Admiring Architecture

www.mayakushi.net

I have always had an affinity for old buildings.  I think it was because I grew up in South Florida and the buildings at that time, in my opinion, didn’t have a lot of character.   Thankfully my family visited Savannah a lot when I was a kid and I was enthralled with the grand old homes.  I learned new words like Federal and Gothic-Revival. 

www.nj.com

My first taste of contemporary design was visiting Boston and meeting my uncle at his job in the John Hancock Tower.  Henry Cobb designed the sleek and shiny Hancock Tower located just blocks from the gritty stonework of the Boston Public Library.  I liked the Victorian design of Charles McKin better.  Perhaps it was because I could see where others walked before me in the scuffs and worn spots of the floors and banisters in the library.  I liked imagining people from many generations reading, writing, and browsing through the many selections of books and art.

Large Sliding Doors NYC

After joining the commercial door and hardware industry I began to notice doors and hardware everywhere, very much to the annoyance of my friends and family I might add.  Old and new I always stopped, explored and often took pictures.  I liked the doors and hardware best that fit with the entrance way and unique to the business or building.  Still I had never given much thought to the amount of time and talent the architect put into designing buildings.  I only knew if I liked a building or not.

http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/sexy-retaining-wall/

With social media I am now able to follow many architects and their projects.  I have a new and deeper appreciation of their talents.  I learned that a chamfered retaining wall edge is a pretty sweet detail.  

I even experienced a 10’ x 10’ beautiful steel door hung on center pivots up close at the Chihuly designed by Alfonso Architects.  

Now when I walk the streets of a city I pay attention to the design of a building.  How does it flow and function?  What does my eye catch immediately and what subtleties are hiding just waiting for me to notice? Most importantly how does the design make me feel?

AIA Georgia Design Conference

Living in FL I thought I was familiar with southern hospitality.  I was wrong.  The AIA GA members made an incredible impression on me with their warmth and sincerity.

The show was located in the Foundry Classic Center which was a mix of beautiful old brick and modern conveniences.  The AIA GA Board of Directors has done a great job at educating their members to the importance of making the exhibitors feel welcome.   Having attended many trade shows in the past two years I have never had so many conference attendees come up and thank me for spending the effort, time and money to exhibit.  They spent time at each booth to really learn what each exhibitor had to offer. 

I was part of the a-fabco team that exhibited at the National AIA show in Miami and I can honestly say I was disappointed.  I know my boss will probably never spend the money to exhibit at the national level again.  The GA Design Conference was entirely differently.  It provided a more intimate setting to allow the architects to discuss their specific needs.  Points made to us were interest in more Grade 1 lever designs and the need to met government specifications. 

This experience has lead me to express interest in exhibiting at the AIA Florida Annual Convention being held at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach July 19-22, 2012.  As an aside I used to work at The Breakers many years ago so this would be a nostalgic experience for me. 

The AIA South Atlantic Regional Conference will be another possible opportunity to exhibit.  It is being held September 19-22 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, GA.  It brings together architect membership from Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

All in all this was an excellent show and I greatly appreciate the generous and kind hospitality shown by the GA AIA membership.