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O.C.'s top architects
Many of the world’s finest architects – who blend the creativity of artists with the brainpower of civil engineers – work right here in Orange County.
Compiled by Ashley EliotPublished: February 01, 2009
Mark H. Singer
AIA
FIRM: Mark Singer Architects Inc.
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 35
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Custom residential
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Each project offers unique challenges. I love meeting with clients and beginning a thoughtful process of creating a special place for them to live. Every site is different in its topography, orientation and context. There is the opportunity to find a solution to site conditions that is “green,” making it sensitive to the global energy issues.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I seek to find timeless solutions that recognize the old but are designed for our time and for each unique site.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: About 20 years ago, I began submitting my work to the annual competition of the American Institute of Architects. There is a ceremony much like the Academy Awards, and it is the highest architectural achievement given for work in this region. My firm has established a record of winning AIA awards unequalled by any residential firm since the AIA chapter of Orange County was established. This includes the most consecutive years of winning awards by my firm, which is eleven; the greatest number of total awards won; and the most awards won in a given year.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK: Designing and building contemporary furniture in my home workshop
Thomas Cox
AIA, LEED AP
FIRM: Thomas P. Cox: Architects Inc. (TCA)
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 28
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Sustainable high-density housing, mixed-use and urban infill
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: The creative, thoughtful and energetic people I work with daily
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Provocative
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: My proudest architectural achievement is TCA. We have a top-notch group of individuals continually bringing fresh ideas to the table. This keeps our firm innovative and on the cutting edge of housing design. We never stand still – always moving forward.
CD QUEUED TO PLAY IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW OR THE SONG THAT APPEARS FIRST ON YOUR iPOD: Dar Williams: “Comfortably Numb”
Betsey Olenick Dougherty
FAIA, LEED AP
FIRM: Dougherty+Dougherty Architects LLP
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 34
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Institutional, educational and civic projects that are environmentally responsive
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Working in a creative and collaborative field, and leaving a legacy that lifts the human spirit and improves the quality of life for its communities (corny but true)
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? D+D designs are contemporary responses to a unique set of parameters for each project.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Our firm is a true collaboration of talent and by no means the work of a single individual. My life and business partner, Brian, shares in every achievement. Each project is special, and I hesitate to identify a “favorite child.” I am proud of our environmental benchmark projects, such as the Cal Poly Pomona Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies (1991-94) and our current Crozier Middle School and La Tijera K-8 school projects for the Inglewood Unified School District (2007-09). We just won a design award for the historic renovation and addition to the Beverly Vista School for the Beverly Hills Unified School District. The Cameron Park Community Center for West Covina is a multiple award winner, and the Newport Coast Community Center is a newly completed project in my hometown.
WHAT YOU’D BE IF YOU WEREN’T AN ARCHITECT: I seriously considered a career path in law and surprised many old friends when I went into architecture.
Aram Bassenian
AIA
FIRM: Bassenian/Lagoni Architects
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 38
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Master planning and architecture of residential communities in the United States and overseas
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Bringing comfort and delight to communities in Orange County and throughout the world
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Versatility is our strength. We take pride in our ability to excel in design that is appropriate to any location.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Our most recent project, the four communities at Brightwater in Huntington Beach
BEST VACATION EVER: An extended post-college architectural discovery trip to Europe
Tim Bundy
FIRM NAME: Bundy-Finkel Architects
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 25
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: My work is not very categorized. However, our firm specializes in solving architectural planning and design issues for commercial and institutional projects, primarily. In addition, I like to have an occasional custom home to work on, which always brings the architectural process to a more personal level and a closer contact to the end user.
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: I enjoy the challenge of taking a blank slate, or rearranging what is already on the slate, and coming up with an appropriate transformation that delights my clients and satisfies my architectural sensibilities. With that said, meeting and interacting with the many people involved in each of my projects is still perhaps the best part of what I get to do.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I really do not have a style per se, but I tend to work with elements and space characteristic of contemporary and modern architecture.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: After 25 years and hundreds of projects, with a few on my favorites list (including my largest and most recent completion and one that is 10 years old), I still would have to say I am most proud of the 25-year relationship with my business partner, Richard Finkel, that has led to and sustained the vehicle for my opportunities within our firm for more than 17 years. It has provided me with one of the most satisfying, yet challenging, relationships of my career.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK: I enjoy almost any time spent with my family: wife of 17 years, Susan; our two boys, Cameron (almost 7) and Ian (4 1/2); and our 80-pound lap dog, Nala (2). Right now I am more of a homebody than I ever thought I would be at this time in my life, and I cherish every moment with those closest to me.
