Most of my professional interactions these days consist in the form of emails and conference calls. So when I found out the A Better World by Design was going to practically be in my backyard, I jumped at the chance to meet and speak with like-minded people in the flesh. I also volunteered to take photos for the event as I've learned after many conferences under my belt, this behind the scenes access provides more interactions with the participants and speakers. (Plus, it's way more fun than sitting the whole time!) In summary, the A Better World conference aims to connect...
Read MoreThis has been quite a year for me... I got married, graduated with my masters, and will soon turn... drum roll, please... 30!! (yikes. that's the first time I've typed it out) And with each milestone is another reason to celebrate! Culturally, we commemorate these milestones for others with thoughtful gifts, written cards or our most favorite, money. If you know me at all, you know I'm horrible at them all. I'm just not a good giver or receiver of gifts. Ironically enough, I married one as well, in fact the only tangible gifts we've ever exchanged are our wedding...
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It's been ten years since we began our architecture education in Manhattan, Kansas but I still call these friends some of my favorites. When it came time to leave, we had our pick then of jobs and the possibilities of our dreams were limitless. We scattered to different corners of the world... each one of us taking our own unique approach to our trade. We've gone to far off lands and stayed to explore known places; we've ended jobs and begun new chapters in our education. In the course of these years, we've gathered others along with us in the journey....
Read Morei visited the Cathedral of Christ the Light (click on photos in the gallery on the left of the page) a few weeks back to hear the architect from SOM tell about the project. it's the first time i've gone to a lecture about a building in the building and it really got me thinking about what a different experience that was. rather than show photos of the 4 stories of wooden slats, he just pointed to them. when he spoke of the white light panels at the entrance and the ceiling, we turned around to see them. and when...
Read More’so, what do you do here in the city?’ i get this question a lot. it’s the natural result of being a new person… i get asked the most basic of questions over and over again. and the benefit of the exercise is i’ve had countless opportunities to practice my response. the ironic thing, i still cannot figure out how to answer. ‘well,’ i hesitatingly begin, ‘i’m an architect by education,’ immediate eye brow raise and two points for me. yes, it is the perk of being a student of architecture… i’m automatically assumed to have a high income, high profile, and high intelligence. i’ll...
Read Morecross it off of my list of things to do in life. been there, done that; i’ve seen the taj mahal. what did i think? you may ask. overrated. i would reply. i know that sounds arrogant, it’s one of the world’s seven wonders. yes, it’s beautiful. it’s a brilliant white marble tomb. the finest example of mughal architecture, combining elements of persian, turkish, indian, and islamic architctural styles. it’s carefully crafted details, standing majestically in front of the blue sky. but still overrated. one of the earth’s modern wonders? come on now. maybe i was tainted by the city of agra… 45% of the city involved in tourism. money can corrupt a...
Read Morebecause i never told you why… i’ll never forget that first day of design studio. ‘what is architecture? what is space? why have you entered this profession?‘ the question seemed easy…but i was at a loss. every answer i could come up with didn’t seem enough. i knew there was more than i understood. i was at the beginning of something. everything i thought about architecture was thrown out the window that day. whatever i knew it entailed or believed it to be needed to be tested, processed, redefined… i had to choose for myself what i believed architecture to be and role...
Read Morethe clear, logical development of a work of architecture depends on rational and objective criteria. when i permit subjective and unconsidered ideas to intervene in the objective course of the design process, i acknowledge the significance of personal feelings in my work. when architects talk about their buildings, what they say is often at odds with the statements of the buildings themselves. this probably connected with the fact that they tend to talk a good deal about the rational, thought-out aspects of their work and less about the secret passion that inspires it. the design process is based on a constant interplay...
Read Morei'll never forget that first day of studio. 'what is architecture? what is space? why have you entered this profession?' the question seemed easy enough...but i was at a loss. every answer i could come up with didn't seem enough. i knew there was more than i understood. i was at the beginning of something. everything i thought about architecture was thrown out the window that day. whatever i knew it entailed or believed it to be needed to be tested, processed, redefined... i had to choose for myself what i believed architecture to be and role i would play in it. five...
Read Moreit was one of those weeks full of extremes, the really good and the really bad, the hot and the cold. nothing luke warm. i think subconsciously, i tried to relive final's week in the real world. it was horrible. okay, not horrible, but by far the most work-induced-stress-related week yet...a whole 65 hours of it. and i got to thinking, half of my waking hours are spent "on the clock" and i have but one post devoted to such happenings. ta da...no. 2. aside from last week, i can boldly state, i love my job. i wouldn't go as far...
Read More0600 left home 0930 meeting 1100 meeting 1500 meeting 1600 meeting missed because 1500 meeting ran over 1711 left office to save sanity. ran on eliptical. 1806 bean burrito at taco bell [hold the onions please] 1838 back to work 2153 still working.... 2246 fatal autocad error. explicit uttered. file recovered. 2307 left for home remind me why i became an architect. remind me why i belong in this profession. remind me why, for some sick reason, i love this. [note to self: things still take 3 times longer than you think they will even though you've graduated. you may think you're smarter, but you actually have to finish projects now.]
it was final project week. i had left at 3am to rest my mind and my body before returning 6am. i liked coming in at this time because all of my classmates were leaving in order to avoid the 7am parking tickets. the lights were off, the room was still, i was in flow. instant messenger was my tunnel to the outside world during final projects; the only way i interacted with people outside of seaton. however, this may morning, it became my poison, as it carried to me the one thing that had the capability to bring down an...
Read Moretomorrow i leave for my first professional trip. [the last statement does not posses the excitement i feel as i write it] at the beginning of june, i wrote an essay in regards to my feelings on internship. you see, technically, i am not yet an architect. i am an intern architect. i cannot practice as an "architect" until i become licensed as one, which requires me to first go through idp and then pass 9 architect registration exam. for those readers who have not been infected by the world of architecture, idp [intern development program] is the 2 year minimum time...
Read Morelife is full of mile markers, things we use to catalog our lives. my parents fondly remember my first smile and my first memory was of pain as i fell from my crib. i remember carefully picking out my outfit for kindergarten and hearing the word sex for the first time, wondering why my teacher wouldn't let us talk about it. i stopped sucking my thumb immediately after i was made fun of on the bus by a high schooler and i remember when i broke 100 lb in fifth grade. the moment i accept Christ as my savior is...
Read More“The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do. We impoverish and weaken His ministry in us the moment we forget He is almighty.” - My Utmost for His Highest Today, I saw my first real castle. It was just as I imagined it to be; on the top of a green hill, made of stone, and a tower soaring above…it was so cool! We saw the torture chamber and the torture devices…not so cool for them. I just can’t believe I am...
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