Inside the Mind of an Architect: What It Takes to Be the Best

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• Inside the Mind of an Architect: What It Takes to Be the Best
• Intricate Chandelier Casts Mysterious Forest Scene on Walls
• Colorful Hotel in Ukraine Salutes Dynamic City Life
• Old Stone Church in England Gets Heavenly New Interiors

Inside the Mind of an Architect: What It Takes to Be the Best Posted: 08 Dec 2015 12:00 PM PST Is it possible to translate the brilliant thoughts of an architect into words? Image Source: CRD Adirondacks Ah, architects. No one can know how these creative, sometimes-eccentric minds envision their next great design, but there are some basic truths that make a good architect — and typically these truths require a certain mode of thought. Let’s take a look at the mind of an architect. What traits do the best ones share? A good architect thinks outside the box and doesn’t conform to the rules. Image Source: Dynia They Possess the Art of Skill There are a lot of generalizations in terms of what makes a good architect, with mathematical intelligence and creative thinking topping the list. Indeed, the mind of an architect needs to be logical, mathematical, intelligent and creative — yet the sum of their work is the art of skill. It is truly an art form to jump through all the logical (and sometimes boring) hurdles of building codes and laws in order to create something that seems to defy the laws of gravity and rules of building. Herein lies the true art of the skills required to be a successful architect. This requires a mind that not only thinks outside the box, but also is eccentric, doesn’t conform to the rules and notes the most minuscule details while still envisioning the big picture. Architects are competitive and ambitious; they have a mind like a machine. Image Source: Dunn and Tighe They Are Type A’s Type A personalities can have a bad rap, but they are the ones who make sure no detail goes unnoticed. Typically, nothing will go wrong under the watchful eye of a Type A personality; but if something does, this person already has a backup plan in place. Typical Type A’s are competitive and ambitious, and they have a strong awareness of time urgency. The job of an architect requires these skills (or perhaps it’s the chicken or the egg theory: is the job creating the personality, or is the personality just suited to the job?). Architects have many demands and time constraints; therefore, it follows that an ambitious person with an innate urgency would make a great architect. It requires a mind that is like a machine; all the cogs are well-greased, grinding away day and night, working out every detail on the macro and micro levels. Nearly a third of the architects who took a Myers-Briggs test had the attributes of an ENTJ. Image Source: Design Unity They Like to Lead Architect Magazine quoted an interesting study in which the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was administered to 100 architects. Despite the small study, there was an astounding result: 31 percent of the architects tested were ENTJ personality types. Why is this so notable? Because within the general population only 1.8 percent of people have the ENTJ personality; it is a rare breed. The attributes of this type: Extraversion (action-oriented) Intuition (trusting abstract ideas and instinct) Thinking (decide based on objective logic) Judging (like to have matters settled) Sound like any architects you know? Architects cannot afford to be shy; they must let their thoughts and ideas be known. Image Source: Modern Rugs They Are Great Communicators Many have a vision of the introverted architect hunched over his desk or computer, hiding inside his secret mind. We say that this is only a small part of who they really are. Architects cannot afford to be meek or shy; they must be excellent communicators who let their thoughts and ideas be known. Just think what a disaster it would be if an architect could not adequately communicate his plans to the engineers, the builders or the designers of a project. Indeed, architects must be strong individuals who are able to get their ideas across, allowing others to envision the plans they have designed. This requires a mind that is open to others; a mind that is intuitive and reads people well; a mind that has the ability to devise quick comebacks when others disagree with their vision. Architects seem to be wired in a certain way; it’s what makes them great at what they do. Image Source: Studio-ARD As we’ve seen, the mind of an architect is indeed complex. We don’t mean to generalize — these certainly aren’t the traits of every architect. But given that there is some science behind this, it seems that the mind of an architect is wired in a certain way — and that’s what makes them great at what they do. The post Inside the Mind of an Architect: What It Takes to Be the Best appeared first on Freshome.com.

Intricate Chandelier Casts Mysterious Forest Scene on Walls Posted: 08 Dec 2015 06:00 AM PST "Forms in Nature" is a collection of unique chandeliers by Denmark-based design group Hilden Diaz. The pieces were inspired by nature drawings by Darwinist Ernst Haeckel. Not only are these chandeliers striking in its appearance; they also casts incredible shadows on the surrounding walls. The sculptural design mimics a tree and its roots, twisted and intertwined in a way that looks sporadic. However, this design is actually mirrored around its horizontal axis — a trademark in many previous designs by this Danish duo. In “Forms in Nature”, the mirroring resembles the relationship between our world and the mystery of the underworld. The intensity of the shadows is due to the design, where the strong light source emits directly in the center of piece, surrounded by the forest-like outer. Completely enveloped in the twisted branches, the light source allows the shadows to climb the walls and transform the room entirely. The mood and effect of the lighting changes as the light is dimmed, as the strong shadows fade into subtle silhouettes. For order information please contact: m@hildendiaz.dk. Images courtesy of Hilden Diaz.  The post Intricate Chandelier Casts Mysterious Forest Scene on Walls appeared first on Freshome.com.

Colorful Hotel in Ukraine Salutes Dynamic City Life Posted: 07 Dec 2015 03:00 PM PST Polish design studio EC-5 Architects, specializing in hospitality architecture and interiors, designed Ibis Styles Lviv Center, a colorful hotel in the city of Lviv, Ukraine. The new hotel adds a fresh look to the city, commonly associated with monuments and historical buildings. A modern take on the needlepoint motif is used for wallpapers, carpets and the pattern of the bathroom tiles. “Creating the concept of Ibis Styles Lviv interiors was a very interesting experience for our whole team,” said Luiza Jodłowska, leading architect of EC-5. “Lviv is a magical city where tradition is mixed with modernity. This unique blend of what's new with what's old, as well as the city atmosphere and everyday lives of its inhabitants, became our inspiration.” On each of the hotel’s eight floors, guests can find design elements inspired by contemporary city living, including bicycles, tram railways, old-school benches and street lamps. Vivid colors against a bright background, elements of wood combined with modern lighting, irregularly shaped reception desks and original furniture add an energetic touch to this hotel in Ukraine. [Photos and information provided by EC-5 Architects] The post Colorful Hotel in Ukraine Salutes Dynamic City Life appeared first on Freshome.com.

Old Stone Church in England Gets Heavenly New Interiors Posted: 07 Dec 2015 12:00 PM PST Swiss company Evolution Design took on the challenge of converting a 19th-century stone church in Middleton-in-Teesdale, England, into a contemporary vacation home dubbed The Chapel. “As the existing building was in a state of disrepair, the aim of the project was to bring this unique property back to life and to enable visitors to appreciate the history and local architecture,” the developing team explained. The original windows were restored; the outside trim (as well as the front door) was painted red to contrast with the stone walls. This inviting retreat features a spacious living area, a contemporary kitchen and four bedrooms, making it ideal for a family or group getaway. An inviting mix of old and new, this restoration offers a number of charming design details. The kitchen is an open invitation to socializing, drinking tea or preparing meals. Original wooden furniture, a fireplace in the middle of the living area and exposed beams contribute to a warm atmosphere. [Photos by Chris Humphreys] The post Old Stone Church in England Gets Heavenly New Interiors appeared first on Freshome.com.

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