firenze live/work

Well, I've finally reached some level of completion with some renderings I was meaning to get around to. While the usual "entourage" of people/cars/vegetation is missing (and may never be present), I'm fairly happy with how the renderings themselves turned out. The lighting seems to be fairly acceptable, the shadows have a few problems, but overall I'm fairly happy with it as a nice little warm-up.

Book Review (+ thoughts)

Well, I finally finished a book I started about 8 months ago (there have been a few in between...I'm not that slow). Brandscapes by Anna Klingmann was worth the time invested. The book addresses architecture in "the experience economy." As I strolled through the chapters I was surprised at how much more than just architecture was covered (although architecture is seldom discussed without bringing into conversation a few fields). The book was recommended by my Masters of Urban Design capstone adviser with the intent of driving a few case studies and considering some current theories of architecture in our current environment.

Klingmann begins with a very responsible introduction into architecture - where we've come from since le Corbusier. She smartly differentiates the Modern movement and our own "modern" day. The book then takes an interesting turn (which unfortunately I only noticed in hindsight). She qualifies two types of brandscapes - those "designed" intentionally by developers and those "marketed" by architects. This reversal of roles highlights an ever increasing blend between the functions of an architect and that of a developer.

As she proceeds to evaluate the usual roles of architects in society (and in some cases, lack of role), Klingmann lands upon a very thought-provoking subject: what are architects [designers even?] for? In her words:

"Therefore, architects still charge for their drawings rather than for the creation of new economic opportunities and for the realization of a particular goal."

And in the words of Joseph Pine and James Gilmore (from The Experience Economy):

"If you charge for the activities you execute, then you are in the service business...If you charge for the demonstrated outcome the customer achieves, then and only then are you in the transformation business."

One of the many lessons I learned during my search for a full-time job was what architecture + urban design + graphic design + photography meant to me. I found it interesting how quickly other people would quickly place me into a stereotype of one or more of the previously mentioned disciplines (and interestingly enough this most often occurred during an interview for a position that encompassed one of those categories). But what I continuously tried to emphasize is that what I aim to pursue as I begin my career is where all of those disciplines (and more) overlap. Masterplans are simply pretty illustrations without the knowledge and ability to be implemented (even in part). And conversely, a single building is simply a building...but when considering its context, its users and its possibilities it becomes architecture. The additional awareness of graphic compositions and relationships along with the sensitivities given to perception and experience only enhance the ability to create in this way.

More and more people ask me what type of architecture I want to practice. Its a difficult question to answer. For me, I don't hold a preference to a building typology...I hold a preference to the use and ability of the building.

To answer the question honestly: I want to practice architecture that matters to people.

a day on the cuyahoga

So last Friday I joined a group of young executives in Cleveland, as well as a few people involved in E4S and the CIA, on a tour of the Cuyahoga river valley...focused on the lower parts near Cleveland.

It was a really interesting morning - starting at Wendy Park, jumping over to the Viaduct, then skipping through some spots south in the industrial valley and then ultimately ending up in the National Park.

My role on the trip was to document the areas we saw...luckily we had beautiful weather. Here's a sample, more images can be found at my flickr photostream [http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidberlekamp/]

Recent work

One of the items on my list of tasks (that has been accumulating for years...) has been to go back to some of my early design projects and re-represent them. With increased knowledge of rendering software and modeling, I have always been interested to see what some of those projects may look like. To kill another bird with that stone, I have also been wanting to spend some time really digging through the guts of some rendering engines - particularly 3ds max. The following images are some previews of a project I did while studying abroad during my third year. The renderings are about 50% completed. Stay tuned for the finals.

Plug

Just stumbled across a friend's website: Restless Works. Really like their graphics works, figured I'd give them a bit of advertising.

Streetscape

While I was downtown today I noticed the streetscaping work on W.6th Street. Its great to see the city starting to recognize that a street is not merely the distance from curb-to-curb. I would be curious to see if this was a stimulus-funded project. Hope they start implementing this more throughout the city. I've also heard reports that the north side of Detroit Avenue is nearing completion in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. All good news!

Slowly

Well, the start of this week has proven to be much slower (and slightly disappointing) than the last few. I suppose I needed a reality check. The weekend was actually quite nice however. Friday evening I had the opportunity to hear my former professor, Alberto Francini and his collaborator Andrea Kipar speak on their recent works, and in particular, their work on the Milan Masterplan. Saturday was spent on the East side, first at the Cleveland Museum of Art. It was my first time in the recently opened East Wing. Overall, I was quite impressed. While the lighting would normally be wonderful, I continue to find some glare issues that probably could have been thoughtfully avoided. Details however.

After a tough training ride in the Cuyahoga Valley this evening with an old friend and his roommate, I was reminded of the many lessons of discipline and perseverance that has gotten me to where I am today. I often wonder what type of connections people may try to make (if any) between my architecture side and my competitive cycling side. For me, both have proven to be essential as my development as an individual. While the sport of cycling can be wonderful, its competitive side can often be quite ugly and challenging. Hundreds of hours a season and thousands of miles in every form of weather do wonders on the soul. But most importantly, the ability to continually push yourself to your limits...then push even further beyond is the essence of the sport. So too I've found the same spirit in design. When the most difficult times come, its simply time to put your head down and dig deeper.

