUSGsl6whNMGXKj6ADjHDIVNQP5wuhk4MVVgVy40XRdys1aKef2iJ2V_vzJJIzohyphenhyphenmcTofyGT4/s1600/DSC00708.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503030410709589922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitekPXvshfELWV_buRk_HJd9AVeGaVtovVZtxFw88xrw5Hj2b-IVbOqv0pV2MNuqfnQvUSGsl6whNMGXKj6ADjHDIVNQP5wuhk4MVVgVy40XRdys1aKef2iJ2V_vzJJIzohyphenhyphenmcTofyGT4/s400/DSC00708.JPG" width="460" /></a></div>  <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwrT4avue6iAcOIMaNzV2iAiryVbeRgWudeoCmuVqUJjKxPCdLvNjAL78rE4a1go-f0O7W_ghiI6S9Ow9Csg9_4j9hr_DYyONR7Dh-h2PIeootnIBcghgsTAxSfnqtMjS7bCA-Gl-Pkc/s1600/DSC00722.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503030403337029730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwrT4avue6iAcOIMaNzV2iAiryVbeRgWudeoCmuVqUJjKxPCdLvNjAL78rE4a1go-f0O7W_ghiI6S9Ow9Csg9_4j9hr_DYyONR7Dh-h2PIeootnIBcghgsTAxSfnqtMjS7bCA-Gl-Pkc/s400/DSC00722.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>The Ludwigskirche Church with colorful tiles added on later to the Neo-Romanesque architecture.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWGRxQ3c_IDIFbrVME5451O4ewqQssVzOiLssIPcqK-U3O_CcbTXnex0Fu4wlnqvLIDaCJ8GGOtVogasAaaf-Smtasu-IGYcUrNs_LzLMh8KS0tGfEd518GuSYOaqLQtx1CwW2j-Y4p4/s1600/DSC00714.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503021330072480770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWGRxQ3c_IDIFbrVME5451O4ewqQssVzOiLssIPcqK-U3O_CcbTXnex0Fu4wlnqvLIDaCJ8GGOtVogasAaaf-Smtasu-IGYcUrNs_LzLMh8KS0tGfEd518GuSYOaqLQtx1CwW2j-Y4p4/s400/DSC00714.JPG" width="460" /></a></div>  <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdFZ0JbMd5aVS0xWt2M6NqNLLbiK2SJUmdmJGS-pRJyJXKiZXTVEqMhbOoAowlXrR-fFQ7VdYln-rEJX3PzkO-m5rTcb89BzSDNRKDBeO9vIJ61wIfl7GaR6jwtuNT0hn4nih153HImQ/s1600/DSC00715.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503021312438161778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdFZ0JbMd5aVS0xWt2M6NqNLLbiK2SJUmdmJGS-pRJyJXKiZXTVEqMhbOoAowlXrR-fFQ7VdYln-rEJX3PzkO-m5rTcb89BzSDNRKDBeO9vIJ61wIfl7GaR6jwtuNT0hn4nih153HImQ/s400/DSC00715.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOxj1vtcHKzZ3fJGxOoIAxhDJEjz7cYZ_DljZ6Gdden10krjduaRJRN-f4Zx3KbQMVFJYnetE7uQrIKAxKiQwQSTn9p7iTxIoJtVnmYrKtRSCEW5GyV7H_YrqJzRvIbvmPVkcegr-2L8/s1600/DSC00700.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503438906895920066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOxj1vtcHKzZ3fJGxOoIAxhDJEjz7cYZ_DljZ6Gdden10krjduaRJRN-f4Zx3KbQMVFJYnetE7uQrIKAxKiQwQSTn9p7iTxIoJtVnmYrKtRSCEW5GyV7H_YrqJzRvIbvmPVkcegr-2L8/s400/DSC00700.JPG" width="460" /></a><br /> Notice the adorable tree house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuAu8UPOcELxdHpCKUGRo67un6hjKfZxuKHu9wCHqUFZ9vy2h4FIwJqdF420bJfSDQmhOoQS-WWkq6BqVSZfxvgEtH-iK0eX3jN0WRcCXtbzO0deUfoP0gedCxz2MUQVElQEJ1hl_14o/s1600/DSC00678.