Cynthia Spray Design and Architecture

Back on the Blog....Promoting #Design #Architecture #Luxury #Lifestyle in Boca Raton and Palm Beach, FL

2017-06-10T19:21:00.002-07:00

Beautiful #Lifestyle #Design #Architecture Boca Raton, FL.

A post shared by Cynthia Spray Design Architect (@ccsarchitect) on Jun 10, 2017 at 7:38am PDT

CCS ARCHITECTURE CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

2013-03-23T15:37:00.003-07:00

We love our clients and doing great work for them! http://ccsarchenter.com/testimonials.html

Very proud to share some of our client testimonials from 2012:

"Thanks to all of your relentless efforts, I now have a fantastic looking condo."

BEFORE

AFTER

"We as human beings have a tendency to voice our dissatisfaction, but we rarely take the time to offer our gratitude for a job well done ... well my friends, thank you for a job well done! I am back in

Canada

now, but my Mother is currently enjoying the renovated unit, and she cant get over the transformation and how great everything looks! "

"So thank you once again, I will strongly recommend you both in the future. I had heard so many horror stories from other Canadians about renovation projects having gone bad .. but not in my case ... everything is perfect!"

- Residential Condominium Client, Hollywood Beach, FL

" Thank you for all your hard work and professionalism...you are great!"

- Restaurant Client, Sunrise, FL

"We were thinking of doing a remodeling project, expanding the upstairs loft area of our house. Cynthia Spray came to our house to look things over. She drew up some options, discussed the possibilities in detail with us, and impressed us with her professional and thorough approach.
In the end my wife and I could not agree on how to move forward. We communicated that to Ms. Spray and she was gracious in how she handled it." - Residential Client, Boca Raton, FL

We have moved!

2013-02-12T16:39:00.001-08:00

Our new offices:

499 East Palmetto Park Road
Suite 204
Boca Raton, FL 33432

Tel: 561-479-9884

Check out this Facebook video showing downtown Boca Raton heading east on Palmetto Park Road to our office.

Palmetto Park Road Video Downtown Boca Raton

What the Public Needs to Know About Design/Construction (And what the 'Designers' Won't Tell You!)

2012-11-03T15:46:00.001-07:00

It's no secret that I love everything about a building; urban context, rural context, architecture, interior design, furniture, lighting, finishes and on and on....I'm so dissapointed with the influx of unlicensed and self-taught 'designers' and self-labelled 'architects' who practice in our profession and know nothing about our the industry standards we've had for over 100 years. They cost the client time and money because often times the client doesn't know the process either. The self-taught imposters have found loopholes in the municipal permitting/bureaucratic system and go undetected....they know how to cheat the system. They have no liability insurance. They are just wrong. They endanger the public. Not to mention that their activity is illegal under Florida Law: Statute 481.

Also know that in Florida, the law now allows a residential designer to call themselves "interior designer" which used to be a titled reserved only for licensed interior designers. (Licensed means you went to school, are professionally trained by another senior licensed individual and that you've passed State exams). It's a sad thing that a residential designer can now dupe the public. Please beware.

***Please, please ask for your designer or architect's:
1. License number and insurance?
2. Where they got their professional education - what diploma do they have?
3. Where they worked before they got licensed?
4. Ask for not only client references but colleague references.
This will save a bundle of time and money. So many talented legit individuals in this world. Don't reward the wrong people who will waste your time and money.***

Best wishes,
CCSArchitect

Where's the Architect?

2011-10-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

There seems to be some major misunderstanding in South Florida for whom to contact when you want to construct/ improve a building. Architects have historically been the 'go to' professionals since the profession was formally established in the US in 1857, but times have changed.

The overwhelming majority of people here, unfamiliar with construction, go to a contractor or "Designer" first. With today's focus on the economy and everyone squeezing dollars from all angles, it's no wonder that people go to a contractor first because contractors know construction pricing best. However, contractors are not professionally trained or licensed to design floor plan layouts, select lighting or finishes and cannot legally draw-up, sign and seal a set of plans. In addition, South Florida has a proliferation of unlicensed "Designers" who not only advertise in magazines and online, but also offer floor plan layouts, select lighting and finishes and even provide cad plans and renderings, almost all of which is totally illegal under Florida Statute 481.

So where's the Architect? Historically, architects have always been the "prime" on a project and directed the design and managed the team. New building delivery methods and the economic crisis have significantly changed this tradition. Architects have been essentially 'squeezed' out of the profession, or in the case where a contractor is unable to complete a job under the radar and requires municipal building permits, then they will bring-on an architect, sadly and solely, for the purposed of permit drawings. Unlicensed "Designers" have also contributed to the squeeze; and the public has no clue that it's illegal for a an unlicensed "Designer" to provide these services.

It truly has become the architect's job to educate the public now. We truly need to take back control of our profession. Here's a basic checklist that I've been posting on our social media sites to help educate the public about architects.

