For hundreds of years the main street was the center of every town's activity. It was a place where people lived, worked, shopped and conducted business. The typical development pattern included multi-story buildings with residential units on upper levels and commercial spaces on the main floor. People lived close to where they worked. A butcher, a baker, a doctor, and a merchant lived upstairs from their shop and their customers were their neighbors. The street was the center of vibrant activity. People walked and socialized, children played and the community life flourished.
The last half of the century changed the way we live. The industrial age brought with it the separation of life and work. Residential subdivisions become separated from the workplace and entertainment and social life was "zoned" elsewhere. At the same time the popularity and increased affordability of a private car made it possible to drive everywhere. The lack of investments, and in particular, the dismantling of the public transit systems, soon turned a car into a necessity.
The development patterns had to change to accommodate our car-centered lifestyle. And with that the main street had to transform. The historic streets that catered to pedestrians had to follow the car-oriented development patterns. Streets got widened and the sidewalks narrowed, trees cut down to make room for additional lanes of traffic. Multistory mixed use dense development gave way to drive-thru restaurants, banks, pharmacies. Large parking lots in front of the buildings and billboards took over our urban landscape.
The historic main street transformed beyond recognition in last 65 years but current discussions about sustainability and the energy crisis leads us to the need to reduce our dependency on driving and restoring the concept of the main street. Zoning codes are changing to make mixed-use, high-density developments possible again. And communities all over the country demand more walkable neighborhoods.
People want to bring back the pedestrian-oriented development to their communities. They want to be able to walk to a coffee shop to meet with their neighbors and would like to be able to buy milk and organic groceries in their corner store. In my own 'back yard' volunteers discuss streetscape amenities and apply for grants to promote wellness through increased safety and improved pedestrian environment on Federal Blvd.
As our country emerges from The Great Recession the construction industry will have to adapt to new market demands. One by one drive-thru's will transform into storefronts filled with locally owned restaurants, coffee shops and retail. Mixed-income housing on the levels above will provide customers to those businesses. As an architect I see tremendous opportunities as well as responsibilities for our profession. Architects will have an obligation to serve their communities by providing "People Oriented Development" advocacy and design. This may mean that we will have to come out from behind our desks and actively participate in the development process. There is so much potential and work that needs to be done in order to restore the main street in our communities.
Showing posts with label Otaku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Otaku. Show all posts
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Urban Humanism - exploring concepts of sustainable architecture
INTRODUCTION
As an architect I often ponder on the role of architecture in our changing world. With the economic turmoil of current recession I can’t help but wonder what awaits us ‘on the other side’. Given the fact that construction and housing industry suffered the most job loses and the most economic slow down points me in the direction that the build environment we create will change dramatically in the next decades. When looking ahead we hope for sustainable future: sustainable economy, communities and the environment. So how is architecture going to fit in this sustainable system?
First we should discuss the definition of architecture. In past decades the term ‘architecture’ related to buildings and components within them. Architect’s job ended at the building envelope and everything outside the envelope was somebody else’s job. That’s why the buildings are often perceived as stand alone objects with no connection to the space around them.
If we think about ‘green’ architecture in the context of this definition we often refer to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is a point system designed to mitigate the negative impact a building has on the environment. Points are given for less construction waste, less energy consumption, less harmful chemicals in the materials used etc. But is doing less harm to the environment good enough? What if architecture actually positively contributed to our lifestyle, our communities?
Architecture needs to be redefined to include all forms of human intervention into natural landscape. Buildings are only one form of this intervention; others include roads, sidewalks, power poles, fountains, benches, planters, detention ponds, plazas and everything else we permanently and temporarily install to make modern life possible. Once we consider buildings being a part of a larger system we can then discuss their contribution to the environment they shape.
Human activity is greatly affected by our surroundings. There are places that stimulate economic growth by featuring local businesses and places that foster communities by encouraging human interaction. There are places where it’s fun and safe to walk and people are healthier there as a result. As architects respond to new economic conditions it’s going to be our job to understand the mechanisms of integrating architecture with sustainable lifestyle and to create environments where people thrive.