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503023552812589762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuAu8UPOcELxdHpCKUGRo67un6hjKfZxuKHu9wCHqUFZ9vy2h4FIwJqdF420bJfSDQmhOoQS-WWkq6BqVSZfxvgEtH-iK0eX3jN0WRcCXtbzO0deUfoP0gedCxz2MUQVElQEJ1hl_14o/s400/DSC00678.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There was an ongoing baby-size chess match going on every day at this corner.  A different take from the domino games played in tropical islands.  Don't they look cute?</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl761_40CNj_-jGZze8W86xPMpFtOXVFPe0qrUAqA9blDxFQR4kpeaCQb_y8vh-O_H8le6sySlYktUVMnNicOHKOIHKXZRuudXllR-HNEDE0o2u-7g6IEdBJchhBfzO1DuSQ54Tv6fBoc/s1600/DSC00773.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="620" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503036081562486482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl761_40CNj_-jGZze8W86xPMpFtOXVFPe0qrUAqA9blDxFQR4kpeaCQb_y8vh-O_H8le6sySlYktUVMnNicOHKOIHKXZRuudXllR-HNEDE0o2u-7g6IEdBJchhBfzO1DuSQ54Tv6fBoc/s400/DSC00773.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW87hGIsU4p8_a8np6jd7sPBXY0JqdXa1gbM2qdBs_raa6EqpcYYd1iw2NyFlsbeVOl9fqqCkFGd0vGfqCh5OwJj36uHKPYaZa1OgXuZaQIWUpq9zw7mX_sblR26tl3wiUEGjwfYoMg6A/s1600/DSC00788.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503035498574137346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW87hGIsU4p8_a8np6jd7sPBXY0JqdXa1gbM2qdBs_raa6EqpcYYd1iw2NyFlsbeVOl9fqqCkFGd0vGfqCh5OwJj36uHKPYaZa1OgXuZaQIWUpq9zw7mX_sblR26tl3wiUEGjwfYoMg6A/s400/DSC00788.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 360px; width: 460px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">How cool is this organic wall?  A view from a Brazilian restaurant/pizzeria, one of the places I went Pizza hopping or I should say Pizza tasting, on my last night.  Yes, pizza hopping and one of the restaurants was a Brazilian Pizzeria?  Go figure.  Who goes pizza hopping in Munich as if you were in Naples? But I guess that after so many days of going around, there is nothing else left to see and get to a point when all the new, the excitement and the beauty of a foreign country is simply not home.  Therefore for me the best part of of traveling keeps being the same, "coming back home".  The joy in my son's laugh when he saw his Mommy, whom he had been separated from for the first time, was the best part of my trip.  There is no wonder in a foreign country that can match that.<br /><div style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">I hope you are enjoying your summer as well. </span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://bellevivir.blogspot.com.br/2010/10/while-in-turkey.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">While in Turkey: An Istanbul Guide </span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://bellevivir.blogspot.com.br/2012/04/international-boutique-hotel-29-house.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">The House Hotel in Istanbul </span></a></span></div></div></div></div></div>