Construction Check List:

1. Always hire your Architect first. Architect's are typically "prime" on the project and direct your design. Hire the Architect before the Contractor to avoid major mishaps and achieve a quality product.

2. Is your Architect or Designer a Licensed Professional in your State? Note that it is illegal for an unlicensed "Designer" to lay out architectural plans in Florida - including Schematic Design and Design Development. Unlicensed professionals do not carry Liability Insurance and you might be getting plans that do not conform to the Florida Building Code and Florida ADA Laws. Be very careful and always ask for your professional's license number.
3. Architectural and Interior Design fees are negotiable. Don't sign any agreement you don't like.
4. Is your General Contractor licensed in your State?

Best wishes,

CCSArchitect

www.ccsarch.com

The Lynn Cancer Institute: A Mini 'Siteman' Building

2011-09-30T17:24:00.001-07:00

A Rainy Day in the Miami Design District...

2011-08-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

Space Saver: March 2011 Post Not Ready Yet;)

2011-03-31T19:08:00.000-07:00

Check back in the next few days...

Creation versus Evolution? What this Architect Thinks…

2011-02-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

Tough question, right? Well, this Architect believes in creation. I’m perhaps the only young architect on the planet who thinks this way; at least the only one that I know. I didn’t always believe in creation. It’s a tough story to believe that the world was created in 7 days because to a rational, educated mind, it just can’t be true, right? Think again. For example, our genetic variability on this earth means that it is absolutely possible that two of each species was on Noah’s Ark. Then all the species, through genetic variability which God created, reproduced and in so doing, they have multiplied to their current existence today. We have 10⁸⁰ atoms in the universe and one man and one woman have the potential combination of 1²⁰⁰⁰ possible offspring without any one every being exactly alike. Genetic variability is amazing and it is only one example of proof enough to me that creation is real. There’s evidence as well that Noah had dinosaurs on his Ark. We are finally seeing science being used to prove the Bible! Ken Hamm, Carl Kerby and Greg Koukl are intellectuals with rational, educated minds who diffuse the argument that we evolved and we’re just a bunch of particles. No pun intended;)

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com

Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

An Architectural Critique: The Center for Advanced Medicine by Cannon Design

2011-01-31T21:38:00.000-08:00

Cannon Design is a premier architectural institution which pars with other American iconic architectural firms such as SOM, or Gensler. It's Big. So it's my pleasure to provide an architectural critique of a great building Cannon designed which is situated in St. Louis, Missouri. The 'Center for Advanced Medicine' is primarily dedicated to cancer treatment and research.
Driving into the main entry is really quite an awful experience however. There are three lanes for traffic and the one lane dedicated to patient drop off is located farthest away from the building! Not sure who thought of sticking the valet/patient drop-off so far away but didn't they realize that these patients have caretakers and and cannot get to their appointments alone? Not to mention that once a patient and caretaker gives their car to valet, they then must cross two lanes of traffic to reach the main entry. What a disaster!
But then, the designers redeem themselves by providing these fantastic rotating doors with a push-button option to slow the swing speed to accommodate the wheel chair and caretaker who often move together very slowly. Marvelous! Then you enter into this majestic ten story plus atrium flooded with natural light and walk across very smooth, glistening, beautiful terrazzo to reach the elevator bank. The lobby's terrazzo floor, sweeping curved walls, light blue tinted glass railings wrapping the atrium for several stories and easy way-finding truly provide a sense of arrival. The downside is that the atrium proportions seem a bit squished to me even though it's a great architectural space which makes you feel good. You feel healthy in that space. I also love the fact that there are no tacky holiday decorations in the lobby to denote that it's Halloween or Christmas etc. The absence of those horrendous personal gestures keeps the building focused on healing. It also helps show-off the architecture for which I'm thrilled.

Some of the waiting rooms for the doctors' offices on the upper levels are also squished...and I can visualize the different schematic design sketches on tracing paper which perhaps show the trade-off between the atrium trying to be as wide as possible (it's still squished) and the waiting rooms becoming narrower and narrower with every sketch line. It's almost as though there was a plan issue from the beginning with the atrium's final width never being fully resolved. Perhaps the challenges started with the building's footprint or setback lines. Who knows? Nevertheless, the designers did achieve the full effect of the gracious and simply lit atrium; it still makes you feel fabulous and is very healing.