In my future blog posts I would like to discuss different aspects of how architecture should become a component to sustainable system where we live, work and play. How architecture can contribute to healthy lifestyle, strong local economy and vibrant communities. Some of the subjects I will discuss include:
As an architect I often ponder on the role of architecture in our changing world. With the economic turmoil of current recession I can’t help but wonder what awaits us ‘on the other side’. Given the fact that construction and housing industry suffered the most job loses and the most economic slow down points me in the direction that the build environment we create will change dramatically in the next decades. When looking ahead we hope for sustainable future: sustainable economy, communities and the environment. So how is architecture going to fit in this sustainable system?
First we should discuss the definition of architecture. In past decades the term ‘architecture’ related to buildings and components within them. Architect’s job ended at the building envelope and everything outside the envelope was somebody else’s job. That’s why the buildings are often perceived as stand alone objects with no connection to the space around them.
If we think about ‘green’ architecture in the context of this definition we often refer to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is a point system designed to mitigate the negative impact a building has on the environment. Points are given for less construction waste, less energy consumption, less harmful chemicals in the materials used etc. But is doing less harm to the environment good enough? What if architecture actually positively contributed to our lifestyle, our communities?
Architecture needs to be redefined to include all forms of human intervention into natural landscape. Buildings are only one form of this intervention; others include roads, sidewalks, power poles, fountains, benches, planters, detention ponds, plazas and everything else we permanently and temporarily install to make modern life possible. Once we consider buildings being a part of a larger system we can then discuss their contribution to the environment they shape.
Human activity is greatly affected by our surroundings. There are places that stimulate economic growth by featuring local businesses and places that foster communities by encouraging human interaction. There are places where it’s fun and safe to walk and people are healthier there as a result. As architects respond to new economic conditions it’s going to be our job to understand the mechanisms of integrating architecture with sustainable lifestyle and to create environments where people thrive.
In my future blog posts I would like to discuss different aspects of how architecture should become a component to sustainable system where we live, work and play. How architecture can contribute to healthy lifestyle, strong local economy and vibrant communities. Some of the subjects I will discuss include:
- Urban infill
- Cars and parking and their role in people-friendly environment
- Architecture as framework for walkable commercial and neighborhood streets
- Buildings and their functions as pedestrian destinations
- Architecture as a mechanism for supporting diverse communities
- Architecture and multi-modal transportation
Monday, March 8, 2010
Urban Humanism
During last 50 years city planning revolved around cars. Large city blocks allowing for long acceleration and deceleration lanes, multi-lane streets, highways, drive-thru restaurants, banks, pharmacies and lots and lots of parking (4 parking spaces for every car on the road today!). Because of the way zoning codes are written today it is standard procedure for an architect or engineer to start designing a site plan by determining parking requirements. Then we look at setbacks; finally the little space left is used for the building. Little or no consideration is given to pedestrians. Our cities are designed for the cars, not for the people.
In the recent years we came to realization that car-centered city planning leads to catastrophic consequences. I will not get into the discussion of energy crisis or environmental implications. I want to focus on social outcome instead.
For thousands of years people walked or rode their horses. The size of their world was limited by how far they can walk in one day. If they needed information they asked their neighbors. A corner store carried all basic goods and was within walking distance. So were the school, the church and the doctor. A street car would take you to the downtown. There were no gyms and no obesity. There was a lot of neighborhood gossip but no social anxiety or depression. Active children were told to play outside, not medicated for ADHD.
Progressive minds of today talk about new ways to create modern, sustainable developments. New urbanism, new communities… I want to go back to those little old ladies over the age of 65 who voted for FasTracks in 2004. I’m not surprised by their vote at all! They remember the days before cars took over our lifestyle. For them there is nothing new or progressive about public transportation or livable and walk-able communities.
Many cities (including Denver) adopt new kind of zoning codes. The Form Based Codes. Unfortunately the word Form relates to the Building Form. I’m still waiting for yet another generation of codes: Human Form Based Codes. City planning based on human scale and human perception. City planning that considers questions like these:
- Can a mother with three children safely walk on this sidewalk? (note she only has two hands)
- Would you let your 8-year-old son ride a bike on this bike trail independently?
- Can children walk or bike to school in this neighborhood?
- Can a 65-year-old woman walk or take a local bus to the light rail stop?
- Where do you get your milk?
- Can you live in this neighborhood for a week without driving?
Monday, December 28, 2009
The big WHY of 2009
This post is personal. It talks about WHY, in 2009, I spent so much energy and time on the subject of city planning. Why I had no choice but to step out of my comfort zone and (with the shaky voice) speak at the public hearing. And why I felt obligated to write a letter to the City Council.
