“ One of the
great, but often unmentioned causes of both happiness and misery is the
quality of our environment: the kind of walls, chairs, buildings and streets
we’re surrounded by.”
Alain De Botton
I started exploring design early, making cardboard
buildings and vehicles for my toy army men. But through high school I focused
on music. In college I tried my hand at drawing, sculpture, type setting and
bookbinding, but I majored in economics. Only after all that did I settle
onto architecture and again find myself making cardboard models of buildings.
My first job with a residential architect had me drafting and building
furniture, custom light fixtures and engineering sewer systems for developers
along with designing homes. My next job with Cannel and Chaffin moved me into
the world of commercial tenant improvements, Saudi palaces, banks and custom
furniture. For a number of years I worked with commercial firms doing industrial,
transportation, historic, education and civic designs culminating in leading
the ADA redevelopment of the Los Angeles City Hall. After that I moved back into
custom residential work, again doing unique furniture and lighting designs as
well as designing custom homes. All along I have continued to practice
drawing, painting, sculpture as well as furniture and product design.
I’ve been fortunate that several publications including
Architectural Digest have published my designs.
I enjoy design because it is constantly challenging. The
process can be smooth or scary, but starting with a blank sheet of paper and
finding a solution to the problem at hand gives me a unique satisfaction while
allowing me to contribute in a tangible way to our shared built environment.
My
personal work tends to the minimalistic and modern. But I have mastered
several historic styles such as Neo-Classical, Monterey Revival, even Tudor
and Victorian Gothic as the project required.
The
task of Architecture as I have practiced it is to blend the pragmatic needs and
requirements of a building with the art of form and space to create coherent
and meaningful environments reflecting our dreams and values.
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