Healthcare interiors are often so unattractive (even today with so many great new products and textiles) and many healthcare interiors just try too hard to get away from that reputation of being unattractive, and so designers opt for unnecessary creativity instead. The CAM building's interiors are so well-chosen and peaceful and there's no pretense or big effort to be creative. I love the perfect wood benches at the elevator lobbies on the upper floors. Not only are they so 'Vladamir Kagan' (okay, not exactly) but they are warm and very comfortable. The art work through-out is fantastic: it brings high-gloss, color and nature into the building. It's also beautifully framed in the same consistent warm woods. The casework is consistent in each department and is a well-designed art-deco style. I like the building's different architectural surprises such as different floor pattern cut-outs mirroring the ceiling soffit cut-outs. I love seeing design surprises like those. I'm impressed with the tilework on the restroom floors and walls. The lighting is so successful everywhere in the building but particularly at the elevator lobbies where domed ceilings cover those restful wood benches. My suggestion to the environmental operations (aka housekeeping) is that they select a less pungeant restroom air fragrance because chemo patients are so, so sensitive to smell and taste and the current fragrance is truly sickening to patients.
Overall, the CAM building is a wonderful healthcare building which makes you feel great and this is what healing and good architecture is all about.

CCS Miniatures Looking Back at 2010

2010-12-31T19:30:00.000-08:00

It's always fun to compare where you've been, with where you are, and where you're going. Speaking about my miniature house under construction, I thought it'd be fun to post progress pics for 2010. Maybe this time next year I'll have finished it? So enjoy the pics and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

What Does Christ Mean to Architects?

2010-12-24T17:56:00.000-08:00

Seems to me that Christ means very little to many architects in the United States. I attended the American Institute of Architects' convention this past summer on Miami Beach in Florida and the AIA president said to the effect that 'no one in the universe cares about us but ourselves.' Excuse me? I am still so deeply horrified. Such a disgusting thing to say. The architectural audience didn't seem to mind.

Most architects are continuously trying to solve urban problems by addressing housing and transportation issues, anthropologic issues, social, political and economic issues and, the environment, from an architectural angle. Myself included. Problem is, many of these architects are still attacking these worldly problems with human solutions. Oh, but that's right, 'no one cares about us but ourselves'.

If only these architects would see that no human being can solve these problems on their own. Only God can solve these problems and we need God's help. If only those architects would start relying on God the Father for solutions, then we would have much better cities. Urban problems come from the fact that we live in a fallen world. God never intended for our world to be full of strife and disease and now here we are living in an evil world. Sin and death can only be defeated by Christ and we can do nothing without God. So why don't those architects just ask the Lord for divine help in solving the world's urban problems? What's the big deal? You only need a mustard seed size of faith.

Christ to me means salvation, peace, health, prosperity, love, light, blessing. Let's start asking God for help in solving the world's urban problems!

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Help Stop the Perversion of Mediterranean Revival Architecture in Florida - Especially in Boca Raton! Read These 4 Basic Points to Educate Yourself on Classical Architecture

2010-11-12T11:17:00.000-08:00

Even though Mies Van der Rohe holds the number one spot as my favorite architect, South Florida’s own Addison Mizner is on my list of favorites at the top. I adore Mediterranean Revival architecture which swept across the US in the 1920s and rooted itself in California and Florida. Characteristics include arched windows and doors, stucco walls, stained glass, wrought iron railings, petite balconies, bell towers, chimneys, stucco, colorful and decorative tiles, barrel tiled roofs, organic floor plans and rhythmic window placements. Today however, it’s so unfortunate that we have an epidemic of ghastly residential work which mimics South Florida’s Mediterranean Revival tradition and makes a total mockery of classical architecture. Ever heard the local term ‘Boca’ home. I guess if you’re in Miami it could be substituted for ‘Coco Plum’ home. It’s derogatory and is certainly not a compliment. So as part of my effort to make a difference in Boca Raton’s architectural community where our firm is headquartered, I recently emailed a self-made real estate broker who farms a specific upscale community. I informed him that his community is an embarrassment to classical architecture and that he should know better and that he should help prevent any new developments like this. I never heard back. Quel surprise! It’s so sad that my ‘hometown’, which is somewhat mistakenly compared with Beverly Hills and other ritzy neighborhoods, has a proliferation of this atrocious architecture.

A ‘Boca’ home is an unattractive, ill-proportioned, over-scaled, inaccurately-detailed attempt at a classical building and the house is too big for the lot. I originally included a ghastly photo with this article but I removed. You can figure out why. I first heard the term ‘Boca’ home in conversation on the island of Palm Beach five years ago. Boca Raton is certainly no Palm Beach. Especially not architecturally speaking. There is no municipal architectural review board for residential construction and this void has allowed residential developers and architects to design and build ’Boca’ homes. There are community associations which police their own developments but they obviously know nothing about architecture. I can understand the builders’ not knowing the difference but shame on all those architects!!! They should know better!! What lousy schools did they attend? Or maybe they tuned-out in design class. It would be best to revoke their licenses. Listen up folks: classical architecture is something to be studied and respected. Joe Shmoe off the street cannot replicate a classical design. Here are 4 basic points of classical architecture:

1. Classical architecture is ancient temple architecture from Greece and Rome – as early as 4000 B.C.

2. Renaissance architects visited, studied, sketched, measured and documented those temples in books which came to be called ‘treatises’. This happened in the 1400s A.D.