Déjà Vu: A Munich Review

A beautiful view of The Siegestor in Munich The reason for my long and total absence conjures one full sentence "I've been biking in Munich." Literally. I've been biking up and down for days of sightseeing, eating, shopping, and mostly going into quite secluded neighborhoods and into small and "o…

09Aug2010

Mitchell & Stout on the North Shore

David Mitchell & Julie Stout's home on Auckland's North Shore is a complex beast, so let's take a slow tour of the exterior, courtesy of our photographer Patrick Reynolds. Here's a view of the house from the street, looking up at the top-floor terrace:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCvTyjx2tU85qUGh5ApyGcSgfCgAZ-O5CRLduqs_inUPKrStNeeGq8_yhRLyM6pV4nrgPqz_IMT0fOdjfAalEVORLkVNn9OKAwdGbqJ_9H5925xNR_18ZKWbB059XxlS4IiP2Em4XAFBa/s1600/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7548.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502154513102986322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCvTyjx2tU85qUGh5ApyGcSgfCgAZ-O5CRLduqs_inUPKrStNeeGq8_yhRLyM6pV4nrgPqz_IMT0fOdjfAalEVORLkVNn9OKAwdGbqJ_9H5925xNR_18ZKWbB059XxlS4IiP2Em4XAFBa/s400/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7548.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> This is a view of the main entrance, sheltered by a large polycarbonate sheet that sends rainwater into the half-pipe you can see in this shot. In rainstorms, the water rockets along it towards the tank:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohXpqdutOsMRS9LWmGk-ogcq25ugPKNmOhtBmz_Bb6Y7-71ZSl3LTDYtdNAzciNX2f-9mpLFEnNmYyM4eSGiAzyPrn3KmZS5h39kcwwV8ElFqBi0C07GiaIlE3C6PXqC0-ZsIhYyqQQpu/s1600/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7263.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502154508630892418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohXpqdutOsMRS9LWmGk-ogcq25ugPKNmOhtBmz_Bb6Y7-71ZSl3LTDYtdNAzciNX2f-9mpLFEnNmYyM4eSGiAzyPrn3KmZS5h39kcwwV8ElFqBi0C07GiaIlE3C6PXqC0-ZsIhYyqQQpu/s400/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7263.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> The polycarbonate sheet in the shot below serves the purpose of lending privacy to the kitchen, without diminishing the amount of light that gets in there. You can see the lower slopes of Rangitoto in the distance in this shot, as well as the home's 'moat' with water lilies. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYmI-9FOE4KhOvh899muC_mkL0TAY_HaPfUjEn5TFT8MnmksHswyulv1QE5g0org2FO0kqnh1fAN9Oz10x9thAT_ztkGq9n2bP66-iZ6sjJMZhT-Q5EWwWNOOmKJWkIgRYA64LaF30YuT/s1600/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7250.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502154498511163026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYmI-9FOE4KhOvh899muC_mkL0TAY_HaPfUjEn5TFT8MnmksHswyulv1QE5g0org2FO0kqnh1fAN9Oz10x9thAT_ztkGq9n2bP66-iZ6sjJMZhT-Q5EWwWNOOmKJWkIgRYA64LaF30YuT/s400/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7250.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />And here's another view of the 'moat', this time looking from between the house and the garden studio, which sits at a slightly offset angle to it. At some times of the day, the sunlight reflecting off the water creates a lovely quality of light inside the ground-floor flat occupied by Julie's mother.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5cpCdw3vOXL2z91MQJtoqDaGHIclIQRJ1PQrSpHP57zQA-5i-5Bt4CCj_IDF_rEEQp7X3DxOc05iblblaTyqsOqm-vLi66uXxqOhLcIIZmRmht96RMko6pMLLCp3-s87dAI4R7o-ozbX/s1600/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7614.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502154492838784098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5cpCdw3vOXL2z91MQJtoqDaGHIclIQRJ1PQrSpHP57zQA-5i-5Bt4CCj_IDF_rEEQp7X3DxOc05iblblaTyqsOqm-vLi66uXxqOhLcIIZmRmht96RMko6pMLLCp3-s87dAI4R7o-ozbX/s400/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7614.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>This view is of the ramp leading from the garden to what Julie and David call the 'back' door of the house, which opens into the kitchen and dining area.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingTp1Dx7VoY2JaPZ6l1GV6U0gsuJ9rSMUerXrWmU0rKyWTbtwY31dMzyvyo0r_e3pStlUIu4YYWrnXBzGIP0edOf884jyEaZAUjk7HPjZdPFFulZyjDB83y0eIJ_4vYgufemWb6YPns4Y/s1600/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7644.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502154485969841346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingTp1Dx7VoY2JaPZ6l1GV6U0gsuJ9rSMUerXrWmU0rKyWTbtwY31dMzyvyo0r_e3pStlUIu4YYWrnXBzGIP0edOf884jyEaZAUjk7HPjZdPFFulZyjDB83y0eIJ_4vYgufemWb6YPns4Y/s400/NARROW+NECK+HSE_7644.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div></div></div></div><br /><p>Come back and visit the blog next week and we'll take you for a few more photo tours, including David and Julie's garden studio, and some of the other Home of the Year houses. </p>

