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May 16, 2013
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1. DEADLINE: Due Tomorrow > Houses for All Regions Book
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Ann Harris
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May 07, 2013
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2. RE:Client Perspective
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Donald Duffy, AIA
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May 06, 2013
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3. RE:Client Perspective
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Lee Calisti, AIA
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4. RE:Client Perspective
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Michael Malinowski, AIA
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May 03, 2013
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5. RE:Client Perspective
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Eric Rawlings, AIA
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6. RE:Client Perspective
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Craig Hess, AIA
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7. RE:Client Perspective
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Michael Kephart, AIA
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May 02, 2013
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8. RE:Client Perspective
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Lee Calisti, AIA
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9. RE:Client Perspective
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Craig Isaac, AIA
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May 01, 2013
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10. RE:Client Perspective
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Ms. Cinda Lester, AIA
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Housing Knowledge Community and Custom Residential Architects Network . ------------------------------------------- Deadline Extended: Call for Entries Due May 17, 2013
The AIA/CRAN together with The Images Publishing Group announce the forthcoming publication Houses for All Regions: CRAN Residential Collection and invite your firm to submit a project for inclusion in this high profile title. Projects will be grouped into climate zones: Arid/Semi-arid, Temperate, Tropical/Sub-tropical, Arctic/Cold-climate, with an introductory essay written by an expert in the field for each section. This is an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your firm and your recent projects.
------------------------------------------- Ann Harris The American Institute of Architects Washington DC -------------------------------------------
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You are so right, we have being doing 65% of our work on the remodeling side of residential. From $50k to $1.4mil. and many small jobs like cabinets, built ins, out door spaces, porches. What ever the need is. It is a huge market. The rub is your work has to be fast and efficient to meet hourly rates. So pull out the 1000 H paper, f lead, pointer, electric eraser, eraser shield and make smoke. ------------------------------------------- Donald Duffy AIA Don Duffy Architecture Charlotte NC -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-06-2013 14:44
From: Michael Malinowski
Subject: Client Perspective
Lee: I agree with your perspective, having worked over the last three decades on many hundreds of the classic older homes in Sacramento built in the 1920's and 1930's. I adapt them to the needs of modern families, while keeping the final result in harmony with the context that shapes our great and most desireable neighborhood. Clients seek me out, in large part because my work in these neighborhoods fits so well as to be invisible. The character of what constitutes good design is far broader than the homes featured in most design award programs, in my humble opinion.
Good design can be quiet, unassuming and fit in so well with a valued and cherised setting that it becomes an integral part of the streetscape - even though the scope might be to change a house from one story to two story, or double it's size. It's a hat trick of a different sort, which has provided an unending stream of opportunity for me, that has led also to new, contemporary homes of the more expected 'architectural design' motifs.
Interestingly I have over the years gotten many referrals from other architects, who would prefer to have their neighbors homes changed with sensitive consideration for the character of the community in which they chose for their own home.
Cheers
-------------------------------------------
Michael Malinowski AIA
AIA Director - California Region
Applied Architecture, Inc.
Sacramento CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2013 18:50
From: Lee Calisti
Subject: Client Perspective
There is a somewhat parallel discussion going on in the SPP Knowledge Community. A point that is rarely made with respect to residential clients and residential project opportunities is doing work for people who want a renovation, addition or some design to an EXISTING structure. This whole discussion of architects doing new construction is more irrelevant than the wealth of opportunities to address this market. Sean is starting to hit on it as is Eric, but where are the others?
I'm not looking for 100% agreement with respect to full services or limited services or whatever. That's your choice. However, why is there rarely a discussion about existing structures? How many people will build a new house? A super small percentage. However, everybody else lives in an existing house that needs some change.
There is far more drama in changing an existing structure and people are far more impressed when we pull it off.
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Lee Calisti AIA
Principal
lee CALISTI architecture+design
Greensburg PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2013 17:30
From: Sean Catherall
Subject: Client Perspective
We choose not to come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design. We can choose something else.
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Sean Catherall AIA
Herriman UT
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
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Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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I agree with Eric's comments. Well said. To add to this, remember when we do great work for the end user, they have a circle of friends that will hopefully need our services. It takes some time to nurture that, but after 10 years on my own, it's starting to happen. ------------------------------------------- Lee Calisti AIA Principal lee CALISTI architecture+design Greensburg PA -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-03-2013 23:08
From: Eric Rawlings
Subject: Client Perspective
Many urban planners and sustainability theorists have been saying the suburbs and exurbs will become the slums as people are returning to the cities. Atlanta is the poster child of white flight and urban sprawl. We have been the heavy weight champion of the longest commute time in the US for many years. The housing crash had a much more devastating effect on suburb/ exurb property values, as the majority of foreclosures happened out there, not in the inner city. People are sick of the 3 hour commutes and unstable property values, so they're moving back to the city.