3. Each treatise reports specific dimensioning and proportioning systems used in classical architecture which educated architects know to follow. Research Sangallo.

4. Neoclassical architects in the 1700’s and 1800’s followed the treatises and added to the original renaissance architecture but their embellishments kept within the same scales and proportions of the original temple architecture. Those architects had fun. Research Palladio and Thomas Jefferson.

Please educate yourself about this subject and help stop the perversion of classical architecture in Boca Raton Florida!

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com

Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

Electronic Touch Screens Replacing Sales Help (hope not) and Signage (hope so)?

2010-11-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

I love perfumes. Expensive ones. Can’t stand any fragrance from Victoria’s Secret – understand? So on a recent visit to Sephora I was so excited to use their electronic touch screens to find out what’s new in the world of perfumes. Sephora installed the screens about a year and a half ago and they provide information to consumers. Even more specifically, they provide custom product information to consumers. For instance, I was able to tell the computer what my favorites were and it instantly selected suggestions of new items based on my personal preferences. Unfortunately or fortunately (for my wallet), I didn’t like what’s new on the market. But the point is that I enjoyed the customer experience of using the touch screen. It was visually pleasing and exciting and was a large screen with terrific graphics and colors. Very easy to navigate. The salesperson informed me that they’re coming out with a newer system which will include the rest of Sephora’s products including makeup and hair care. Can’t wait.

I have seen electronic touch screens popping-up everywhere. They are helpful and easy to use. I’ve seen them in condo-hotel lobbies to provide sales information and I’ve seen them at Mercedes Benz where you can sign your purchase agreement and learn about your car warranty options on the touch screen. A couple of years ago I read in Architectural Record that touch screens were going to replace signage in a new hospital in the Middle East. So are electronic touch screens replacing sales help and signage? I don’t think so. With as much technology as there is available today, we’re still human and still like talking to eachother in person. So no, I don’t think the screens will replaces sales help. As far as signage goes…well I think that if a building’s architecture is good, then no or minimal signage is required anyway (see ‘Philosophy’ on our website www.ccsarchenter.com). So only poorly designed buildings requires signage. Point is that I do not like signage. It’s unattractive and contrary to good architecture and so yes, I hope that touch screens replace signage in the future since they add value to an architectural experience.

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com

Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

Where Are Conservative Architects In America?

2010-10-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

You’d be hard-pressed not to be aware of our American mid-term elections happening on Tuesday November 2, 2010 if you watch TV here. The TV pundits on the 24 hour news channels and the attack ads remind us daily in these days leading up to Tuesday. In fact, yesterday’s rally on the Washington Mall has led me to wonder if there are any conservatives in my age group at all (I’m 34 years old). I’m connected to many architects on Facebook and LinkedIn and many are people I’ve studied with in school or worked alongside in my professional life and I read their posts on the social networking sites. It seems out of the 100 or so architects that I know personally, that only 2 of them share conservative political views. That’s a mere 2%. Two percent! So I wonder if there are any conservative architects are in the United States? Particularly young architects (a young architect by AIA definitions is one who has had their professional license less than 10 years). The most offensive thing I heard from an architect, and not a young one, was at the 2010 AIA Convention on Miami Beach last summer in the closing ceremony when before Peter Bohlin received his award, the AIA president said to the effect that ‘no one in the Universe cares about us but ourselves’. He was speaking in reference to the ‘sustainability’ theme happening at next year’s AIA convention in New Orleans. This seems to be the standard belief in the architectural community – that no one cares about us but ourselves.

Well folks, I believe in the exact opposite. God our Creator loves us! And I am a conservative Architect because I believe in limited government, personal responsibility, lower taxes, free markets, discipline and hard work. I am a very hard worker. Whatever you’ve worked hard to earn you should be free to keep. And you should be free to spend your money however you want. It’s hard work that opens and provides opportunity for people. It’s hard work and free markets; supply and demand, that create jobs – and not government handouts or stimulus money. In addition, this earth belongs to human beings and not the other way around. We need to treat the earth with environmental respect and try our best to design our built environment employing sustainability but at no time should we jeopardize peoples’ lives and livelihood because we’re possibly ‘endangering’ the environment. And the jury is still not out yet about the causes of global warming by the way.

Most architects I know feel exactly the opposite and I’m not sure whether it’s an age thing or not. I’d like to know if 2% is an accurate estimate or not so feel free to contact me if you’re a conservative architect. You can email me at info@ccsarchenter.com or connect with me on Facebook or LinkedIn. Lastly, I love all people and I welcome and respect diversity. All my fellow architects who know me know this. That’s why I’m already connected to the 98% who think differently than I do and we keep in touch!

