Quiet Days

Recently very quiet, after reading, back to drafting, some networking. So much snow that slowed down life for a few days. New cards are coming soon, redesign of website after that.

Networking III

I continue to enjoy meeting so many new people on my jaunts out to networking events in Chester County. I am invigorated to know that once the economy begins to turn that I have done the leg work to make connections that people will know to turn to an architect, me.

End of the Book

Wow, I am just awestruck by how well "Why Architecture Matters," was written. I am also amazed at how well Paul Goldberger crafts the thoughts and beliefs about architecture that I happen to have stuck in my head. I often wonder what is the right critique about developments that disturb me, he sums it up like this, "Indeed, the truly defining characteristic of this time might be said to be the privatization of the public realm, and it has come to affect our culture's very notions of urbanism." Then this, "They (developments, etc.) exist to exclude, whereas traditional cities existed to include or at least had the effect of inclusion." This is very noticeable when major snow events happen in this area, cities and their denizens work together to help neighbors, suburbanites dig out only their walks, cars, and relegated spaces. I am not complaining, just observing, wanting to change the future of growth in our county, state, nation, and planet.

Blog about Blogging

Reading a review of two new books about architects, Gehry and Liebskind, the author of the article mentioned that the tradition of keeping a diary or written letters has passed. These eras have passed, but the blog is a great way to supplant the older forms and have a record of what was happening and what people thought during their careers. This is the reason I started this blog, so that I can look back to see where I came from. Perhaps forty or fifty years from now a book will be written about my beginnings and early commissions. As of right now, there are very few commissions, but plenty to ponder!

Architects on TV!

Stephen Colbert was covering the recession and what the media has to say about it. Mostly nothing, but labelling it a "man-cession." Somewhere over 80% of people that have lost jobs in the recent recession have been men. Architects are one of the hardest hit fields. To be nearly full time employed and some side work means that there is a bunch of networking happening and good deals from us mouse jockeys. Nonetheless, that is twice in the last two months that Colbert has mentioned architects, Paul Goldberger and his fantastic book and now about us losing our jobs at a very high rate. Good publicity!

New look

A new look for BHA is on its way! Stu, the Visual Communicator, and I have finalized the new logo and cards. Website redesign will start later this month.

Selling myself

I have been taking pix of local houses to show what can be done to improve curb appeal. Just spending money on the exterior with right sized shutters, a single door, grills in windows, dormers, small porches, so many little items can be done. That does not mean that they all HAVE to be done.