This is the water treatment plan in Hamden, Connecticut, which is the result of the collaboration of the community and the architect. The architect, Steve Holl has achieved putting 90%of this water treatment plan underground. The total cost was $60,000,000. Dedicated two years ago this is a shining example of the mundane elevated to the art form. It is an act of urbanism which engages the community of Edgerton Park and the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. One thousand notices were mailed to residents, and design, construction and environmental committees were formed. Many of the residents, like my friend Gene Festa, are associated with Yale University took part in this effort. "It was an opportunity to make a statement about infrastructure that could simply not be a blot on the landscape but a contribute to it" said Mr. Festa. More governments need to step out like this.

In my own City of Virginia Beach, The new convention center does this same thing-set ahead of the needs of the population.

This is my entry into the local Archiposts. The Archiposts is a series of postcards initiated by the local AIA Hampton Roads Chapter which displays the feel and images of the area. This picture was actually sketched about 45' of the ground in a tower of the community center on March of this year. It was cold and windy-hence my attention to detail was not what I would have liked. Anyhow, East Beach was once a trashy little part of town and a favorite of the local military personnel that has since been revived with the help of New Urbanism into a very attractive and upscale neighbor hood. No $250,000 dollar homes here. However, Duany and crew along UDA seems to have started something . As architects we always like to look for trends and templates-this one is a good beginning. Unlike my sketch which.......where did it put the original?

This is a sketch of a new canopy for a church. Being a rather traditional design it has a tower and a traditional sanctuary. The sketch was done in pen and pencil. The site plan which was to large to scan was in color. The structural is evident and an inspiration but like most -first brushes. I feel it needs a more detailed look and perhaps some refinement. However - like most of my sketches it is a first look and a design has to start from something on Paper. My vision of this project has not been reviewed by the owner but the economy of exposed steel I feel would be eye catching on this tree lined boulevard.

Here is a house that I was asked to add to the original structure. The Client is form the Middle East (I think?) and wanted to provide room for his family of four. The original house was owned by a masonry contractor and was adequate built with 4,000 square feet. My task was to provide a solution which would provide a Mediterranean style in the deep recesses of the woods in Chesapeake, Virginia. The new entry doors are crash-proof and the expanded new square footage is now about 8,000 square feet. I was really impressed that the contractor was able to take my detailed sketches and drawings and convert it into something that -Even I, liked! I am including the colored sketch although I did a black and white sketch of pencil because I think color better represents the picture. When I get a chance to get out there I will take a snap! One final note, they flow that this project had was very enjoyable and at times frustrating but I was glad I was asked to design this addition- I love my job! Above all it is a style which some say is mediterranean- but I say it is beachy! The result is consistant in style with projects I had worked on 30 years ago! Like Yogi says "its deja vue all over again".

In the beginning their is a room in my house that is in need of major renovation. Amid going to the B.A.C. and working, it was pretty drab with colonial beige walls and old vinyl flooring which is about to change. Last night at about 8:00 p.m. my name was drawn from a raffle at East Coast Appliance on Laskin Road and I was fortunate to have won an entire kitchen full of appliances. This includes a new refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher. All brushed stainless with black trim- so the next step is obvious for me- upgrade the room. This will mean new flooring and paint with some new trim. A chance to break out of the mundane mold of conformity and show my individuality. Did I say I never win anything? This event proves me wrong. The temptation is always to go beyond with design but it can be an incremental thing. The next steps will be to concentrate on intangible thing and keep this recent good fortune in perspective. Maybe it is the fact the BAC has help me view the Larger world, form and interact with smart, energetic young minds and probe my individuality?

Part of the intrigue of creating new forms is working with diverse people and culturals idioscycrasties. As this dealership is a new attempt to make a second attempt at making a single dealership, it is a strong linear presence along a highway that leads to the Naval Base here in Hampton Roads. The portion at the right in the figure is the original dealership and the two story building on the left is an extension to an existing metal building. What I have attempted here is to tie these two buildings together with an climatically controlled corridor which allows access to the parts department and allows access to the demonstration and test drive facility in the rear of the lot. The color also reflects the owners perference to advertise the new colors of "das machinen". I found this exercise uplifting, but have yet to meet with the owner. We are working though the details. More to come when I have a plan perfected.

The proposed new office designed by Thomas Maynes, Morphosis in California will be the tallest building Paris,France when it opens in 2010. This is a clear departure from the iconoclastic designs of the "international", "organic" and the "post modernists". When I see designs like this it makes me wonder what the inspiration is for the building? Is it nature or is it the computer generated domain of numbers which result from a computational matrix? Or is it the smooth curves of a natural beauty revealed in massive three dimension on a grand scale? It is not obvious, but no mater. The question remains with art and all architecture- does it appeal to me and to my understanding of what beauty is or could be? For me it is not just looking ,but the re-evaluation of what I think is beauty. Yes, it is a statement by an architect, however without our clients we would not be able to do some things. I would like to find out more about the owner, but alas! The architect is the one who takes the top billing and further information about the owner will arrive much later. That seems to be information is revealed for multistories and costly structures. This is significant building because , not since the Eiffel Tower has the horizons of Paris been broken by such a three dimensional form. This will perhaps make a statement about the French Culture. They apprear to want to share and go to great lengths to make the "elan" of their art a political and tangible statement to the world?

