Design/Build: A Prologue

| July 23, 2009

Two architects sit scanning design magazines, bantering back and forth about questionable construction here, the merits of proportion in bathroom tiles there, all the while wondering when on earth they are going to finally strike out on their own, together. Architecture is a discipline that almost requires you to have a partner that is understanding to the obsessive and demanding nature of the job - no vacation is complete without dissecting the latest magazine-worthy cultural center, or frantic photos of obtuse details that no one but our kind notice. I grew up rolling my eyes at the long hikes and even longer lectures from my father, the forester, about the flora and fauna of the west coast - I fear that ML and I’s future children will forever be dragged to the most obscure of towns and have a unnatural (or socially accepted) appreciation of um, swiss bath houses.

[We go on vacation, find this house in Austin and proceed to take dozens of pictures of .. wait for it... the fence. Perforated and corrugated rusted steel fence that has the perfect amount of transparancy and security, in case you're wondering. That and I really loved the plants, trees, et al. If I had any idea what any of them were. Photo compliments of moi.]

And sadly, the plan for ML and I to join forces and go forth into the competitive world of architecture together isn’t much a new idea. It’s a fairly common practice actually, some of today’s most successful firms are headed by a husband and wife team - the time that architecture demands of you is all encompassing. You are constantly thinking about your design, looking at the outside world for examples, even dreaming up different schemes to your current workload. Although, our plans to start up a design practice have always been secondary to our academic goals. We both would like to teach full time; this practice would provide a necessary creative outlet, and maybe someday a secondary income.

The development of this design practice into a “design/build” goal was a bit of a surprise. A quick definition: a design/build firm delivers the design solution, as well as oversees the construction of the project. This is in contrast to the usual scenario where an architect designs a project, a contractor is hired to oversee the project, with the architect checking in over the duration of the project. Many designers often “phoo phoo” the construction aspect, and are merely content to design their days away. Those inclined to the technical and construction aspects are often not the strongest on the design side. I had assumed, inaccurately, that design/build firms often suffered on the design side. A quick trip around the internet proved me wrong in a bit ways. There are some EXCELLENT firms out there who are interested in both design and construction. In addition to orchestrating the big building, many fabricate a lot of the details themselves, which, for control-obsessed architects (we are) is well, quite appealing.

Then I threw out the big question to ML: “well, what if we did a design/build?”. It makes a lot of sense when you consider our desire to put wood-working, metal-working, furniture design, et al under our belts - not to mention our collective enthusiasm for getting our hands dirty. We would use our soon-to-be house (and location of our wedding) as our testing grounds. The learning curve would be huge. Mistakes would be made. But our interests and goals align with this business approach really well. As for the scope of our work, we’re pretty sure that we could carve out an interesting niche in the Austin market. Design/build is often oriented towards the domestic/residential scale - which is convenient when you consider our hopes to buy a house, renovate it, add an addition (appropriate in scale, size, and style). I’m pretty adamant that this approach is a more affordable in the long run and more environmentally sensitive approach to house building in urban areas. No need to raze and rebuild a McMansion - and whole lot more interesting too.

Finally, here are three firms that have caught our eye as ones to watch and learn from. Of course, many of these projects have budgets that are ten times what ML and I will have to work with, something that often is overlooked in those glossy magazines and I forget often enough as well. I am thrilled, however, to start to collect a stash of ideas that can use everyday, ordinary materials in unusual ways. There is much beauty in simplicity.

Cottam Hargrave: fellow Austinites - they also believe in treating their staff to a morning tradition of breakfast tacos. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!