I was born and grew up in Krakow, Poland. This historic city in central Europe shaped my understanding of what a city is and how it works. During my high school and collage years my daily routine consisted of 30 minute bus and light rail trip to the downtown. Waiting at the local bus stop was an opportunity to chat with the neighbors about the latest score of the town’s soccer team. There was always a group of friends on a light rail ready to discuss homework problems and share the gossip. Public transportation was so common and available I never learned how to drive, but instead I have always felt like a part of the community I lived in. After school, on a nice day, I would stroll through the city’s main square. There never was an instance that I did not run into an old friend or acquaintance. Like that grade school math teacher who insisted on calling me “Ania”. He was glad to see his favorite pupil about to graduate from an architecture school. After a full day I would go back to my family’s 500-square-foot apartment where we sat at the kitchen table at 7 pm every night for supper. I would listen to my parent’s conversations about Lech Walesa and Solidarity movement and learnt about the important changes happening in world’s politics during that time.
It is important to note that a city is more than just a collection of streets and buildings. Just like Jane Jacobs says cities are compilation of social experiences. As human beings there is nothing more interesting to us than watching other human beings. And when the times are rough we long for closeness and interaction with family members, friends and neighbors. For me, those were some fundamental, simple lessons I learnt while growing up in Poland. After studding urban design and architecture in collage, travelling to different cities in Europe, and finally settling in US (my first stop was Knoxville, TN) those lessons turned into a passion for quality of urban lifestyle. And while Denver is gearing up to adopt a new zoning code early next year I felt obligated to speak up on behalf of a simple human right to be around other humans.
The economy of the last few years has forced us to refocus our lifestyle. More and more people talk about going back to basics and recognize family and social values. The wave of foreclosures redefined housing market. Home buyers are asking for quality, efficiency and simplicity, not the square footage. Kitchen tables re-gained their popularity as people stay in and cook more. Neighborhood schools are important centers of community life. And everybody is tired of highway traffic.
City planning is a powerful tool in the hands of politicians. It can shape a city by shifting development opportunities from one end to the other like a kid playing in the sand with a shovel. It can also promote or discourage human interaction. It can allow us to walk to a corner store and mingle on a light rail or force us into our cars for hours at a time. During these times of “CHANGE” and shift in social priorities we came to a point when we should stop designing our cities for the cars and focus on the people instead.
Wishing you a meaningful 2010,
Picture of a house by Julia, 4 1/2
I was born and grew up in Krakow, Poland. This historic city in central Europe shaped my understanding of what a city is and how it works. During my high school and collage years my daily routine consisted of 30 minute bus and light rail trip to the downtown. Waiting at the local bus stop was an opportunity to chat with the neighbors about the latest score of the town’s soccer team. There was always a group of friends on a light rail ready to discuss homework problems and share the gossip. Public transportation was so common and available I never learned how to drive, but instead I have always felt like a part of the community I lived in. After school, on a nice day, I would stroll through the city’s main square. There never was an instance that I did not run into an old friend or acquaintance. Like that grade school math teacher who insisted on calling me “Ania”. He was glad to see his favorite pupil about to graduate from an architecture school. After a full day I would go back to my family’s 500-square-foot apartment where we sat at the kitchen table at 7 pm every night for supper. I would listen to my parent’s conversations about Lech Walesa and Solidarity movement and learnt about the important changes happening in world’s politics during that time.
It is important to note that a city is more than just a collection of streets and buildings. Just like Jane Jacobs says cities are compilation of social experiences. As human beings there is nothing more interesting to us than watching other human beings. And when the times are rough we long for closeness and interaction with family members, friends and neighbors. For me, those were some fundamental, simple lessons I learnt while growing up in Poland. After studding urban design and architecture in collage, travelling to different cities in Europe, and finally settling in US (my first stop was Knoxville, TN) those lessons turned into a passion for quality of urban lifestyle. And while Denver is gearing up to adopt a new zoning code early next year I felt obligated to speak up on behalf of a simple human right to be around other humans.
The economy of the last few years has forced us to refocus our lifestyle. More and more people talk about going back to basics and recognize family and social values. The wave of foreclosures redefined housing market. Home buyers are asking for quality, efficiency and simplicity, not the square footage. Kitchen tables re-gained their popularity as people stay in and cook more. Neighborhood schools are important centers of community life. And everybody is tired of highway traffic.