Like most cities, Atlanta has a huge stock of in town neighborhoods that are anywhere from 50-100 years old with a lot of tired old houses. Many of these structures have serious problems from structural damage due to age, termites, rot, and hidden fire damage to dated layouts that can't accommodate the needs of today. Residential designers lack the creativity and structural knowledge to get the most out of these old houses. Although there are many builders who simply knock down these old homes indiscriminately to build new, there are many who like renovating at spec or by commission of a homeowner. There are many opportunities for Architects in the inner city areas across the country to apply their knowledge and creativity to solving the problem of breathing new life into these old neighborhoods.
The builders and homeowners I work with always look at Renovating first, Repurposing next (saving most of the foundation and floor system+50% of the walls while completely changing the old house), and lastly, when the old building is "totaled", we Replace and build new. The 3 R's of in town construction. 90% of my work comes either directly or indirectly through builders and real estate agents. I highly recommend finding a quality home renovator in an inner city area near you. If you can find an area with a good school district, you will find good renovators. They will bring you the work! Trust me, there are many quality builders that need a creative, knowledgeable Architect to come up with designs to renovate these old houses either at spec or for a homeowner. If you can give them the designs that sell well, you will be golden. This is a design problem like any other and if your designs sell faster and for more, you will be deemed valuable, literally, not figuratively. Aesthetic value and sentimental value are nice, but if we want to be in demand, we need to prove that we can provide real dollar value to the builders. We can end the stereotype we've created that Architects over design houses and make the construction cost higher than what the house can sell for. When you renovate, each house is a new problem. You can't cookie cut this type of housing design. There's no internet catalog to browse. This is one area where we are needed! What are you waiting for? Renovate houses!
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Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2013 18:50
From: Lee Calisti
Subject: Client Perspective
There is a somewhat parallel discussion going on in the SPP Knowledge Community. A point that is rarely made with respect to residential clients and residential project opportunities is doing work for people who want a renovation, addition or some design to an EXISTING structure. This whole discussion of architects doing new construction is more irrelevant than the wealth of opportunities to address this market. Sean is starting to hit on it as is Eric, but where are the others?
I'm not looking for 100% agreement with respect to full services or limited services or whatever. That's your choice. However, why is there rarely a discussion about existing structures? How many people will build a new house? A super small percentage. However, everybody else lives in an existing house that needs some change.
There is far more drama in changing an existing structure and people are far more impressed when we pull it off.
-------------------------------------------
Lee Calisti AIA
Principal
lee CALISTI architecture+design
Greensburg PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2013 17:30
From: Sean Catherall
Subject: Client Perspective
We choose not to come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design. We can choose something else.
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Sean Catherall AIA
Herriman UT
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
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Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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Lee: I agree with your perspective, having worked over the last three decades on many hundreds of the classic older homes in Sacramento built in the 1920's and 1930's. I adapt them to the needs of modern families, while keeping the final result in harmony with the context that shapes our great and most desireable neighborhood. Clients seek me out, in large part because my work in these neighborhoods fits so well as to be invisible. The character of what constitutes good design is far broader than the homes featured in most design award programs, in my humble opinion. Good design can be quiet, unassuming and fit in so well with a valued and cherised setting that it becomes an integral part of the streetscape - even though the scope might be to change a house from one story to two story, or double it's size. It's a hat trick of a different sort, which has provided an unending stream of opportunity for me, that has led also to new, contemporary homes of the more expected 'architectural design' motifs. Interestingly I have over the years gotten many referrals from other architects, who would prefer to have their neighbors homes changed with sensitive consideration for the character of the community in which they chose for their own home. Cheers ------------------------------------------- Michael Malinowski AIA AIA Director - California Region Applied Architecture, Inc. Sacramento CA -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2013 18:50
From: Lee Calisti
Subject: Client Perspective
There is a somewhat parallel discussion going on in the SPP Knowledge Community. A point that is rarely made with respect to residential clients and residential project opportunities is doing work for people who want a renovation, addition or some design to an EXISTING structure. This whole discussion of architects doing new construction is more irrelevant than the wealth of opportunities to address this market. Sean is starting to hit on it as is Eric, but where are the others?