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com

Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

Lighting Makes a Great Retail Space

2010-10-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

Shelf up-lighting at Sephora

What are some of your favorite retail spaces? My South Florida favorites include the Peter Marino designed Lana Marks store on Worth Avenue, the butterfly mobiles in the atrium above the Neiman Marcus escalators, Louis Vuitton and Prada, Sephora, Lacoste, Bebe, the red-carpeted Christian Louboutin shop in the Miami Design District and the Brazilian Artefacto furniture showroom in Coral Gables (best I’ve seen for furniture showroom layout). Yes, yes I might be name dropping but that’s only because they are places where theatrics move us. The architecture lures you into the space from outside. This doesn’t happen at Target or Wal-mart (which are stores that I love and where I’m a frequent shopper). I could delve into the details about customer demographics, product marketing, spacing racks close together so you brush-up on an items which in turn peaks your interest and the psychology of shopping. But I think that great retail experiences are about all of that and more importantly about the architecture; specifically the lighting. That’s what all of these spaces have in common. They have fabulous lighting. They have lighting from above, behind, and below. They have colored lighting, timer lighting, faded lighting, up-lighting and down-lighting. The lighting enhances carefully chosen finishes and this is what shows off the merchandise – especially if the merchandise is properly spaced and never over-crowded. A good sound system and great music helps too but ultimately the perfect lighting design makes any space a work of art and after all, that’s what architecture is all about.

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Colored lights on a timer at Lacoste

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com

Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

What’s the Status of American Passenger Trains?

2010-10-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you took the train in America? Any train… commuter or cross-country? If you’re in New York then it might have been yesterday on the Subway. But if you’re in any US location other than New York, Boston or Chicago then chances are that you don’t typically ride a commuter train and it’s also pretty likely that you have not recently taken a cross-country trip on our national train service Amtrak, if ever. We have great transit systems in locations that demand them. The point is that American passenger trains are not part of our culture today since there’s little demand and the only passenger train service we have is a national one. Our trains are used mainly for freight transportation.

It wasn’t always that way. Post 1950s real estate development in America is much to blame for our unfamiliarity with passenger trains. Urban sprawl, Levittown, shopping malls, cul-de-sacs, and the Eisenhower highway system have all contributed to our dependence on the car and taken us off our feet. It’s such a shame we’re off our feet for many reasons that I won’t get into here since I want to stay on point but, remember also that the post 1950s consumer unfortunately wanted urban sprawl. The good news is that today, we’re yearning to return to beautiful architecture and a sense of place and in turn, many municipalities across the United States are trying to renew and rehabilitate their down-towns and create walkable, mixed-use, pedestrian friendly places where we don’t need cars. So then how do people living in urban and walkable communities move around without a car? In theory: by train (or other transit/bicycle). I say ‘in theory’ because the idea of a walkable, mixed use community is that we not only gain a sense of place but we also move around by train (or other transit/bicycle). But private developers have not yet built train systems because there is just not enough demand for them yet to be profitable. American consumers need to show that they want to ride on trains. And it’s certainly not up to the government to provide a train system just because the private sector won’t touch it. I am aware however that for example the NYC subway is government owned but I am also aware that its losses are in the millions each year. We do not currently have a train culture because consumers don’t demand it and the private sector won’t touch it.

I’d like to see that change. I’d love for America to have a train culture. For CCS Architecture and Interior Design it would me tremendous opportunity to design and build beautiful architecture sited in wonderful mixed-use, pedestrian communities. It’s a challenge for us to pursue projects in an environment where asphalt parking lots and single-use zoning are the norm. People shouldn’t live that way…it denigrates our sense of place and forces us into our cars.

Consumers need to ask for train transit. Our patterns of American real estate development need to change throughout the whole country and until we stop building lousy, over-scaled housing in the suburbs, strip malls surrounded by asphalt and other single use buildings, then we will not have any use for the passenger train. If that time ever comes when in fact we demand to ride on a train across town or across country then those trains should not be a provision of the Federal Government but be provided to us by private enterprises. While I’m ecstatic to see efforts to spur high speed-train development in America, I am not pleased that those efforts have come from the government and not private enterprise. Billions of 2009 ARRA stimulus money, $8B actually, has been allocated to various states: $2.6B for a Tampa Orlando line in Florida, $1.25B for Tampa to Miami in Florida, $1.1B for Chicago, IL to St. Louis, MO, $810M to Wisconsin, $2.2B to California….and critics say the $8B is not nearly enough. Wake up people! Transportation does not drive development nor does government transportation spending. Free markets drive real estate development which in turn demands transportation on an as-needed basis. Don’t build and expect them to come. Wait for them to ask and then build. That’s how you make a profit.