City planning is a powerful tool in the hands of politicians. It can shape a city by shifting development opportunities from one end to the other like a kid playing in the sand with a shovel. It can also promote or discourage human interaction. It can allow us to walk to a corner store and mingle on a light rail or force us into our cars for hours at a time. During these times of “CHANGE” and shift in social priorities we came to a point when we should stop designing our cities for the cars and focus on the people instead.
Wishing you a meaningful 2010,
Gosia Kung
Picture of a house by Julia, 4 1/2
Friday, December 18, 2009
Letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
If you need sustainable upgrades and additions to your North Pole facilities KUNGarchitecture is your team. Could your toy manufacturing workshop benefit from additional insulation in the walls? How about a few skylights to bring the northern lights into the space? Would the elves be more productive working in the space that is simple, functional and inspiring? Do you think they could use a new dorm? Let us propose a mixed use facility with toy retail and cafeteria on the main level and elf condos on upper levels. The new, efficient, sustainable and progressive design will be respectful of the existing context of your historical toy workshop. Reindeer sled parking will be discreetly screened behind the building. The development will be served by public transportation system courtesy of Polar Express, Inc. The construction will be “white” (not green) certified to fit local climate conditions.
Yours truly,
Gosia Kung (Polar Architect)
If you need sustainable upgrades and additions to your North Pole facilities KUNGarchitecture is your team. Could your toy manufacturing workshop benefit from additional insulation in the walls? How about a few skylights to bring the northern lights into the space? Would the elves be more productive working in the space that is simple, functional and inspiring? Do you think they could use a new dorm? Let us propose a mixed use facility with toy retail and cafeteria on the main level and elf condos on upper levels. The new, efficient, sustainable and progressive design will be respectful of the existing context of your historical toy workshop. Reindeer sled parking will be discreetly screened behind the building. The development will be served by public transportation system courtesy of Polar Express, Inc. The construction will be “white” (not green) certified to fit local climate conditions.
Yours truly,
Gosia Kung (Polar Architect)
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Work in progress…
“Architecture is an Art of shaping the Environment”
This is the first thing I learnt in the architecture school. The definition of Architecture. I can’t remember the class or the name of the professor. It was nearly twenty years ago in a different country and in a different language. Since then I have heard and read many definitions and descriptions of architecture but none seems to speak to me the same way. Whenever I think about design I keep coming back to my first collage lecture and those words that I just can’t get out of my head. But yet I often find myself troubled when I try to explain this statement to my friends or clients. What does it mean? Let me draw a picture instead.
Imagine a landscape like this:
Empty non-defined space. Imagine 50 people placed in this location. They will wander around uncomfortably.
Imagine element in this landscape:
The element has defined the space. Now, the same 50 people will gather around the obelisk. They will start talking and maybe come up with idea to start something new and important.
Now imagine the same element repeated a number of times:
So let’s keep adding:
We are almost there. The power poles and the trees framed the space creating the “walls”. The sky and the tree canopies formed a “ceiling”. All we are missing is the floor:
The few simple elements defined the space. Now people will feel comfortable strolling along the path or resting in the shade under a tree.
As we add elements to our environment we customize it for our needs. We create indoor and outdoor spaces by defining the landscape. Every day we travel through spaces without even taking notice. Long narrow hallways of office buildings, open outdoor plazas, hiking trails and highways, our driveway and our kitchen. Our perception of space is shaped by the elements that define it (floor, walls, ceiling, free standing elements) as well as scale, function and placement in the sequence (or a floor plan). The quality of space will affect how we feel. We can be comfortable, relaxed, inspired, energized or confused, frustrated, bored or saddened. What a responsibility an architect has every time she picks up a pencil.
As I’m writing this post I feel that anything I say seems inadequate, too complicated or unclear. How do I describe the job of shaping human experience? Using words. Simple words. And short sentences. How do I make it clear and concise? I’m humbled and hunted about this statement I learnt as a first year architecture student and that I’m yet to figure out how to communicate. It’s work in progress.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Urban Quilting
I like to think about historic urban neighborhoods as a vibrant patchwork of different colors, patterns and textures stitched together by a grid of streets. As I’m writing this on a chilly October night I think about what makes those quilts so familiar, warm and cozy. And what makes them smell like home to so many of us.