Annette Wiley
AIA
FIRM NAME: Bauer and Wiley
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 30
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: College and university museums and cultural institutions; custom residential
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Working with engaged and involved clients who appreciate good design
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Modern and client-driven
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: The Ocean Institute in Dana Point – it’s a vibrant, fun and alive place that has become beloved by the community.
WHAT YOU’D BE IF YOU WEREN’T AN ARCHITECT: A curator of contemporary art
Michael D. Robinson
FIRM NAME: Robinson Hill Architecture Inc.
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 29
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Retail, restaurant and urban reuse
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: The design of every space provides unique challenges for which there are no set formulas. The process of discovering the solution in a way that can inspire the user provides value to the work.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Clean lines, refined details and clarity of materials to reinforce design movement are consistent qualities.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Just two years after starting our company, I received a strange call in Spanish. We were asked to meet with a developer in Mexico to design a large-scale retail center in Guadalajara. My partner, John Hill, and I hired an interpreter and flew out for the meeting. We were given a brief tour through the city and told to design three different schemes for the project by the next morning.
With a hotel room, drawing equipment and a pot of coffee, we set out on an all-night charrette. Our presentation the next morning in Spanish went well, and we were given the project. The complexity of working in another country, in another language, on a project of a large scale was an incredible achievement for such a young firm, and this experience gave us the confidence to pursue projects in different parts of the world.
ALL-TIME FAVORITE MOVIE: “One from the Heart.” A visual masterpiece of both film and theater, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this has been a design influence since it was released in 1982.
Brion Jeannette
AIA, NCARB
FIRM: Brion Jeannette Architecture
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 34
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Custom residences
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Creating living environments that enhance people’s lives
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Clean, soft and a reflection of each client’s personal desire
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: My own home, because I enjoy it every day
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: When I was quoted in the newspaper saying, “Holy cow!”
Edward (Ted) Morse
FIRM: Morse-Boudreaux Architects
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 8
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Health care
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Designing and assisting in project development
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Eclectic and complementing the client’s needs with the environment and public use
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: There is no one project that outweighs the others; each has its own challenge and rewards.
CD QUEUED TO PLAY IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW OR SONG THAT APPEARS FIRST ON YOUR iPOD: A book on tape: Joseph Conrad’s “Lord Jim”
Barbara Helton
FIRM: IBI Group
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 25
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Public schools
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: It is extremely rewarding to create new places for young people to learn and interact with their peers and teachers. Good schools can create confidence and a sense of self-worth, and it’s great to be part of that process. And designing the libraries is, for me, particularly exciting.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I’m a “practical modernist” at heart with a deep interest in sustainability, so my designs strive to create open, flexible spaces that are well proportioned, handsomely constructed of natural materials and, most of all, places that are comfortable and visually delightful to inhabit.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: I received statewide recognition by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) for my architecture and urban planning programs with low-income elementary school students.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK: Swimming and, during the summer, long ocean swims when the water is warmer
Jack Selman
FIRM NAME: Architects Orange
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 30
SPECIAL AREAS OF FOCUS: Retail, high-density, residential and mixed-use projects
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: I like the interaction with the client and the excitement of developing the architectural concepts.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I do not believe in one design style. I look at each project individually. I consider its context and then develop a design style that is appropriate for that special project.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Piemonte – a 90-acre mixed-use master plan in Ontario, California, that brings together a wonderful mixture of uses to create an active 24/7 environment. The project is anchored by a 10,000-seat sports and entertainment center, hotel, restaurants, retail and high-density housing.