The status of American passenger trains is bad. We don’t use them (yet) and we don’t manufacture them (yet) because we have no demand. But the good news is that Americans are asking for mixed-use, walkable communities and when the day comes that this demand is nationwide and not isolated, and then American private enterprises should step-in and build the tracks and rail-cars. And yes, they should profit from their private enterprise in particular because they should be rewarded for their efficiency and their risk. We all know that private companies run on efficiency and government does not. It’s so sad that the Chinese of all people have been bidding on our own Californian contracts to provide the rail tracks and cars on our west coast. That’s just awful. Transportation does not drive development and nor does government transportation spending. I really yearn for the day when we ask for passenger trains again because it will mean that the days of lousy, over-scaled housing in the suburbs, strip malls surrounded by asphalt and other single use buildings are OVER.

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com

Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

Photo from destination360.com on 10-2-2010

…Miniatures continued: The Miniatures Museum in St. Louis, MO

2010-09-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

In a city home to Saarinen’s arch, Budweiser and the Cardinals…yes…I managed to find the miniatures museum right away while visiting this summer. Everything happens for a reason and so it’s no accident that the first brochure my eyes saw at the Lambert airport information booth was a home-made black and white tri-fold document all about this museum. I’m not kidding. Longtime residents I know there said that they didn’t even know this museum existed in their hometown.

Many of the collections are donations from different estates from around the country. Texas seems to be a big hub for miniatures as several houses were donated from families there. The small museum space is a non-descript warehouse-type place that fronts a main street and its dark inside because of course, the houses are lighted. I was impressed that visitors have the option of pressing a button on each house to turn on the lights which automatically turn off a few minutes later as they’re on a timer. The museum even provides flash lights to shine into the unlit crevasses (not that I found any).

There’s a wide variety of craftsmanship on display. Some houses are evidently more professionally rendered than others but all are charming nonetheless. They are stored behind Plexiglas cases and many have a bio page hanging nearby. It’s fun to see how other miniaturists have tackled the many building complexities such as wallpaper, draperies, upholstery, lighting, flooring exterior siding and furniture. I now know that my miniature home is also museum quality and I’m proud of that.

See http://miniaturemuseum.org/ for more information.

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design

Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

I’m an Architect Building in the Full-Scaled World but I’ve Always Loved the Miniature World Too

2010-09-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

Architecture is a calling. No doubt about that. Perhaps this only applies to what I term “good” architects (http://www.ccsarchenter.com/philosophy.html). Not sure about those other architects – they’re the ones who produce the McMansions and awful large scale strip malls surrounded by asphalt parking lots. They’re the ones who only pay attention to the owner’s program requirements and forget about light and shadow, scale and proportion. But back to the point. One of the ways that I knew architecture was my calling was at 4 years old when I saw a dollhouse for the very first time at my friend Amanda’s house. I was mesmerized and intrigued. I stared for a long time. I didn’t play with any miniature dolls in that house but I just stared at each room and all the mini plates and food and on and on…later on when I was 5 or 6 I started to created mini houses out of colored construction paper and secured the walls, roof and floors with scotch tape. My other friends Katy and Candice had amazing dollhouses. So did my godmother’s daughters and eventually my godfather Uncle Michael gave me my first dollhouse for my 10^th birthday. He gave me a Victorian cottage kit which is still manufactured and for sale by the ‘Real Good Toys’ company. He then assembled and painted the outside, wallpapered the inside and stained the floors. He even painted the front signage to read “Ceci’s Cottage”. I loved it but lost it when my family moved transatlantic overseas. Thank you so much Uncle Michael! I had one more dollhouse after that when I was 12. It was a beautiful London townhouse. Electrified too. But I was never able to fully complete it in my early teenage years because I just didn’t have the technical nor architectural skills to make it right. So I sold it right before I moved to Florida (http://www.ccsarchenter.com/aboutccs.html).

Finally in 2008 I was so unenthused about my architectural job in healthcare because of the lack of design opportunity that I decided to build my own miniature house. So being that it’s my first one – a trial if you will – I ordered a kit (as opposed to designing and fabricating from scratch) and then I customized much of it by changing-out doors, windows and stairs. I electrified it and the lighting is just magical. I bought most of the wallpapers from the scrap book section of the craft store and found many miniature scaled printed fabrics at the fabric store. I’ve stained and painted, and sewn and glued everything in that house. I’ve designed the exterior and interiors and it’s been so much fun. I chose a traditional style because traditional furniture is more forgiving in miniature…you just can’t make a perfect Mies chair in miniature. But fluffy chintz pillows and ‘down’ sofas are perfect in miniature. I’ve added interior moldings and chandelier rosettes. I’ve laid miniature bricks to provide each exterior façade with its classical base and water table. I’ve stained and assembled most of the furniture by buying “House of Miniature” kits off E-Bay. And can you believe it’s almost 2011 and I’m only half way there?

So I really am an architect building in the full-scaled world but I’ve always loved the miniature world too!

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

1 Hour Hands-on Disabled Person Transfer Course Should be Mandatory in Architectural Education

2010-09-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

My blog momentum was in full swing three months ago and then was suddenly interrupted by family illness. Hence the 3 month gap in weekly blog posts. Now that said family member is recovering miraculously well and his rehabilitation efforts are showing tremendous progress and success all around I have time, albeit limited, to get back into my blog momentum.