It’s a variety of different types of fabric interacting together. From very fine florals of single family homes, through larger patches of multifamily pockets, neighborhood commercial centers and green parks, to much more prominent, landmark forms of hospitals, schools and churches.
It’s an organic character of the complex organism that grew over time. The different styles of material used. From Victorian lace, to utilitarian (Denver) squares of denim, to orthogonal grids of modern flannel. Every style has its place in the history of this quilt.
So how do we preserve this piece of fiber art? Not by hanging it in a museum behind a glass. Not by “do not touch” policy. The urban fabric has to be patched and repaired constantly like a tattered baby blanket. The best way to preserve historic neighborhoods is to allow them to continue to change and evolve. Those living, breathing organisms have to be allowed to adapt to current market conditions otherwise they will perish and die. Worn out pieces need to be replaced by new patches of developments that better suite our changing lifestyles. Contemporary forms should be introduced to represent their time. New building technologies will contribute to more sustainable construction. Responsible urban quilting is not achieved by freezing time but by continuous maintenance. Without the maintenance colors will fade and the fabric will deteriorate.
It’s a variety of different types of fabric interacting together. From very fine florals of single family homes, through larger patches of multifamily pockets, neighborhood commercial centers and green parks, to much more prominent, landmark forms of hospitals, schools and churches.
It’s an organic character of the complex organism that grew over time. The different styles of material used. From Victorian lace, to utilitarian (Denver) squares of denim, to orthogonal grids of modern flannel. Every style has its place in the history of this quilt.
So how do we preserve this piece of fiber art? Not by hanging it in a museum behind a glass. Not by “do not touch” policy. The urban fabric has to be patched and repaired constantly like a tattered baby blanket. The best way to preserve historic neighborhoods is to allow them to continue to change and evolve. Those living, breathing organisms have to be allowed to adapt to current market conditions otherwise they will perish and die. Worn out pieces need to be replaced by new patches of developments that better suite our changing lifestyles. Contemporary forms should be introduced to represent their time. New building technologies will contribute to more sustainable construction. Responsible urban quilting is not achieved by freezing time but by continuous maintenance. Without the maintenance colors will fade and the fabric will deteriorate.
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Art in ARchiTecture and why Style doesn’t matter
In the old days of BC (Before Children) I used to do a lot of oil painting (yes, this one is mine). For several years I took classes from Kevin Weckbach on visual approaches in painting. Kevin is a truly inspirational teacher and a well recognized painter. His works are full of bold expression and spontaneity. But when Kevin teaches it’s all about the structure in painting. The “bones” or the “foundation” behind the artwork.
There are three simple questions that an artist has to answer: WHAT IF - Because the shapes have to be non-generic and unique. WHY- Because the painting has to have a strong and well executed concept (a visual approach). The concept cannot be arbitrary and has to be consequently carried through. And than there is HOW - the technical ability of an artist.
Those questions are the foundation of a good painting. Notice I never mentioned STYLE? Rembrandt and Pollock were both outstanding painters whose work can be described using the above criteria. Their paintings have strong structure and originality. Their skills are superb. Yet their style is completely different.
The same is true with architecture. Whether historical or contemporary, Victorian or modern no style is superior to the other. What defines good architecture is not the style but the solid foundation of well thought out concept and consistent execution. The style is a question of personal preference. Some wear tie-dye tee-shirts other prefer black turtlenecks. There is no right or wrong.
I often struggle when people ask me what kind of architecture I do: Residential or commercial? Traditional or contemporary? We need to categorize things to help us understand the world around us. The question I ask myself is: Buildings or Architecture?
Monday, October 12, 2009
The difference between buildings and architecture
Talk to any business coach and she will tell you to systematize your practice. Develop procedures and checklists for others to follow so you can go on vacation and your business can function without you. But how to you capture creative process? It’s like putting a snow suit on a 12 month old baby. They twist and wiggle and after many tries it is still backwards. Impossible!
Or is it? How about a simple four-step check list that when applied will result in a good design every time. Guaranteed. Let’s try.
WHAT IF is the fundamental question. WHAT IF challenges the obvious and generic.
WHY fights the arbitrary. WHY is responsible for a strong and well executed concept.
HOW MUCH asks “is this the best solution that the budget can buy?”
HOW is about technical expertise. HOW is what makes a building a building.