I'm not looking for 100% agreement with respect to full services or limited services or whatever. That's your choice. However, why is there rarely a discussion about existing structures? How many people will build a new house? A super small percentage. However, everybody else lives in an existing house that needs some change.
There is far more drama in changing an existing structure and people are far more impressed when we pull it off.
-------------------------------------------
Lee Calisti AIA
Principal
lee CALISTI architecture+design
Greensburg PA
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2013 17:30
From: Sean Catherall
Subject: Client Perspective
We choose not to come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design. We can choose something else.
-------------------------------------------
Sean Catherall AIA
Herriman UT
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
-------------------------------------------
Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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Many urban planners and sustainability theorists have been saying the suburbs and exurbs will become the slums as people are returning to the cities. Atlanta is the poster child of white flight and urban sprawl. We have been the heavy weight champion of the longest commute time in the US for many years. The housing crash had a much more devastating effect on suburb/ exurb property values, as the majority of foreclosures happened out there, not in the inner city. People are sick of the 3 hour commutes and unstable property values, so they're moving back to the city. Like most cities, Atlanta has a huge stock of in town neighborhoods that are anywhere from 50-100 years old with a lot of tired old houses. Many of these structures have serious problems from structural damage due to age, termites, rot, and hidden fire damage to dated layouts that can't accommodate the needs of today. Residential designers lack the creativity and structural knowledge to get the most out of these old houses. Although there are many builders who simply knock down these old homes indiscriminately to build new, there are many who like renovating at spec or by commission of a homeowner. There are many opportunities for Architects in the inner city areas across the country to apply their knowledge and creativity to solving the problem of breathing new life into these old neighborhoods. The builders and homeowners I work with always look at Renovating first, Repurposing next (saving most of the foundation and floor system+50% of the walls while completely changing the old house), and lastly, when the old building is "totaled", we Replace and build new. The 3 R's of in town construction. 90% of my work comes either directly or indirectly through builders and real estate agents. I highly recommend finding a quality home renovator in an inner city area near you. If you can find an area with a good school district, you will find good renovators. They will bring you the work! Trust me, there are many quality builders that need a creative, knowledgeable Architect to come up with designs to renovate these old houses either at spec or for a homeowner. If you can give them the designs that sell well, you will be golden. This is a design problem like any other and if your designs sell faster and for more, you will be deemed valuable, literally, not figuratively. Aesthetic value and sentimental value are nice, but if we want to be in demand, we need to prove that we can provide real dollar value to the builders. We can end the stereotype we've created that Architects over design houses and make the construction cost higher than what the house can sell for. When you renovate, each house is a new problem. You can't cookie cut this type of housing design. There's no internet catalog to browse. This is one area where we are needed! What are you waiting for? Renovate houses! ------------------------------------------- Eric Rawlings AIA Owner Rawlings Design, Inc. Decatur GA -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2013 18:50
From: Lee Calisti
Subject: Client Perspective
There is a somewhat parallel discussion going on in the SPP Knowledge Community. A point that is rarely made with respect to residential clients and residential project opportunities is doing work for people who want a renovation, addition or some design to an EXISTING structure. This whole discussion of architects doing new construction is more irrelevant than the wealth of opportunities to address this market. Sean is starting to hit on it as is Eric, but where are the others?
I'm not looking for 100% agreement with respect to full services or limited services or whatever. That's your choice. However, why is there rarely a discussion about existing structures? How many people will build a new house? A super small percentage. However, everybody else lives in an existing house that needs some change.
There is far more drama in changing an existing structure and people are far more impressed when we pull it off.
-------------------------------------------
Lee Calisti AIA
Principal
lee CALISTI architecture+design
Greensburg PA
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2013 17:30
From: Sean Catherall
Subject: Client Perspective
We choose not to come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design. We can choose something else.