I don’t think that anyone is ever prepared for catastrophic illness; neither the individual nor the family. My family was suddenly confronted with catastrophic illness this past June 2010. As a side point, I was born again last summer in 2009 and so I had no doubts that we would have victory over this illness. It’s been a tremendous test of Christian faith, incessant prayer and a test of mental and physical strength for all of us. All of the sudden my healthy 28 year old, 6’-5 ½”, 220 lb brother needed brain surgery to remove a nasty 2 inch tumor in the middle of his head. He was temporarily paralyzed on his left side from the surgery. He currently walks with a cane and has a wheel chair. He needs assistance to turn on his side when he sleeps at night. He needs assistance getting in and out of bed, walking, bathing…and we’re right here 24/7 to help him.

Even though I’ve spent almost 6 years in healthcare design and have drawn and redlined ADA bathrooms and other accessible spaces for years, none of that matters in comparison to firsthand experience of transferring a disabled person from let’s say the wheel chair to the bed. Or from standing with a cane to sitting on the commode. Or getting in and out of the car passenger seat. No accessibility guidelines book or seminar or online lecture can truly impress how to design accessible spaces which are functional, beautiful and complimentary to the overall building design. Just memorizing the dimension and fixture requirements helps for legal reasons but is silly really and does not guarantee good design. The most practical method for truly learning and understanding the ADA requirements is obviously the hands-on experience. Such experience not only enables architects to fully understand and implement the requirements but also to use their architectural talents and actually design artistic accessible spaces. At minimum, all architects should be required to transfer a disabled person onto a toilet from a wheel chair and then help them wash their hands and exit the bathroom. This is especially needed if they are going to work in healthcare design.

Our CCS Architecture and Interior Design philosophy is that architecture is an art and that all buildings and interiors should be works of art, regardless of program, code etc. A good architect has the talent to include universal and accessible spaces in their design without sacrificing the art of architecture. The only way for an architect to truly incorporate wide aisles and 5 ft turning radii gracefully and elegantly in their design is if they physically experience what it’s like to push a wheel chair from room to room and transfer a disabled person from space to space. Only then will they intimately know how to make the space beautiful and proportioned. Just copying the minimum corridor dimension from an ADA book doesn’t cut it. A 1 hour hands-on disabled person transfer course should be mandatory in architectural education.

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

Miami the Magic City Hosts the 2010 AIA National Convention on Miami Beach

2010-06-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

Wow. What an exciting two days so far at the American Institute of Architects national convention on Miami Beach Florida! And there’s still one more day. Not only did I meet some incredibly engaging architects but I learned about urban retail merchandizing strategies, the important role of building enclosure consultants, Cal Green, amazing future possibilities in airport design and the role of the AIA in international markets. I was honored as well to be a woman principal mentor for the Women in Architecture’s speed mentoring event organized by the NYC chapter. Kudos also to all the impressive tradeshow exhibitors – my favorites so far (and I only completed visiting half of the booths today) is the suction capsule-like glass elevator which rises up to 4 stories! It’s made by ‘Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators LLC’ and comes in 3 sizes including one that is ADA compliant. See the photo. Truly impressive and attractive! (Ignore the spider legs in the photo because those are just supports for the exhibit installation). I also loved a colorful and beautiful recycled glass product from Glass2 (http://www.glass2.com/) for use in counter-tops, interior/exterior wall cladding etc…(see photo) and lastly I loved the metal wall building envelope products from Firestone – also approved for use in our own Florida hurricane region.

So this is the first AIA national convention that I’ve attended since becoming an AIA member in 2006. I really had no excuse this year since it’s in my backyard and since I helped produce the good-looking and informative ‘Welcome Magazine’ that everyone received in their goodie bag;) The AIA is a fabulous support network and educational body for architects in the US and abroad. Membership is particularly valuable to me because of the networking and education components and this is what helps me lead CCS Architecture and Interior Design to stay current with products, technologies and business processes. Being an AIA member is not only rewarding but also a lot of fun. It’s fun to surround yourself with like-minded people and to share ideas.

Highlights from the continuing education courses that I attended include:

1. Learning that retail and merchandizing consultants are critical to urban planners. These consultants help define municipal business plans and help determine redevelopment district criteria.

2. Learning the importance of building enclosure consultants. Having them on the team tremendously enhances coordination efforts between architectural, structural and mep designs which can reduce liability dramatically.

3. Learning that Cal Green is the direction California has chosen for green building in lieu of relying only on the voluntary LEED certification of buildings. Is California paving the way for a national green building code in the USA? We shall see…

4. Being awed by the conceptual designs for Newark Airport in New Jersey presented by Grimshaw and Atelier Ten. Loved the concept of the ‘Garden Airport’ for the ‘Garden State’! Especially since I spent 2 ½ years studying at the beautiful Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ, whose campus was designed in part by Frederick Law Olmstead. How beautiful. Can’t forget my Jersey connection Overall the presentation was extremely clear given its time slot on Friday evening 6-7pm and attendance was great. Well done!