Mitchell & Stout on the North Shore

05Aug2010

More shots of our winning house

One of the best things about having a blog is that we can show images here that we weren't able to shoehorn into the magazine. So here are some more views of our Home of the Year 2010 by Stevens Lawson Architects, a beautiful house in a beautiful landscape. All the photos are by Mark Smith. This one shows the view south over the house to Lake Wanaka.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BfB6S2s6v95sMFTtP5Gw0Gz9Lu4vIvOas-8pNbrAy5YtE_Wxk9QLt56B-z4BCXbnu-fGZkH-ymUc72xytJdSeLYaeIltKmUZjX1adslRQJCKqacW9g1n2Nbt-166ryT4UJhdBstyF5hn/s1600/View+of+lake+and+eastern+facade.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501786637707158834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BfB6S2s6v95sMFTtP5Gw0Gz9Lu4vIvOas-8pNbrAy5YtE_Wxk9QLt56B-z4BCXbnu-fGZkH-ymUc72xytJdSeLYaeIltKmUZjX1adslRQJCKqacW9g1n2Nbt-166ryT4UJhdBstyF5hn/s400/View+of+lake+and+eastern+facade.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>And this one looks over the house to the west, with the Treble Cone skifield just out of frame.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyWwDvXXZyZUMEoTL_Z_NR-EYxauI3SVPMrbXFopnpUP8IFyEQr0CHMI5yyT-6hmkoL5ymWdFsz8XvnDbCzBnlbOSvWp6bkJI-0iw2dBdBmrNazumcZDUIxDh_OajQVKV6gJVCplFUsxp/s1600/Ext+with+mountains.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501786641444871442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyWwDvXXZyZUMEoTL_Z_NR-EYxauI3SVPMrbXFopnpUP8IFyEQr0CHMI5yyT-6hmkoL5ymWdFsz8XvnDbCzBnlbOSvWp6bkJI-0iw2dBdBmrNazumcZDUIxDh_OajQVKV6gJVCplFUsxp/s400/Ext+with+mountains.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Here's a night view of the home's western elevation, with the kitchen space opening onto a courtyard. The room at the left of the picture is the main bedroom. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg640T_l_LabFJ1O7qQN6vW9_HhOAXilLhKNz-7t-GssYivu-93iFk26Ap0qQ71KY_xWYmeED26EgOBa3CqjBNAnXyQrqeS5rOitdqLo2HBUa9rdBhtd8nfYhVYn5adLO5nCWIuDXy8BXDR/s1600/Eastern+elevation+at+night.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501786625131334338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg640T_l_LabFJ1O7qQN6vW9_HhOAXilLhKNz-7t-GssYivu-93iFk26Ap0qQ71KY_xWYmeED26EgOBa3CqjBNAnXyQrqeS5rOitdqLo2HBUa9rdBhtd8nfYhVYn5adLO5nCWIuDXy8BXDR/s400/Eastern+elevation+at+night.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>And here's a view southwest over the lake, which clearly shows the way the architects designed the home's cedar skin to wrap the walls and the roof. (For those of you wondering how a wooden roof works, it conceals a waterproof membrane underneath it, and is constructed in removable panels to allow easy maintenance of the membrane if necessary).  </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuVkXTxG44GQ31IhCn9MUr1QUW6F4OAia2O0G6bHVr3_xM_DuaIEorY5DYngaXp1CHBVuDhXFUOvjif1_zkrpnX8buqkm6Yytdr5suwmP3FxIKeI6fqJe3HXHNkE2Az-iyx3-Z33tebbZ/s1600/Big+view+over+roof+to+lake.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501784163479755170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuVkXTxG44GQ31IhCn9MUr1QUW6F4OAia2O0G6bHVr3_xM_DuaIEorY5DYngaXp1CHBVuDhXFUOvjif1_zkrpnX8buqkm6Yytdr5suwmP3FxIKeI6fqJe3HXHNkE2Az-iyx3-Z33tebbZ/s400/Big+view+over+roof+to+lake.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div></div></div><br /><p>We'll post more outtakes of the other Home of the Year finalists over the next few weeks. </p>

More shots of our winning house

04Aug2010

Exquisite

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6az2E6O6zpD-lZaTghtsta9JnrrD3h6v6qYaMV6cG94qA_GidcOwrGdTBD4B7_Q2Ro-AITHLmKx2hPi1mSqp1o7gGLETAwZVIL62MB4vqw_oG9TrN5XapfiHsW6DqAMy0DcLVXhR9KI/s1600/tumblr_l4ytgfrdD81qzwhhno1_500.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501176723776335538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6az2E6O6zpD-lZaTghtsta9JnrrD3h6v6qYaMV6cG94qA_GidcOwrGdTBD4B7_Q2Ro-AITHLmKx2hPi1mSqp1o7gGLETAwZVIL62MB4vqw_oG9TrN5XapfiHsW6DqAMy0DcLVXhR9KI/s400/tumblr_l4ytgfrdD81qzwhhno1_500.png" style="height: 290px; width: 460px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFZQNAnwDs2yx9QN6JQmUh16vNMu11TbGWNrX0QkV7zFSXmqXv1j_DNTzH6pmlavVSy1sv1Lklpw5zXS0_Hk41em2CulU9mCPJvU9aa0PMhNJDyuJ6cz-_epO5DKVXiJAS5QgLCOTAvw/s1600/4751235307_fa060b79ae_o.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501169777760247394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFZQNAnwDs2yx9QN6JQmUh16vNMu11TbGWNrX0QkV7zFSXmqXv1j_DNTzH6pmlavVSy1sv1Lklpw5zXS0_Hk41em2CulU9mCPJvU9aa0PMhNJDyuJ6cz-_epO5DKVXiJAS5QgLCOTAvw/s400/4751235307_fa060b79ae_o.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 593px; width: 466px;" /></a></div>After being far away from home for the past week (somewhere in Europe) I surprise myself at the idea of sometimes doing nothing is all I need.  I'll be posting a little bit about my trip in the nearest future.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 78%;">Top image from tumblr, bottom Allesandra Branca via House Beautiful. </span></div>

Exquisite

After being far away from home for the past week (somewhere in Europe) I surprise myself at the idea of sometimes doing nothing is all I need. I'll be posting a little bit about my trip in the nearest future.Top image from tumblr, bottom Allesandra Branca via House Beautiful. …