CD QUEUED TO PLAY IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW OR SONG THAT APPEARS FIRST ON YOUR iPOD: Kid Rock, “All Summer Long”
Robert Tyler
AIA
FIRM NAME: RNM Design
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 26
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Architecture and the planning of residential, resort and mixed-use projects
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: I enjoy the diversity of projects and clients that I am exposed to in the course of my work. With current work in China and Turkey, as well as the U.S., I am able to travel and be exposed to many different cultures and people.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? My personal style preference runs to contemporary, but our projects can range from historically referenced styles to contemporary.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: I would say our work with HomeAid and Mercy House in the design and construction of Emmanuel House in Santa Ana. The Emmanuel House provides housing for homeless individuals with AIDS or AIDS-related complications – as well as the main offices of Mercy House
FAVORITE O.C. RESTAURANT: Javier’s
Sushila Ghataode
AIA
FIRM NAME: Ghataode Bannon Architects LLP
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 25
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: K-12 school design and construction
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: The opportunity to create and the satisfaction of providing superior learning environments for children
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Contemporary design that integrates functional needs and aesthetic considerations, while respecting the surrounding community and context
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: To establish an architectural firm on my own with a wonderful partner, whom I can blame if anything goes wrong
BEST VACATION EVER: A wildlife safari in Tanzania and a trip to Zanzibar
Mark Melzer
AIA, LEED AP
FIRM NAME: Melzer Deckert & Ruder, Architects Inc.
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 25
SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Resort, residential, recreational and hospitality design; international and U.S. practice
WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Creating unique buildings that are environmentally sustainable
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? MDR’s style is diverse and derived from each client’s specific goal and site. Our style leans to the contemporary side, given to creating highly identifiable buildings, and each solution seeks to be memorable and uplifting.
YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Numerous Four Seasons Hualalai residences, the Biltmore Hotel’s “Biltmore Bowl” renovation and award-winning Arroyo Trabuco Golf Clubhouse. These projects created a wonderful sense of place from challenging and unique limitations.
WHAT YOU’D BE IF YOU WEREN’T AN ARCHITECT:
High hurdler
Readers Feedback:
I truely believe that OC architecture is fake non-stylistic architecture. Seems as if I walked into a cookie cutter nightmare in the OC
Comment at 4/7/2009
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Mark H. Singer AIA FIRM: Mark Singer Architects Inc. YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 35 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Custom residential WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Each project offers unique challenges. I love meeting with clients and beginning a thoughtful process of creating a special place for them to live. Every site is different in its topography, orientation and context. There is the opportunity to find a solution to site conditions that is “green,” making it sensitive to the global energy issues. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I seek to find timeless solutions that recognize the old but are designed for our time and for each unique site. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: About 20 years ago, I began submitting my work to the annual competition of the American Institute of Architects. There is a ceremony much like the Academy Awards, and it is the highest architectural achievement given for work in this region. My firm has established a record of winning AIA awards unequalled by any residential firm since the AIA chapter of Orange County was established. This includes the most consecutive years of winning awards by my firm, which is eleven; the greatest number of total awards won; and the most awards won in a given year. FAVORITE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK: Designing and building contemporary furniture in my home workshop Thomas CoxAIA, LEED AP FIRM: Thomas P. Cox: Architects Inc. (TCA) YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 28 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Sustainable high-density housing, mixed-use and urban infill WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: The creative, thoughtful and energetic people I work with daily HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Provocative YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: My proudest architectural achievement is TCA. We have a top-notch group of individuals continually bringing fresh ideas to the table. This keeps our firm innovative and on the cutting edge of housing design. We never stand still – always moving forward. CD QUEUED TO PLAY IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW OR THE SONG THAT APPEARS FIRST ON YOUR iPOD: Dar Williams: “Comfortably Numb” Betsey Olenick DoughertyFAIA, LEED AP FIRM: Dougherty+Dougherty Architects LLP YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 34 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Institutional, educational and civic projects that are environmentally responsive WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Working in a creative and collaborative field, and leaving a legacy that lifts the human spirit and improves the quality of life for its communities (corny but true) HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? D+D designs are contemporary responses to a unique set of parameters for each project. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Our firm is a true collaboration of talent and by no means the work of a single individual. My life and business partner, Brian, shares in every achievement. Each project is special, and I hesitate to identify a “favorite child.” I am proud of our environmental benchmark projects, such as the Cal Poly Pomona Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies (1991-94) and our current Crozier Middle School and La Tijera K-8 school projects for the Inglewood Unified School District (2007-09). We just won a design award for the historic renovation and addition to the Beverly Vista School for the Beverly Hills Unified School District. The Cameron Park Community Center for West Covina is a multiple award winner, and the Newport Coast Community Center is a newly completed project in my hometown. WHAT YOU’D BE IF YOU WEREN’T AN ARCHITECT: I seriously considered a career path in law and surprised many old friends when I went into architecture. Aram BassenianAIA FIRM: Bassenian/Lagoni Architects YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 38 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Master planning and architecture of residential communities in the United States and overseas WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Bringing comfort and delight to communities in Orange County and throughout the world HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Versatility is our strength. We take pride in our ability to excel in design that is appropriate to any location. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Our most recent project, the four communities at Brightwater in Huntington Beach BEST VACATION EVER: An extended post-college architectural discovery trip to Europe Tim BundyFIRM NAME: Bundy-Finkel Architects YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 25 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: My work is not very categorized. However, our firm specializes in solving architectural planning and design issues for commercial and institutional projects, primarily. In addition, I like to have an occasional custom home to work on, which always brings the architectural process to a more personal level and a closer contact to the end user. WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: I enjoy the challenge of taking a blank slate, or rearranging what is already on the slate, and coming up with an appropriate transformation that delights my clients and satisfies my architectural sensibilities. With that said, meeting and interacting with the many people involved in each of my projects is still perhaps the best part of what I get to do. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I really do not have a style per se, but I tend to work with elements and space characteristic of contemporary and modern architecture. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: After 25 years and hundreds of projects, with a few on my favorites list (including my largest and most recent completion and one that is 10 years old), I still would have to say I am most proud of the 25-year relationship with my business partner, Richard Finkel, that has led to and sustained the vehicle for my opportunities within our firm for more than 17 years. It has provided me with one of the most satisfying, yet challenging, relationships of my career. FAVORITE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK: I enjoy almost any time spent with my family: wife of 17 years, Susan; our two boys, Cameron (almost 7) and Ian (4 1/2); and our 80-pound lap dog, Nala (2). Right now I am more of a homebody than I ever thought I would be at this time in my life, and I cherish every moment with those closest to me. Annette WileyAIA FIRM NAME: Bauer and Wiley YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 30 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: College and university museums and cultural institutions; custom residential WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Working with engaged and involved clients who appreciate good design HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Modern and client-driven YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: The Ocean Institute in Dana Point – it’s a vibrant, fun and alive place that has become beloved by the community. WHAT YOU’D BE IF YOU WEREN’T AN ARCHITECT: A curator of contemporary art Michael D. RobinsonFIRM NAME: Robinson Hill Architecture Inc. YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 29 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Retail, restaurant and urban reuse WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: The design of every space provides unique challenges for which there are no set formulas. The process of discovering the solution in a way that can inspire the user provides value to the work. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Clean lines, refined details and clarity of materials to reinforce design movement are consistent qualities. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Just two years after starting our company, I received a strange call in Spanish. We were asked to meet with a developer in Mexico to design a large-scale retail center in Guadalajara. My partner, John Hill, and I hired an interpreter and flew out for the meeting. We were given a brief tour through the city and told to design three different schemes for the project by the next morning. With a hotel room, drawing equipment and a pot of coffee, we set out on an all-night charrette. Our presentation the next morning in Spanish went well, and we were given the project. The complexity of working in another country, in another language, on a project of a large scale was an incredible achievement for such a young firm, and this experience gave us the confidence to pursue projects in different parts of the world. ALL-TIME FAVORITE MOVIE: “One from the Heart.” A visual masterpiece of both film and theater, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this has been a design influence since it was released in 1982. Brion JeannetteAIA, NCARB FIRM: Brion Jeannette Architecture YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 34 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Custom residences WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Creating living environments that enhance people’s lives HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Clean, soft and a reflection of each client’s personal desire YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: My own home, because I enjoy it every day MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: When I was quoted in the newspaper saying, “Holy cow!” Edward (Ted) MorseFIRM: Morse-Boudreaux Architects YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 8 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Health care WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Designing and assisting in project development HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Eclectic and complementing the client’s needs with the environment and public use YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: There is no one project that outweighs the others; each has its own challenge and rewards. CD QUEUED TO PLAY IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW OR SONG THAT APPEARS FIRST ON YOUR iPOD: A book on tape: Joseph Conrad’s “Lord Jim” Barbara HeltonFIRM: IBI Group YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 25 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Public schools WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: It is extremely rewarding to create new places for young people to learn and interact with their peers and teachers. Good schools can create confidence and a sense of self-worth, and it’s great to be part of that process. And designing the libraries is, for me, particularly exciting. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I’m a “practical modernist” at heart with a deep interest in sustainability, so my designs strive to create open, flexible spaces that are well proportioned, handsomely constructed of natural materials and, most of all, places that are comfortable and visually delightful to inhabit. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: I received statewide recognition by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) for my architecture and urban planning programs with low-income elementary school students. FAVORITE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK: Swimming and, during the summer, long ocean swims when the water is warmer Jack SelmanFIRM NAME: Architects Orange YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 30 SPECIAL AREAS OF FOCUS: Retail, high-density, residential and mixed-use projects WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: I like the interaction with the client and the excitement of developing the architectural concepts. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? I do not believe in one design style. I look at each project individually. I consider its context and then develop a design style that is appropriate for that special project. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Piemonte – a 90-acre mixed-use master plan in Ontario, California, that brings together a wonderful mixture of uses to create an active 24/7 environment. The project is anchored by a 10,000-seat sports and entertainment center, hotel, restaurants, retail and high-density housing. CD QUEUED TO PLAY IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW OR SONG THAT APPEARS FIRST ON YOUR iPOD: Kid Rock, “All Summer Long” Robert TylerAIA FIRM NAME: RNM Design YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 26 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Architecture and the planning of residential, resort and mixed-use projects WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: I enjoy the diversity of projects and clients that I am exposed to in the course of my work. With current work in China and Turkey, as well as the U.S., I am able to travel and be exposed to many different cultures and people. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? My personal style preference runs to contemporary, but our projects can range from historically referenced styles to contemporary. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: I would say our work with HomeAid and Mercy House in the design and construction of Emmanuel House in Santa Ana. The Emmanuel House provides housing for homeless individuals with AIDS or AIDS-related complications – as well as the main offices of Mercy House FAVORITE O.C. RESTAURANT: Javier’s Sushila GhataodeAIA FIRM NAME: Ghataode Bannon Architects LLP YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 25 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: K-12 school design and construction WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: The opportunity to create and the satisfaction of providing superior learning environments for children HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? Contemporary design that integrates functional needs and aesthetic considerations, while respecting the surrounding community and context YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: To establish an architectural firm on my own with a wonderful partner, whom I can blame if anything goes wrong BEST VACATION EVER: A wildlife safari in Tanzania and a trip to Zanzibar Mark MelzerAIA, LEED AP FIRM NAME: Melzer Deckert & Ruder, Architects Inc. YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 25 SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS: Resort, residential, recreational and hospitality design; international and U.S. practice WHAT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK: Creating unique buildings that are environmentally sustainable HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE? MDR’s style is diverse and derived from each client’s specific goal and site. Our style leans to the contemporary side, given to creating highly identifiable buildings, and each solution seeks to be memorable and uplifting. YOUR PROUDEST ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHY IT STANDS OUT: Numerous Four Seasons Hualalai residences, the Biltmore Hotel’s “Biltmore Bowl” renovation and award-winning Arroyo Trabuco Golf Clubhouse. These projects created a wonderful sense of place from challenging and unique limitations. WHAT YOU’D BE IF YOU WEREN’T AN ARCHITECT: High hurdler |
||||
Readers Feedback:
I truely believe that OC architecture is fake non-stylistic architecture. Seems as if I walked into a cookie cutter nightmare in the OC
| Comment at 4/7/2009 |