5. My final memorable highlight was learning how GLOBAL the AIA is and learning about our chapters in Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Hong Kong. The most important point discussed however was that global firms are traditionally healthiest at home first but in today’s economy, particularly in the USA, we’re seeing that American firms are healthier abroad than at home. Interesting trend…

I’ve really enjoyed the past two days at my first AIA national convention and am looking forward to completing my rounds tomorrow at the tradeshow’s other half. Many thanks to all those people who have exchanged business cards with me yesterday and today and absolutely let’s keep in touch and meet again next year in New Orleans Louisiana if not sooner;)

Best wishes,

CCS Architect

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design. Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

Real Estate is Where It’s At. Are You Listening Architects?

2010-06-04T19:20:00.001-07:00

First of all let me preface this blog entry by telling you that you should never end your sentence with a preposition. And when in fact I end my sentence with the word ‘at’, it’s always in mockery at the expense of those who should know better but do not. I apologize in advance but people need to know this. People who know me know. Call me an English snob, but after all I have been very fortunate to have lived in the beautiful and exquisite country of England;)

So anyway, it’s no accident that I am a licensed real estate agent, it’s no accident that I have a professional degree in business administration and of course it’s no accident that I am a licensed architect! What I mean is that early-on a light bulb lit in my head and gave me the bright insight that architectural fees are paltry by comparison with the return on investment that shrewd developers realize. However because architecture is my first love, I stuck with it and served my internship time, and successfully studied for, and passed my 9 board exams. Yes NINE! My dear and outspoken Brooklyn-born hairdresser, who has since passed from this life, once said to me in his NY voice, in response to my telling him about the 9 Architecture Record Exams, “What? They don’t believe you?!” Yes Frank, they don’t believe us.

Our profession is so tough. And before you start thinking that I cry “woe me”, really it’s tough. We are such sensitive and bright people. We LOVE design. We sketch, we doodle and back of the napkin drawings are our staple in life. We dream. But when we enter the workforce, after so many grueling years of study (a bachelor’s degree is 5 not the standard 4 years bytheway), it’s quite crushing. I know that every architect who reads this knows what I’m talking about. Fabulous and gifted people leave the profession for this very reason. It could be because we live in a capitalist society, but that’s a whole other SERIES of blog entries. Coming soon Promise.

So recently I FINALLY read a book that I purchased 6 years ago called “The Art of the Deal” by Donald Trump. I bought it in 2004 because I was hyped-up about the first season of the Apprentice – remember Omarosa? Anyway my friend who has read all of Trump’s books told me today that this one is Donald’s best because it’s his first book and the most real. I love this book. Very easy reading. So entertaining! And insightful. I really learned a lot. No kidding. Anyway my point is that deals, and more specifically real estate, is where it’s at. Architects are you listening?!

I am such a proud architect and real estate is where it’s at. Architects know so much more about neighborhoods and people than anyone else. We DESIGN for PEOPLE. After all, isn’t that what Laugier’s primitive hut is all about? About sheltering PEOPLE from the elements? In this new economy, we need to parlay our specific knowledge into real estate. Sure, we may not know the specifics of mezzanine financing but we know neighborhoods and people. We know function, building codes and life safety. And if we’re good, we know how to hire and manage the right people. We can hire mezzanine loan experts. We’re in a new economy people! Forget old business models. Why do you think the top architectural schools have developed their own real estate and architecture programs in the past 5 years? Hello?!

So I want to stress the importance of first, come on architects! Be flexible in your business model. Move with the times! Out with the old and in with the new. Second, architects are neighborhood and people experts; so take advantage. And third, partner-up. Find the right people and work together in harmony. Real estate is where it’s at. Are you listening architects?!

Visit our website www.ccsarchenter.com for more information about CCS Architecture and Interior Design and visit our blog to read this post at http://ccsarchenter.blogspot.com Also follow CCS on twitter http://twitter.com/CCSArchitect

2010 February - Design is What It's All About

2010-05-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

Design is what attracts every architect to the profession of architecture. It's ironic that architects wear so many hats such as confidante, real estate analyst, economist, quick-thinker, problem-solver and frequently do everything else except design! So at CCS Architecture and Interior Design we make certain to stay current with the latest building envelope products, green building trends, sustainable systems, lighting, acoustics, finishes, furniture and all architectural and interior design items. Our team knows that design is what it's all about because after all; architecture is an art. And we do all those other things very well too;) Some of our favorite designs from 2010 so far include: Lumen Center Italia's 'Coral' Chandeliers and Casprini Gruppo's 'Tiffany' Bar Stool.