Jim again,
I began my college architectural education in 1973. It was in the middle of the 1970s energy crisis. 55 MPH speed limits; long gas lines; alternating days when you were allowed to get gas (based on whether your license plate number was odd or even); and President Jimmy Carter sitting in the Oval Office by the fireplace giving his talks about energy conservation. Instead of the expected suit, President Carter wore a sweater for these talks. It not only reflected his more casual style but was also intended to show that he was keeping the White House cooler in the winter to save energy. It all made quite an impression on me.
The energy crisis of that era also had a significant impact on how the school taught us to be architects. The assigned readings included such books as: Wilson Clark’s “Energy for Survival – The alternative to extinction”; Lawrence Rocks and Richard Runyon’s “The Energy Crises – The imminent crisis of our oil, gas, coal, and atomic energy resources and solutions to resolve it”; William Ewald Jr’s “Environment for Man – The next fifty years” (which I should probably go back and read again); along with Richard Stein’s “Architecture and Energy – Conserving energy through rational design”; and “Low Cost, Energy Efficient Shelter – For the owner and builder” edited by Eugene Eccli. Of all of this required reading, I was most affected by Victor Olgyay’s “Design with Climate – Bioclimatic approach to architectural regionalism”. While not the overriding emphasis of the architectural program, there was a heightened sensitivity to energy issues addressed throughout my college curriculum.
How to design buildings was the ultimate goal of my architectural education. The early years focused on basic design principles, such as: ‘Balance’, 'Symmetry’, ‘Scale’, ‘Proportion’, ‘Hierarchy’, ‘Contrast’, along with many others. My new training made me more aware and my eyes started being very sensitive to how these design principles appeared all around me. From the large-scale organization of buildings and cities; to the design of buildings, their plans and facades; the organization of spaces; to the smallest of details and how things are put together. One of my favorite quotes from the famous architect of the Modernist Movement, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is “God is in the details”. If the details are not handled well, a good design can fall flat. A commitment to the expression and application of these basic design principles along with a developed understanding of buildings and my love of construction gave me a firm foundation upon which to build my professional career.
I have said for years that I would not trade my architectural education for anything (except maybe for Tammy but I would not have met her if I hadn’t gone to that program). It was a broad education that combined art, design, planning, engineering and science. It opened my mind to be more creative and to use my creativity to solve problems. I have used every facet of my foundational architectural education as well as the skills and experiences I have obtained through almost 50 years in the architectural field to plan, design, build and finish our getaway on Runaway Ridge. It is a satisfying thing to bring all my assets to the many projects we have undertaken there. It is a beautiful expression of my passions and talents and I love sharing it with friends and family.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love music. However, it’s Tammy who connects with lyrics. I have enjoyed how she finds songs that go along with her posts. So, I asked her to find something that she thought complimented this one and here’s what she came up with….