-------------------------------------------
Sean Catherall AIA
Herriman UT
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
-------------------------------------------
Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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It has been interesting reading this discussion, but one point that everyone seems to miss is that there are 2 significant components to residential design: single family residential design and multi-family residential design. For those of you providing single family residential design, I cannot imagine you providing your service without meeting your clients who are the end-users. However, for those of us providing multi-family residential design our clients are dominately private developers, and we seldom have opportunity to meet with the end-users of our projects. We often participate in neighborhood meetings, but again these are seldom with the end-users that end up in our projects (i.e. they are more oftent the nay-sayers that say "not in my backyard"). ------------------------------------------- Craig Hess AIA Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Inc. Maplewood MN -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2013 17:41
From: Craig Isaac
Subject: Client Perspective
I have the exact experiences as Cinda
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Craig Isaac AIA
Architect
Craig W. Isaac Architecture
Charlotte NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2013 21:41
From: Cinda Lester
Subject: Client Perspective
I've been in business on my own, focusing on primarily single family residential, and I've never once been hired by a developer. Not that there's anything wrong with working for a developer, but one of the things I most enjoy about my job is getting to know the families who hire me (many of whom are now good friends), and figuring out how they live in their homes, and what they really need. What some other not-as-of-yet-known family might want, according to developers, doesn't really matter. I work for people and families - EXACTLY the end users of the spaces I design. I wouldn't have it any other way.
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Cinda Lester AIA
Owner
12/12 Architects & Planners
Downers Grove IL
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-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
-------------------------------------------
Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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The responses to my original message were all interesting, especially since they were all in opposition to the idea of design without the intimate involvement of the user. I would say that everyone of us that designs a home does so for someone that we never meet. I met someone yesterday that lives in a home I designed over 35 years ago. I don't know how many others have lived there but using the average re-location rate of 5 to 7 years at least 5 families that I do not know have enjoyed the product of my work. I contend that it's the same with a good developer who does the research and stays up with the times. ------------------------------------------- Michael Kephart AIA Principal Kephart Living Denver CO -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2013 17:30
From: Sean Catherall
Subject: Client Perspective
We choose not to come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design. We can choose something else.
-------------------------------------------
Sean Catherall AIA
Herriman UT
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
-------------------------------------------
Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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There is a somewhat parallel discussion going on in the SPP Knowledge Community. A point that is rarely made with respect to residential clients and residential project opportunities is doing work for people who want a renovation, addition or some design to an EXISTING structure. This whole discussion of architects doing new construction is more irrelevant than the wealth of opportunities to address this market. Sean is starting to hit on it as is Eric, but where are the others? I'm not looking for 100% agreement with respect to full services or limited services or whatever. That's your choice. However, why is there rarely a discussion about existing structures? How many people will build a new house? A super small percentage. However, everybody else lives in an existing house that needs some change. There is far more drama in changing an existing structure and people are far more impressed when we pull it off. ------------------------------------------- Lee Calisti AIA Principal lee CALISTI architecture+design Greensburg PA -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2013 17:30
From: Sean Catherall
Subject: Client Perspective
We choose not to come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design. We can choose something else.
-------------------------------------------
Sean Catherall AIA
Herriman UT
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
-------------------------------------------
Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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I have the exact experiences as Cinda ------------------------------------------- Craig Isaac AIA Architect Craig W. Isaac Architecture Charlotte NC -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2013 21:41
From: Cinda Lester
Subject: Client Perspective
I've been in business on my own, focusing on primarily single family residential, and I've never once been hired by a developer. Not that there's anything wrong with working for a developer, but one of the things I most enjoy about my job is getting to know the families who hire me (many of whom are now good friends), and figuring out how they live in their homes, and what they really need. What some other not-as-of-yet-known family might want, according to developers, doesn't really matter. I work for people and families - EXACTLY the end users of the spaces I design. I wouldn't have it any other way.
-------------------------------------------
Cinda Lester AIA
Owner
12/12 Architects & Planners
Downers Grove IL
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
-------------------------------------------
Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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I've been in business on my own, focusing on primarily single family residential, and I've never once been hired by a developer. Not that there's anything wrong with working for a developer, but one of the things I most enjoy about my job is getting to know the families who hire me (many of whom are now good friends), and figuring out how they live in their homes, and what they really need. What some other not-as-of-yet-known family might want, according to developers, doesn't really matter. I work for people and families - EXACTLY the end users of the spaces I design. I wouldn't have it any other way. ------------------------------------------- Cinda Lester AIA Owner 12/12 Architects & Planners Downers Grove IL -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2013 10:45
From: Michael Kephart
Subject: Client Perspective
-------------------------------------------
Michael Kephart AIA
Principal
Kephart Living
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------The discussions around the architect's vs. the client's perspective are all valuable, however most people must buy or rent whatever is available in their price range in their area of choice. The "client" is usually a developer and both the architect and the developer must design the living spaces based on past experiences or recent surveys. We get close for many people but the others must either remodel or select from the available choices. We never come face to face with the people who actually reside in the homes we design.
Mike Kephart AIA Denver
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