So how do you measure a difference between architecture and a building? Ignore the first three points of the check list and you will end up with a building. It will stand up and house the functions it was intended for. Depending on level of technical skill of the designer, quality of execution by the contractor and the budget it can be a very successful building. Nothing wrong with that.
But WHAT IF we try just a little bit harder? WHY? – because it’s worth it. HOW MUCH is this going to cost? – No more than a building. HOW? – One project at the time.
Or is it? How about a simple four-step check list that when applied will result in a good design every time. Guaranteed. Let’s try.
WHAT IF is the fundamental question. WHAT IF challenges the obvious and generic.
WHY fights the arbitrary. WHY is responsible for a strong and well executed concept.
HOW MUCH asks “is this the best solution that the budget can buy?”
HOW is about technical expertise. HOW is what makes a building a building.
So how do you measure a difference between architecture and a building? Ignore the first three points of the check list and you will end up with a building. It will stand up and house the functions it was intended for. Depending on level of technical skill of the designer, quality of execution by the contractor and the budget it can be a very successful building. Nothing wrong with that.
But WHAT IF we try just a little bit harder? WHY? – because it’s worth it. HOW MUCH is this going to cost? – No more than a building. HOW? – One project at the time.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
It is all because of WHAT IF
It is Saturday morning and it’s snowing. I’m running up and down the 18th Avenue taking pictures of buildings. It’s freezing. I could be sitting at Starbucks sipping hot Earl Gray tea but here I am instead. Why?
It’s all because of WHAT IF.
The design of the new addition was all done. The original option was just fine. It met all the program requirements and it made sense. It was the first and the obvious solution. We thought we were done.
I set at my drafting table on Friday knowing that I will get myself in trouble. My head spinning and full of questions: What if we look at the context? What if we address the street better? What if we hide the parking behind the building? What if we create more exciting building form? The new option emerged in a matter of minutes. The new form addresses the neighborhood context so much better. The circulation on site is very clear. And there is so much more potential in terms of creating an interesting façade.
But now we have to figure it out. Study the adjacent buildings; take pictures of the streetscape, back to sketches and studies. More work for us. Darn it!
So here I am, in the snow. On Saturday morning. Freezing! All giddy with excitement about the better “way to skin the cat”.
It’s all because of WHAT IF.
The design of the new addition was all done. The original option was just fine. It met all the program requirements and it made sense. It was the first and the obvious solution. We thought we were done.
I set at my drafting table on Friday knowing that I will get myself in trouble. My head spinning and full of questions: What if we look at the context? What if we address the street better? What if we hide the parking behind the building? What if we create more exciting building form? The new option emerged in a matter of minutes. The new form addresses the neighborhood context so much better. The circulation on site is very clear. And there is so much more potential in terms of creating an interesting façade.
But now we have to figure it out. Study the adjacent buildings; take pictures of the streetscape, back to sketches and studies. More work for us. Darn it!
So here I am, in the snow. On Saturday morning. Freezing! All giddy with excitement about the better “way to skin the cat”.
Friday, October 2, 2009
How?
There is a lot that goes into HOW the building is put together. It’s a loaded question. From technical aspect of the design and detailing to careful execution by the contractor.
How is about the Zoning Code and about the Building Code. How does the building fit on site and how do people exit in case of emergency.
How is about the materials and how they fit and work together. How they are supported and how they transition.
How is about engineering. How is the roof supported and where does the water drain. How is the building heated and cooled and where does the power come from. Where is the water heater located and how do we dispose of the sewer.
How is about the construction. Working with a contractor on how our drawings are interpreted and executed.
How is what makes a building a building.
How is about the Zoning Code and about the Building Code. How does the building fit on site and how do people exit in case of emergency.
How is about the materials and how they fit and work together. How they are supported and how they transition.
How is about engineering. How is the roof supported and where does the water drain. How is the building heated and cooled and where does the power come from. Where is the water heater located and how do we dispose of the sewer.
How is about the construction. Working with a contractor on how our drawings are interpreted and executed.
How is what makes a building a building.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
How much? (Hint: it’s not about the money)
Usually after we have gone through the creative process of asking “What if” and “Why” the reality hits. The client asks the unavoidable question “How much is this going to cost me?”
So what is the cost of good design? Is it more expensive than a bad one? How about an average? What if they all cost the same?
