I think a Ferrari is a well designed car and can be recognized as such. However, they still put their logo on it as a branding opportunity.
That being said and in support of the great ideas presented here, I would think that your idea of getting the info into the Realtors info listing is important as well.
Coke has a website, but they still put their logo on every beverage container and pay for the product to be used in movies and every other opportunity they can dream up.
Sure, homeowners could remove a plaque, but I don't think they would necessarily do that with a plaque designating their home as a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home. I'm not FLW, but I'm proud of the thought and care I put every building design I do and some website where those issues are outlined I think would be of interest to a house buyer/resident, to say nothing of the fodder it could become for the Realtor selling and reselling the house. Something beyond just the amenties list as well as practical user manuals, dates of equipment installations, etc. that homeowners have to sign off on when selling a house. Information that would be critical to buyers evaluating and comparing to other buildings that don't have an identified information database. "Show me the HouseFacts!" (and the owner's manuals)
I would be very interested in what ideas FLW put into every one of his designs. I don't think we should be mute about ours, given the opportunity to be informative. When I give tours of my designs; people are very interested in my rationale and thank me for taking the time to explain where the design came from and, I think, it broadens their appreciation for not only my designs but also the building profession as well. I am proud of my being able to deliver a thoughtful, practical building for any budget whether a kitchen remodelling or a skyscaper or a bookcase millwork project. I think design/build contractors would appreciate the opportunity to reveal their solutions in building as well as the design( and getting them to help fund the effort seems a natural extension of a collaborative team approach). We all want our names associated with a successful project as often as possible) I know I take a lot of time making sure the construction follows the design intent and greatly appreciate and respect the artisans who put my designs into actuality.
As I step down off the soap box, let me add my appreciation to those others expressing what a great forum this is.
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Peter Brinckerhoff AIA, LEED AP
President
Brinckerhoff and Associates LLC
Glenview IL
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-12-2012 09:17
From: Eric Rawlings
Subject: CRAN Plaque
I think the plaque is a great idea, but what are we really trying to get out of this? Are we trying to make sure people recognize these houses as higher quality designs because they have a plaque or isn't this already obvious? Like most houses designed by Architects, mine definitely stand out in a crowd of lousy, not well thought out, amateurish boxes. A plaque would help the passerby to immediately see it was different than the rest, but it has to be seen. If this is the case, then it is something that could be removed in the future by an unsuspecting future homeowner who simply doesn't care.
If we want a building to be identified by as ours by people who shop for houses, then we need to petition MLS and FMLS Realtor database websites to show this info. These sites are the primary means used by agents to advertise and find houses for sale. Buyers and Agents could do searches based on the Architect. We could track our sales data, crack down on Designers calling themselves Architects, and for the first time Appraisers would have a database that shows how well our houses sell compared to the "others". As it stands now, no one knows which houses resonate with the public in terms of sales because no one is tracking this info. Nowhere in the Uniform Standards for Professional Appraisal Practice "Bible" nor in any of the course books I've read on Appraisals do they mention the importance of who is designing and building houses they value. This info is completely ignored. In every marketplace in the world, the manufacturer who makes the products is the most important piece of info when determining the value of their next product. You don't value the next BMW based on how the Honda and Ford just sold. If the same database the Appraisers already use to dig up info on houses they value had a trackable means to determine the sales history of Architects, Designers, and Builders, then there would be an argument for using a consistent sales history as part of the means to determine value over simply averaging a bunch of "comparable" houses built and designed by companies of different quality, business models, and end results.
Lastly, when we talk about houses not coming out exactly like we drew them, this happens more and more as you work with people of less and less means. Often we place more importance on design expression than practical, constructible solutions because wealthy owners can afford 90% pretty, 10% practicality. If we are to provide services to a variety of people at different income levels, we can't expect everyone to bend their needs and means to our business models designed for people of the highest means. We need to adjust our business models to their needs which may not include CA and may require us to understand who we're designing for and give them appropriate solutions that will be built correctly. When part of the point is creating something similar to an "owner's manual" that lives somewhere with the house, like in an electrical panel, I think of all the houses I've renovated that may only be 30-40 years old that have had major overhauls. Electrical panels, HVAC equipment, and any other location is never a safe place. Nowhere is safe! As we continue to advance building science, we will be replacing these items at an even quicker pace. I renovated a house that had a relatively recent 100amp panel that was upgraded to 200amps and I doubt these subs would take the care to make sure an "owner's manual" didn't end up in the trash. I just don't see how an "owner's manual" can be safe anywhere.
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Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2012 13:15
From: David Andreozzi
Subject: CRAN Plaque
At our semimonthly CRAN meeting today we approved that we develop this concept for proposal to AIA National. I will update you with information as it develops.
Dave
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David Andreozzi AIA
Owner
Andreozzi Architects
Barrington RI
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2012 13:10
From: Debra Coleman
Subject: CRAN Plaque
Like Gordon, I am a bit concerned abut the limited service projects too and inability to have a lot of final information. I think that the system needs to be flexible enough to allow only the name of the architect all the way through operational manuals with the name of every sub and supplier/material. Perhaps a section on the services that the CLIENT chose could be listed so that those who looked at the information on line would not interpret it to be a less inferior architect or design. We don't want to make the required information to be so burdensome that no one follows through. A disclaimer that CA and/or as-builts were not provided would seem appropriate.
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Debra Rucker Coleman, AIA
Architect
Sun Plans Inc.
Mobile, AL
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2012 14:18
From: A. Atkinson
Subject: CRAN Plaque
I think this is a great idea. One problem I foresee is that of Contract Administration. Oftentimes my clients decide not to have me provide CA for my projects (to save money, of course) and end up with a building that isn't built exactly as shown on the plans for one reason or another. Somehow we would have to insure that the documents on record with the house reflect reality. One way would be to add language in the contract between Owner and Contractor requiring that the Architect conduct construction observation and certify that the building conforms to the drawings.
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A. Atkinson
A. Gordon Atkinson, Architect
San Francisco CA
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