How to use fixed principles to design your world

How can we create architectural design? The same way that we can create music with known phrases as you will see and hear from this video link below. We use architectural referrences that we know will create certain proven perceptions that have been used in the past and apply the same principles with new adaptations to our current spatial needs.

Check out this video that is called "Onyx Ashanti: This is beatjazz"

Why Architects are Unemployed

I have recently needed to update my architectural license in NY State. This is a very straight forward thing to do and it requires me to prove to the state board that I have attended at least 36 hours of continued education during the past 36 months.

Today, I received an email from the state board that affirms that I am in good standing. It also reminds me that I have to obtain 36 more continued education credits before the next 36 months come around.

Then, it paraphrases what type of continued education would NOT be acceptable in their eyes. They include:

Risk management, limiting the design professional’s liability, project management related to profitability and maximizing fees, marketing and public relations, insurance, laws related to arbitration, mediation, liens (unless they relate to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the public), real estate, real estate development, expanding a design professional’s business, basic AutoCAD, personal development, general office management, accounting/financial planning, succession planning, zoning as it relates to increasing a developer or architect’s profitability, design build (unless 75% of the course content relates to the laws related to design build in New York State) are not acceptable subjects.

So, generally speaking, I cannot get any continued education credits if I want to learn better ways to make a profit and to protect my income as an architect. Hmmm, perhaps that is why we have so much unemployment in the architectural profession today. It is expected that unemployment of architects is at least 30%. Since the survival of the architectural profession as a business is not a priority, its own "club" (the American Institute of Architects, AIA for short)does not have an accurate count of how many architects are unemployed. Here is an article that discusses this further, http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/2010/10/101025real_employment.asp

Perhaps that is why, even in a good economy, architects continue to view themselves as crusaders of good design with great goals of creating a better world but with no earthly idea how they are going to support themselves and their families while exposing themselves to frivolous lawsuits with low compensation.

In spite of the architectural board's point of view of our profession's priorities, I wrote a book that is for not only architects but for everyone that has a business and wants it to prosper. The book shares ways we can use our own offices as an additional marketing tool. It is titled, "The Designed Office." Heck, I might not get any continued education credit for writing this book, but you can get the benefit from the gems shared in the book. Oh well, my loss is your gain (sorry, that's my architect training talking, not my business mind). Never the less, go get your copy at...

Click Here to get your copy at Amazon.com.

Click Here to get your copy at Barnes and Noble.com.

Or, just click on this link and get a lot of cool free gifts at My Designed Office website


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Frank Gehry: Major Breakthrough

I came across this video of Frank Gehry sharing how he was influenced by artists who would not be as concerned with the finished detail but more so in the overall composition.


Here is a photo of one of Frank's earlier works (before he starting making fish buildings and curved metal formed buildings)






Rauschenberg's work ------->













Jasper Johns' "False Start"











Carl Andre's work:---->










Donald Judd's work















What inspires you to reach beyond your comfort level?



Special Offer for Homeowners

If you are a homeowner then you will benefit from a checklist that is one of several free bonus gifts for signing up for our complementary e-zine titled, "My Designed Home." All you need to do is fill out the form to the right or go to The Designed Home website

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Simple life Manhattan: a 90-square-foot microstudio

It is time for spring cleaning. I am thinking about selling the piano, sofas, beds, large flat files, lawn equipment, BBQ, books, tapes, and a lot of other things that should really find themselves in the garbage. Surprising to me, this video is a bit inspiring for me. It shows how one can enjoy life with, well, not much stuff. Check it out and let me know if this appeals to you.

Listen to our new podcast about how to organize your closets and cabinets

My podcast guest, Ben Rozenblat, shares how ShelfGenie is your source for custom designed, built and installed Glide-Out shelving solutions for any existing cabinet in the home or at the office.

Be sure to click on the iTunes icon and upload this podcast onto your ipod so you can listen to it at your leisure - at work or at play.

Just click on this link to listen how you can orgainze your home and office ----> How good design can save your back 3/8/2011 - Lane Architecture | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

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How a better design can save your back

Check out the next blog post above to hear the podcast with Ben and me.

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Clean Solar Power Alternative Energy

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