The latest plan of this 15 Unit Condominium Project is created to provide the civil engineers with the location of the new units on the site as they prepare their engineered site plan. As many of the lots along the water become more valuable it is easy to see why hurricanes do so much damage. Much of the current development has been free of any significant storms like those which created the land know as Willoughby Spit down the street in the 1920-1930's. Actually, we have been very lucky in bypassing these storms that tract north to New England and hit the Outbanks of North Carolina. Perhaps that is a jet stream issue. We can only hope for the best and plan for the worst! More photos of construction to come.

You are looking at the cathedral ceiling of a residence which has had the roof removed to make way for a new 4,000 square foot building. I have designed the upper floor to have new bedrooms, game room and party room. The original building has 6,000 square feet. Lots of room for a family of just 4 persons. The site of this new expansion is in Chesapeake, Virginia. This was a challenging assignment and I will post final photos in the near future.

Filthy water cannot be washed. ~African Proverb
"Throughout the history of literature, the guy who poisons the well has been the worst of all villains..." -ANON
"Water is a very good servant, but it is a cruel master."C.G.D. Roberts, "Adrift in America", 1891
"You could not step twice into the same rivers; for other waters are ever flowing on to you." Heraclitus of Ephesus

An alternate sketch of the Edwin Drive Property. Rectangular configuration with a full two story addition to an existing CMU building. The lack of class 'A' office space allows this developer to explore something beyond the colonial style.

Yes- I did this addition for a Doctor of Theology. A very detailed client who wanted to adapt this house for optimum observations of the local fauna of the Lynnhaven Inlet in the back. The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act had to be satisfied to bring the addition to fruition. The inset to the left of the main house has solar control and a hurricane resistant garage door. The client is retired and wanted to be in every part of the design. The interior has his collection of Butterflies and African Art as well as the humidity control to preserve his Ming Prints from China! The exterior might look a little rough but it retains all natural run off and actual conserves less energy than before the renovation. He wanted a look which did not disturb the neighborhood while being environmentally sustainable. He was pleased and I was satisfied.

For those of you who took the test
Here are the answers. It is really
interesting how many of my local friends
(mostly female) who got more than one correct.
Of course to take an appropriate sample
would mean I would have to give an equal
sampling of my male friends. I will let you
know that results at the intensive. Hope
you did above average my fellow brainboxes?

This is the front of a new Office facility for a local contractor who wishes to add a second story to an existing masonry building. This is a site that requires a BNP (Best Management Practices) pond in the front for rain run-off and some solar shading for the building . The front of the building here overlooks a lake and public park. We wanted to provide some of the views which would be complimentary for the work environment and screen the harsh sun which usually comes from the left in the view. While fixed solar shades would be preferred it may be possible to provide mechanical operators which would be hurricane protection during the season which usually lasted from June to October in this area.

In viewing the most critical areas of our profession several things stand out. Sustainability has , with the flood of publicity, become the new Hot Topic. Once the public realize it is not the automobile that is causing the problem,then the mood should shift to more urgent matters like selection of materials and environmental design. I really think that the general public senses that we as architects know something about all this but area not entirely sure that it is not a new fad and if they can accept our recommendations. Technology is evolving and we are doing a better job as architects selling some of these designs but we must get better.

Another area of importance is Survivability. All the sustainability in the world will not help us if our designs do not last. The current wave of cheapness must be ameliorated for the best value in the long term. What I mean is that best value needs to be reasonable and not "cheap". As a nation we are being trumped in many areas by other nations who are less dependent on the oil rich nations.

Finally, Design must be promoted to bring contemporary thought and styles, as never before, to the forefront of acceptability. We are living in a new time and with new technology we should be able to satisfy human needs, respecting our heritages, and harnessing our technologies.

Well, that is the view today, and the word best describes my thought is "integration". All the many influences must be used for positive growth.

I have been exploring the design of the modernist movement in a condominium development which juts out into Pretty Lake in Norfolk, Virginia. The idea for this building is a mixture of Wright and Corbu with vertical elements and Horizontal planes positioned in a way as to provide the best position of the lake on one side and the Chesapeake Bay, which actually sees Northeasters in Fall Hurricante Season. The site has been cleared and it has, as the image above shows, looks toward the West. Much of the inspiration of this design was drawn from buildings which Neutra mad popular later in his career, ie.The Kaufman House. It is pristine and transparent and I sense the impact on the Beach environment may have its detractors because the community groups are vocal. Anyway, future sketches will be posted to show my progression and journey through the synthesis which have realized in this design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl4Inf8uX7E

Work has begun on the second floor toilet room. The water damaged plywood floor has been removed and the floor joists and mechanical duct work, electrical and plumbing rough-ins have been exposed. This is also the area where a future ceiling fixture will be installed downstairs in the kitchen. The New Tile by Stonepeake Ceramics is an unglazed porcelain and was delivered with Latacrete Grout to insure water tightness of the surface. The slip resistance meets or exceeds current ASTM requirements. The tile was ordered through International tile and Marble of Chesapeake.