On we go.

New week

Well, there's been a number of new, exciting things going on this week (already). First, and most importantly, I achieved the strange feat of getting a number of things accomplished before 10:00am. Training, reading, code research (which will definitely wake anyone up) and I even managed to catch today's exciting stage in the Tour de France.

My first residential commission is starting to pick up pace. Some of the preliminary research and paperwork is nearly completed. Hopefully, the design work can start up soon enough.

In addition to the house project, I've also decided to put together a photo book of my experiences in Italy/Europe. I've realized I'm becoming increasingly distant from that part of my life. So now the task begins of sorting through the thousands of images I took in the eight months I lived there. I've also decided I'll be using www.blurb.com. I've had a lot of experience with www.lulu.com, but because of sizing issues, I opted for Blurb.

And of course...the quest for employment continues. I've never been more optimistic or excited (so all of you pessimists out there...can it, I don't want to hear about it!).

New photos

Have been trying to create a set of streetscape images from my travels abroad. Finally got around to it, they can be found here:

Streetscapes

Enjoy!

First project completion

After a few weeks of inactivity, I'm going to try to begin to make a more consistent effort with the blogging. After returning from a very relaxing week in the Outer Banks, I found myself involved in Cleveland Public Art's bike station art competition (once again). While I originally planned on submitting for myself, I was presented with an opportunity to help a local sculptor develop his presentation board and graphics. It was a good client-designer experience - bringing me back to my days at FORUM Architects and the many last-minute presentations, changes and revisions. Ah, the good old days. It was a wonderful reminder that as a designer the client's needs and objectives come first and foremost. There are never any bad clients, but there are many bad designers.

Having to interpret a sculptor's vision into a graphic presentation proved to be a great way to begin my freelance work. First project successfully completed! In the near future, I have some upcoming work with the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission (pro bono) and website design for Sleeping Giant Associates.

the streets of Bitonto

Left Bank of the Flats

Photo of the day

Thanks to a recession

I recently had coffee with a friend in the planning sector and I had a number of realizations. One of the most exciting ones, was in regards to what is my main objective during this period of my life/career? Obviously, one could assume that getting a job/income/opportunity to establish my "life" is up there - and it is. But I realized that establishing my "career identity" and establishing my "life" have two very different tracks, which at times may run parallel....but maybe not right now.

I thought more on the topic - what do I really want to accomplish right now?? I know it is not only to land a job. For me that would be too easy [and technically, I already have a few jobs]. What I quickly began to realize is that a desire exists to begin my "breakout period." I recall a few years ago, I was talking to a co-worker of mine on the state of the Cleveland design community - who were the players, what were they doing and how much what they did drove us crazy. And I - somewhat arrogantly at the time - said something along the lines of, "I'm almost ready for the moment when I'm going to break into that scene." As I said this, I of course envision that moment being placeless, timeless and programless....but it was of course empowering.

I realized that that "moment" is today. I'm finding its not nearly as extravagant as I first thought...nor is it significant for many other people. But what I am finding is that its happening - the moment when I am no longer subject to academic semesters, lesson plans and evaluations. Rather, I am subject to my own time frame, reading material and the end product is tested against its end user.

During a week of major ups and downs, I have managed to generate three new projects in the works at the moment - a feat unimaginable when I was walking down the stage with my diploma nearly four weeks ago. I now begin to realize how very fortunate I am to graduate during the middle of one of the nation's worst recessions. If it was not for this, my moment may never have come.

Putting my foot down

Now that commencement is almost two weeks behind, I've found myself thrust headfirst into the remnants of our recession (secretly, I'm loving it). Albert Ratner, of Forest City Enterprises spoke to my Real Estate Finance class at CSU about a month ago - his words of wisdom are still echoing in my ears: for those of you graduating this year, all I have to say is now is one of the best times to be graduating. It won't be easy by any means, but the skills you will pick up in the next few months will prepare you for anything our economy can throw at you. I've taken his advice and ran.

Economic downturns are inevitable, and they affect everyone. My strategy (which shouldn't be a secret), is to push on harder than ever. In one of my all-time favorite movies, Grand Prix (1966), a Ferrari driver, Jean-Pierre Sarti, reveals his secret to his success: "When I see something really horrible, I put my foot down. Hard! Because I know that everyone else is lifting his."

While so many people I talk to describe their horrible experiences finding jobs (or lack of), I make a point to push harder - learn new skills, read more, talk more. While I have yet to secure a full-time position, I've made some great connections with former colleagues and friends that I would have otherwise never called. In my mind, times like these give crazy ideas some validity. Certainly (very smart) people we listened to have been proven (VERY) wrong in regards to the economy. So here's my attempt to respond to the cards I've been dealt: I've created an identity for myself....to find a job?, to find a client?, to find a new career direction? I'm not entirely sure at this moment - but at the time I'm not thinking too much about that - I'm just putting my foot down. Hard!