The quality of architecture is not determined by its cost. After all, the sunlight coming through the window is free, but it is the architect’s job to capture it.
So how much for this cozy feeling of a window seat where you settle to read a book?
The environment that is simple, functional and inspiring doesn’t cost more. But how much is it worth?
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Why?
My projects are like my kids. They drive me crazy.
“Why is it raining?”
“To water trees and flowers”
“Why?”
“So they can grow”
“Why?”
“Trees are good because they clean the air”
“Why?”….
It goes on, and on and on…
When I work on a project it goes like this:
“Why is this space long and skinny?”
“Why do these walls not align?”
“Why do they align?”
“Is this the best location for the entry?”
“Why?”
“Why not here?”
Sometimes I’m tempted to scream JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS COOL ON PAPER!
Why? is the second point on my check list. Following directly the What if?. Why? challenges the arbitrary. The form has to have the purpose and an explanation. The placement of elements, relationships between spaces and color cannot be accidental. Strong, well executed concept is clearly noticeable. It is pronounced everywhere in the building. We say “This house is open”, “This space is private”, “This office is functional”. It is. Because all the “Whys” have been answered by the architect.
My projects are like my kids. I care about them. They deserve better than “Just because”.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
What if?
What if buildings could float? What if space had no limits? What if buildings didn’t lie? What if?...
“What if” is fundamental question for a good design. “What if” challenges the obvious. Without the “what if” the result is a generic building. A generic house, generic strip mall, generic hotel. When a client calls us they usually have a solution in mind. It’s easy to just provide drafting services for the first solution that comes to mind but “what if?”. “What if” is exploring other options. What if there is a better way to do it?. What if the most obvious solution is the best one? What if it is not?
If you share our obsession of “what if” join the discussion on our FB page at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Denver-CO/KUNG-architecture/77524147846
See you there!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The argument as old as time
I was trying hard to stay out of the discussion about new developments in historic neighborhoods but the recent comment on my blog forced me to step in. So, here is my take on this, old as time, dispute.
Whenever a group of progressive, innovative entrepreneurs introduces something new they meet with the conservative opposition. When in early 1900 developers started building first Denver Squares they were criticized by the owners of older Victorian homes. They introduced a form that was new and unfamiliar and got some heat for that.
Many entrepreneurial architects, builders and developers live in the area they work in. It allows them to see opportunity that others may miss. They often invest their lifetime savings to introduce creative, sustainable housing options to their beloved neighborhoods. Those not-afraid-of-risk individuals got hit particularly hard by the current recession. I do hope however that they will hold on to their properties and when the time is right new progressive developments will sprout everywhere. After all, down-zoning or not, it’s their spirit that moves us forward. And if in the process they make a buck or two more power to them!
P.S. I would like to dedicate this post to the first guy who looked at the pile of sticks and mud and thought of building a shack. He must have been widely criticized by his fellow citizens living in the trees. After all they’d been living in the trees for thousands of years, the trees protected them from wild animals, surely that must have been perceived as the best way of living. Sometimes they fell down and broke a limb or two but they didn’t want to see those odd cone shaped structures between the trees that were so familiar to them. Thank you, my fellow architect/builder for seeing an opportunity and keeping at it!
Whenever a group of progressive, innovative entrepreneurs introduces something new they meet with the conservative opposition. When in early 1900 developers started building first Denver Squares they were criticized by the owners of older Victorian homes. They introduced a form that was new and unfamiliar and got some heat for that.
Many entrepreneurial architects, builders and developers live in the area they work in. It allows them to see opportunity that others may miss. They often invest their lifetime savings to introduce creative, sustainable housing options to their beloved neighborhoods. Those not-afraid-of-risk individuals got hit particularly hard by the current recession. I do hope however that they will hold on to their properties and when the time is right new progressive developments will sprout everywhere. After all, down-zoning or not, it’s their spirit that moves us forward. And if in the process they make a buck or two more power to them!
P.S. I would like to dedicate this post to the first guy who looked at the pile of sticks and mud and thought of building a shack. He must have been widely criticized by his fellow citizens living in the trees. After all they’d been living in the trees for thousands of years, the trees protected them from wild animals, surely that must have been perceived as the best way of living. Sometimes they fell down and broke a limb or two but they didn’t want to see those odd cone shaped structures between the trees that were so familiar to them. Thank you, my fellow architect/builder for seeing an opportunity and keeping at it!
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