Your Weekend . . . (Fairy Tale Castles)

The Princess and the Pea Castle Construction

In this photo: Khoi Nguyen, Hilda M Rodriguez, Iara Bachmann
@the opening!!! :)Cheers!!!!

"Dallas Arboretum Fairy Tale Castle - The Princess and the Pea! All done!!! We were awarded the "The Most Interactive Design" cheers! This was a great challenge for us. We had to build it ourselves (by our last minute surprise)... It did not come as expect...ed... of course but I guess in the end it wasn't too bad! :-) Check our process pictures. We can't wait on the landscape design which will bring a layer of beauty and lush!!! More pictures coming!!!! and in July children will vote for the castle they like the most... one I heard wants "Shrek’s" to win (Jack and the Beanstalk little house)." -- Hilda M Rodriguez

This time I wanted to share a project I helped build back in February 2011. The Princess and The Pea Castle by NRBM is part of this one-of-a-kind exhibit that will capture the imagination of any little prince or princess and encourage literacy through classic tales like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. Designed and built by local architecture and construction firms, this castle plus other six castles bring to life beloved stories for you and your family to enjoy. Each castle will be placed in specific locations in the gardens of the Dallas Arboretum to optimize the overall look. ‘It’s a Fairy Tale World’ from March 5 - December 31, 2011. Other featured castles include:

Beauty and the Beast by PGAL and Turner Construction
Aladdin by HKS Inc.
Rapunzel by Baez Consulting
The Little Mermaid by GHA Architects
Jack and the Beanstalk by The Beck Group
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter’s by Corgan Associates, Inc. and Turner Construction

Your Weekend . . . (Retrospect 2011)

It is National Architecture Week

April 10-April 16 2011

On Saturday, I attended Retrospect 2011 sponsor by AIA Dallas @ NorthPark Center. RETROSPECT is AIA Dallas' opportunity to introduce architects and architecture to the public with over 50 display pieces in an exhibit at NorthPark Center. The exhibit further informs the public of the many endeavors of AIA Dallas and the benefits and contributions that quality design has on the built environment and many other aspects of our lives.

This year, AIA Dallas wants to be more interactive and are rolling out a new feature to the NorthPark Center exhibit called “Ask an Architect.” They will have a table set up on both weekends of the exhibit, with AIA Dallas volunteers there to answer questions from the public about architecture and hand out brochures and literature about AIA Dallas and why architecture matters. The booth hours will be 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturday April 9th and 16th and from 12 noon-4:00 p.m. on Sunday the 10th and 17th.

That’s where you come in! What would you like to ask? RETROSPECT 2011 will run from April 7th through April 17th. Its free and open to the public.

The photographs are just some of the exhibits you may find @ Retrospect 2011

The Ten Commandments of Architecture

Thou Shalt not Compartmentalize: in addition to learning to design, thou should write well, spell correctly, figure out how to get jobs and keep clients happy, take out the trash, make a good cup of Joe, be able to build models, master sustainability as well as the latest technological tools. Do all this and more, EXCEPT … hire a really good professional to photograph your work. It will pay off in awards and in landing new jobs.

Don’t Be Disappointed When A Client Rejects Your Design: It only means another opportunity to design. In architecture there are many solutions to the same question and designing is what you do.
Always Exceed Your Client’s Expectations: The corollary is: establish attainable expectations.

Cost Counts: No matter what clients may say, or how deep their pockets, cost is foremost in the minds of all clients great and small. Make sure there is a clear, written understanding of the expected project cost and have a plan in case the budget gets out of whack.

Problems are Opportunities: Show them how good you are in a pinch.

Bad News Travels Fast: An unhappy client is your worst nightmare. The corollary is: Satisfied clients become good friends and good references.

Art First, Mammon Second: Make every project an artistic success, and you will thrive. If your first priority is making money, you will go broke.

Go Forth and Collaborate: Architecture is a team sport. Surround yourself with talented and enjoyable people, in the office and outside. Share the credit with colleagues and consultants. Run an open office. The fewer doors the better; and just one coffee pot where the designing herd can gather and ruminate.

Listen: Believe it or not, people besides you have good ideas and insights. This applies to clients, staff, consultants, building users, even your spouse. In the end it will be your client’s building, not yours. If you want to be a star, move to Hollywood.

Do Right, Have Fun: Clients are spending a lot of money; they expect something special. There also should be some fun in the mix, for your client and for you as well.

If there were an eleventh commandment, it would be: have a sense of humor.

-Created By: Childress, James