5 Anomalies of Architecture
Running a design-build firm, we’re always interested in new business models that allow for more possibilities in how a company is managed and how architecture is developed. We’ve kept an eye on several individuals over the years because they’ve brought a different philosophy to the table. The strategies developed from these alternative philosophies allow them to bend and sometimes even break the rules. Keep in mind, these aren’t just different ways to design –they are revolutionary ways to rework the business of design, they are changing the nature of how we work. Here are 5 of our faves, let us know yours.
Cecil Balmond: One of the most prolific structural engineers in the world, Balmond’s technical solutions and structural ideas are transformative and engaging; so engaging, in fact, that his structural engineering solutions often become the driving force of the design. While he continues to work with some of the world’s most notable architects, on certain projects he has taken the lead design role in addition to being the structural engineer. Bravo!
Jonathan Segal: A master architect, Segal designs, develops and builds all of his projects. More interestingly, he has deliberately and exclusively eliminated the client from the traditional formula. While this combination typically leads to cookie-cutter spec housing, Segal is doing work that has full respect from the design community (envy actually). His projects continue to win awards, he sits on design juries all over the country and he’s made a fortune.
Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron: Somewhere in the early stages of the internet, while the majority of us were scrambling to get a website up, they decided that if their work was interesting enough everyone else would be posting photos and writing about them. They were right, and to this day there is no Herzog & de Meuron website, but a quick Google search reveals more information about their work than you could ever sift through. Imagine all the additional time and money you would have in your practice if creating, maintaining, updating, and paying for a website/blog wasn’t part of the formula.
Glenn Murcutt: He put it quite bluntly in a lecture that we attended years ago. He doesn’t feel the need to build physical models of his project because he can entirely see the design in his mind. While most architects would get laughed out of the room for saying such nonsense, Murcutt’s track record of creating decades of exceptional work proves him right. Winning the Pritzker Prize in 2002 also helps support his case. Here’s to the mind’s eye.
Christopher Alexander: Decades ago, Alexander published a series of books which simplified architectural design principles into tidy rule books for consumers to apply themselves (sans architect). In his own words, “the books are intended to provide a complete working alternative to our present ideas about architecture, building, and planning”. While heavily debated, A Pattern Language attempts to make the architectural process less fashionable, less nebulous and more accessible to the homeowner. Love it or hate it, the book can be found in just about every bookstore that’s got an architecture section.
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By Adam Crain, October 6, 2010 @ 8:20 am
Onion Flats does the Design/Build/Develop thing well in Philly. I hear these Build LLC guys are doing their own thing too.
By Build LLC, October 6, 2010 @ 9:01 am
@ Adam – there’s certainly some of us smaller firms modeling ourselves after the design/Build/Develop formula but Segal seems to roll from one to the next which is nearly impossible in this economic climate.
By Scott, October 6, 2010 @ 8:16 pm
You should also take a look at the works of Lloyd Russell. Another great architect/developer in San Diego who also builds his own stuff.
By mike eliason, October 7, 2010 @ 6:32 am
i would add transsolar in the mix… they get to consult with some of the best and brightest, and have developed some insane techniques for low-energy skyscrapers/buildings.
i recently heard that all their contracts are extremely well-written and release them of all liability. if that’s not an anomaly, i don’t know what one is.
By Build LLC, October 7, 2010 @ 7:42 am
@ Scott – Nice call, we’re big fans of Lloyd Russell. We covered a couple of his projects in a post a while back http://tinyurl.com/2dp4qte
By Build LLC, October 7, 2010 @ 7:43 am
@ Mike Thanks for the intro to Transsolar, that Main Station Strasbourg is a hot piece of design -wow.
By Mike, October 13, 2010 @ 3:52 pm
np. the work of transsolar is really impressive – they’ve worked with some seriously high caliber firms on some great projects. it’ll be good to see them break into the US market and push low-energy projects here.
speaking of balmond… looks like he finally broke from ARUP?
http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/2010/10/101011balmond_leaves_arup.asp
By Mike, July 4, 2011 @ 7:47 am
I wouldn’t quite call Alexander’s books “tidy rule books” written for “consumers.” A Pattern Language, for example, is two inches thick with small text. For better or worse, he sought to develop a grammar for building based on actual practice much like linguists scrapped the prescriptive approach in favor of discovering the structure of how people actually speak.
He was certainly anti-modernist, however, and that makes him hugely annoying to much of architectural profession.