AM I AN ARCHITECT?

Thank you for your interest in Lazarus Designs. I hope you found the content contained within the blog engaging, inspiring and above all, informative. I want to touch on an issue that comes up very often in the design process, usually before I have been selected to design the prospective client’s house. It’s an important question, and a question that I take very seriously, so I thought would dedicate a page on the blog to answering the question.

“Am I an Architect?” My answer is always, and is required to be, “No”. This is always followed by the explanation that, in just about every case, a licensed architect is not required for the design of a house. The truth of the matter, to be brutally honest, is that almost nothing is required for the design of a house, which is one reason why so many houses are poorly designed, lack little character and are almost always are void of any creativity and uniqueness. Jurisdictions have realized the importance of structural engineering regarding the design of the foundation due to the varying site and soil conditions that can be encountered, and usually require a foundation to be professionally engineered and “stamped” with the engineers license. In order to correctly do this, the engineer has to know how the roof and walls will be framed, determining spans and sizes, and follows the structural loads down to the foundation, and designs the foundation accordingly. As long as the builder follows all applicable building codes and industry standards, the house is constructed, and ready for owner occupation. Building departments usually require a minimum amount of drawings such as floor plans and elevations for the simple reason of verifying basic requirements are met (size and height of house, location of house on lot, material indication, etc.). So, the bottom line is that a licensed architect is not required for the design a house. Therefore, it’s a personal choice to be carefully considered before beginning the design process. While I don’t believe the design of a home requires a licensed architect, I do believe that all homes should be designed. What does this mean? Don’t all homes have to be designed?

The answer, I’m sorry to say, is no. The act of design is not owned by any profession, nor is it guaranteed by hiring a professional architect or designer. Design is a process of thought, coordination and consideration that the owner, builder, architect, designer and craftsman can all participate in. Having your house designed by an architect, does not guarantee a well- designed house any more than having your house designed by a residential designer guarantee a poorly designed house. It’s absolutely critical to understand this. Regardless of who designs the house, whether it’s an architect, residential designer, friend of the family or even yourself, the most important factor is that the house goes through a process of design.

 The process of design is a reiterative methodology used for the purpose of transforming the imagined, the impossible and the possible into reality. It is a process born from creative inspiration that requires research and development as well as trial and error. Homes that are successfully and skillfully designed went through a process of thought where many options were considered before arriving at the final option to be developed. The house, as a whole, is developed and investigated, opportunities are taken advantage of, and most importantly, thought is put into every aspect, and every detail of what will ultimately become the finished product.

  

Design is a simple act. It is the process of asking simple questions like “Is there enough upper cabinet space?” or “should I make the wall thicker in appearance since it’s soaring to a height of twenty feet?” If questions are not asked, like “How can the furniture be laid out in this room?” and “Will the house look better if I wrap the stone around the corner, or stop it at the corner?” then the house has not been designed.

Design is also a complex act.  It is the selection of appropriate materials, and their adequate detailing and coordination with other materials. It is the careful and through consideration of details, and their craftsmanship. Design is also the production and conveyance of the necessary information to construct that which has been designed. If all you have is a pretty picture, and no means to construct the content of those pretty pictures, then the house has not been designed.  

Designing is a process of asking questions, and then finding the most suitable answers to those questions though trial and error, through investigation, research and exploration. Design is also the documentation and detailing of those answers. If the questions are not asked, then the answers are not thoughtfully considered, and the result is less than what it could be. What good does it do to ask those questions, if the answers are not conveyed in an efficient and thorough manner from which to construct the solution?  Anybody (architect, designer, builder) can ask the questions, and the quality of the answer depends not on the occupation, or title of that person, but rather on how well the person can design!

Lazarus Designs is more than capable of designing your prospective home. I approach every project with open ears, and clear eyes. I’ll listen to, as well as engage you to participate fully in the design of your new home. I’ll invite you to regard and consider options and alternatives that you haven’t considered. Above all, Lazarus Designs will be bring to your project a passion for design; a passion built on a foundation of education, experience and a desire for creativity.

Oh, and incidentally, while the answer is “no” to the question of “am I an architect?”……….

I have both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte……..but I’m not an architect.

I have worked with 7 different architectural firms over the course of 26 years……but I am not an architect.

I have experience on all types of buildings, including educational, commercial, hospitality, correctional, religious, museum, single and multi-family residential…….but I am not architect.

I have drawn, detailed, and produced constructions documents on over thirty different projects of all types…………but I am not an architect.

I have experience on, produced construction documents for, managed projects having a total construction cost of over $100 million……but I am not an architect.

I have designed over 20 single family residences……..but I am not architect.

I have fulfilled every educational and experience requirement, except one……….but I am not an architect.

No, I am not an architect………. because I have not as yet, taken the Architectural Review Exam which states on a piece of paper, upon successful completion of the exam that yes, I am indeed an architect.

I believe the more important question, “Can you design my house?”  As I have stated before, the act of design is not owned by any profession, nor is it guaranteed by hiring a professional architect. Design is a process of thought, coordination and consideration that the owner, builder, architect, designer and craftsman can all participate in. Above all else, I believe design is a passion to imagine and explore the unique and the ability to create and discover all that is possible. The answer to this question is and always will be, an emphatic “yes!”

Thank you for your consideration of Lazarus Designs. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you as we imagine, create, explore and discover…..your new home.

Ronald B. Paden

10/07/13