Flexibility

I was speaking to someone the other day about the idea of teaching yourself to improve at your job. I was not surprised to hear him say that he felt too "old" to change his bad habits. I certainly understand the idea. It can be extremely difficult to teach yourself new ways of doing things.

I think mental flexibility is analogous to physical flexibility. As you age you tend to get less flexible physically. Over decades of inactivity, the body slowly stiffens. However, if you exercise and stretch throughout your life you will retain most of your range of motion. I believe that the mind works the same way. If you are not thinking, not challenging yourself to learn new things, the mind atrophies.

One way I try to stay limber mentally is to always think of new ways to do things better. I see many people make mistakes, acknowledge their mistake and make the exact same mistake a few weeks later. If you do not analyze your actions to find out where the mistake occurred and take actions to make sure it does not happen again; it will happen again. I have found that, over time, I have created mental checklists that tick off aspects of whatever task I am doing almost automatically. Take stock of what you are doing, what you have done and how the two relate. Over time, I believe that you will see improvement.

A theory of efficiency

I am a musician. One thing I have noticed about great musicians is that they tend to have one thing in common. They use an economy of movement in their playing. Their appendages just move less than their less accomplished brethren. I believe the same can be true in any and all aspects of architecture. This is not "Less is more." This is more like, "Maximum information with a minimum of means." Do not repeat yourself, information is put in one place in a drawing set so when it needs to change it only needs to be changed once.

This also means doing everything with intention. There is meaning and reason behind every line. No decision is made haphazardly. There is no autopilot.

More on this in future posts.

What is Yarchitecture?

The short answer is, "I don't know." This blog is my way of defining this elusive term. Here's what I have so far. Yarchitect = Pirate Architect. Mies van der Rohe = Yarchitect.

Why?

Ok, first Mies was a drinker. Drinking has been synonymous with pirating since time immemorial. Not that you need to drink to be a yarchitect. Second, he designed this awesome boat which, unfortunately, sunk in Lake Michigan sometime in the mid seventies. The pirate treasure speculated to be on-board has not yet been found. What else? Ok, Mies came up with one great idea and then ended up copying it repeatedly. Pirates steal stuff. He pirated his own ideas.

Good architects borrow, great architects steal, right? All great architects are pirates.

Awesome, I made some real headway today.

The Architects Most Important Skill

I have become convinced over the course of my career that the most important ability an architect can have is to be able to develop a clear picture of a design problem mentally. If a complete mental picture of an architectural problem can be composed, flaws in the solution will become apparent. Solutions will be more complete and the construction process will go more smoothly.

A floor plan or section is a two dimensional representation and therefore conveys information only on the drawing side of the section cut. As a tool to look for conflicts and flaws it can only do so much. Extrapolating from the plan and forming a picture of the whole will allow you find the errors in your solution.

Methodology

Using the example of the wall section, here is how visualization can work to find conflicts. Work methodically. Start at the bottom and work up, similar to the construction process. Mentally crosscheck the aspects of the detail against the floor plan, ceiling plan & elevations. Work with consultant drawings. Do the structural elements you have drawn match what the engineer is proposing? Do all elements of the structure, roof slope, etc. make sense to you?

Go back to other drawings; use the resources available to you. Ask yourself, “Does this match the actual condition?” More importantly ask, “How is this going to fail?” “Where will this finish terminate?” “What happens when this element hits an inside corner vs. and outside corner?” If these questions are not answered, the final result may not be satisfactory. Picture the section replicating itself to create a wall, have that wall turn the corner. If you can create a mental image of the problem and actually be able to rotate it in your head you will have a clearer understanding of the elements involved in the construction and you will find better solutions.

Visualizing architectural space is a skill that must be developed. Like everything, if it is consciously practiced and applied regularly you will find that it starts to work on an almost unconscious level. Field observation is especially important, as you are then able to check your mental image vs. the finished product.

The Architect's Resume

Your resume is your first contact with prospective employers. In many cases it can determine whether or not the firm will contact you for an interview. When I have received resumes from prospective employees I am usually surprised by how sloppy they are. Architects are visual people. If your resume is not a pristine and perfect document, it says something about the work you are capable of.

Of first and foremost importance is clarity. Your resume should appear as a unified whole. At first glance the organizing principle should be obvious. Take the time to get this right. Organize information clearly. There are many ways to do this. Generally, headings appear above or to the left of pertinent text. Any way is fine as long as it is clear and consistent. The more creative you are at this point, the more you will stand out from other applicants. I have seen people develop a format only to find that it does not work throughout the whole document. Rather than take the time to fix the problem, they have given up. Nothing reflects worse on your abilities than a formatting error.

Content is extremely important as well. Do not miss an important opportunity to sell yourself and your skills, but be honest. If you are “knowledgeable and dedicated”, include this. If you are a great designer, mention your “strong design skills”. Use this type of language liberally throughout. Do not forget to include “industry speak” either. Why say, “Responsible for the production of construction documents,” when you could say, “Responsible for the production of well-coordinated construction documents”? Coordination is probably the most used word in architecture. This type of language connotes a certain level of experience. Use it.

Other Suggestions

Consider including a page with samples of your work. Can these images inform your resume layout?

Include references. Some employers will appreciate the opportunity to have a quick conversation with a third party prior to contacting you for an interview. Of course, clear this with your reference first.