Hello world!
To anyone who stumbles across this 'window' into my world, I want to thank you for dropping by, and express my hope that you will find something here that will contribute to your success and happiness. I am creating this blog in an attempt to 'force' myself to embark upon a specific course, and stay that course for the next eleven months (331 days).
I admit up front that I got the idea from Julie of recent Julie and Julia fame. Many of you have no doubt seen the movie which was based on the book and true story of a young woman by the name of Julie who set a goal to 'cook her way' through Julia Child's famous cookbook in a year's time. While I don't recall the precise number of recipes, Julie had to both prepare one or more and blog about it just about every day for the good part of a year.
I hope you will find my own aim to be equally 'noble,' while admittedly being a bit more difficult to 'encapsulate' into daily ('bite-sized') morsels! In my case, there aren't 500+ recipes for me to follow and comment on every day or so; in fact, there is no predetermined script of any kind. In a much more true-to-life fashion, I will have to create the process 'on the fly.'
Will this make for interesting reading? To be honest, I don't know. What I do know, however, is that if I can see this through, we will 'both' get some revealing insights into the mental (spiritual) and 'physical' processes involved in creating the world as we wish it to be - by design, in other words.
So, what is my quest? Okay, I'm not Dan Brown (yet!), but my quest does involve historic architecture. Okay, my quest is historic architecture, or, at least, to recreate a portion of it. And just what does that mean? To begin with, I will recreate three to four (hopefully four) historic houses in the next nine months. Yes, I'm planning to 'give birth' (or rebirth, as it were) to either triplets or quadruplets by November 4th of this year . . . some three weeks before Thanksgiving. (More on the significance of Thanksgiving later.)
What do I mean by 'replicate'? I mean that I will select three architectural masterpieces (historic residences) somewhere in the country, and - assuming that there are not detailed photographs or drawings available - I will visit each home, photograph it extensively (inside and out, hopefully!), measure it (inside and out . . . ), and then create two-dimensional plan and elevation drawings of each on the computer, along with three-dimensional computer models. I/we will then create or 'print' detailed physical models of each - probably at a scale of: 1/4"=1'-0" (1:48).
In the interim I will contact each of four nationally recognized home design and decor magazines and suggest a national competition among architects and designers to recreate and update for today's lifestyles three to six architecturally significant historic houses, to be published each month for four months, starting in July (the third quarter of this year's publications). If each magazine agrees to participate, there will be a total of twelve to twenty-four winning residences each month, and forty-eight to ninety-six overall. Each magazine would select the three best designs each month, which would amount to twelve finalists per publication in the four-month period. In November, each national magazine would publish their three reader-selected winners, with perhaps three runner-ups, a total of twelve to twenty-four national finalists.
Here is where of necessity I must be a bit 'covert' as I will soon be dealing with the people and entities that I will now describe, not wanting to give them any 'press' that they may not wish to have at this point. To the degree to which I am successful, of course, they will welcome the additional exposure in the near future, but for now, I will respect their privacy. (Obviously, it is their desire for media attention and the traffic created thereby that will motivate them to participate.)
Not far from where I live, there is an exclusive residential development with some 500+ beautifully treed lots of approximately one 'city acre' each. It is easily the most unique residential development in the state as well as the region, and potentially, in the entire nation, if properly executed and marketed. All of the streets, sidewalks, and other amenities were finished several years ago - unfortunately (except to the alchemist), just before the 'housing bubble' burst. While a number of lots sold initially, there are currently only a handful of completed and occupied homes within the development - with no additional homes under construction. Of the small number of homes that have been completed, almost all are architecturally significant.
The ownership of the project is currently in the process of changing hands. Apparently that process has been underway from the time I first became aware of the project back in July of 2009. I contacted the soon-to-be project owner at that time, and he told me to "get back to [him] in a month." I did, but that still put me about six months ahead of 'the changing of the guard' that is supposed to take place a few weeks from now.
A few days ago I sent an email to the current owner, who I have met only once. He is somewhat of a real estate legend in this area, and has a 'colorful' past - disliked by some and admired by others. When I stopped by his office some six to seven weeks ago to discuss the marketing of the project, he promised to call me . . . which he graciously did. He informed me of the upcoming change in ownership, and offered to pass my name along to the new owner.
Just today I read his response to my recent email. In it he encouraged me to "be patient," that he would again let the new owner know of my interest, and try to secure a "sit down" for me if the new owner didn't respond within a few weeks. I emailed him my appreciation, along with my continued interest in getting his own thoughts on my proposal. He is a busy man, but may just make the time. Having him call me back, as well as respond to my recent email were both quite encouraging!
Meanwhile, replicating the three (or more) houses on my part, and convincing the four major publications to sponsor a national competition are just the beginning. I mentioned that I would complete them some three weeks before Thanksgiving. Here is why: On Thanksgiving weekend (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), 2010, I propose to hold the first annual Macey's Thanksgiving Day Parade . . . of Model Homes . . . at the development. (My oldest granddaughter, now eleven years old, is named Macey, so I have envisioned this for a number of years now.)
No big deal! All that we need is for one or more of the national magazines to sponsor the historic-home design competition, while the new owner of the development agrees to hold the parade of model homes in his development - five and nine months from now, respectively. More importantly, the new owner will agree to strengthen the architectural 'guidelines' for the development, requiring that every home built therein be based on an architecturally significant historic home approved by the 'reconstituted' architectural review board. This, in combination with the national design competition (which could, along with the Parade of Homes, become an annual event), will result in the development becoming nationally recognized
The 'model' homes will, in fact, be detailed architectural models, of each home, situated on a specific site within the development, and displayed under an awning on that very site - in lieu of a furnished model costing millions of dollars (each). The models should cost no more than $10,000 a piece, and, presenting both the lots and historic houses, complete with scaled trees, and all other improvements, in museum-quality display cases ('under glass'), will elicit highly emotional responses on the part of each of the thousands of prospective buyers who will ultimately view them. Twenty four models, complete with unlimited artists' (computer) renderings of both interiors and exteriors, along with virtual reality tours in and around each one, might be produced for 1/4th the cost of a single furnished model.
Having said that, we may also succeed in having each of the national publications build its winning design, while perhaps a local builder would build the grand champion (or a collaborative effort between publication and builder, etc.) - thus providing several full scale historic replicas that would serve as the centerpieces for the Thanksgiving Day Parade. The twenty-four national finalists would serve as the designs from which the 'model' homes would be produced. The drawings, computer renderings, and virtual reality tours would be provided as a requirement of the competition. The national publications would, of course, offer the plans for sale, which profit would be shared by the magazine and the architect/designers (and their sponsors).
So, there you have it! There is much to do, but this entry will serve as my 'announcement to the world' of what I/we intend to accomplish. (No one ever succeeds at anything alone, in spite of outward appearances. We always receive help from a myriad of sources, and we should therefore be willing to recognize and share the credit.)
While there is much more to say regarding my plans for the future, along with many of the details of my past as they relate to current and developing circumstances, what I have outlined here is the 'gist' of my quest for the next nine months: national competition, my own historic designs, and the parade of 'model' homes. As I am an author (who has written on the subject of the mind), in addition to being a registered architect ('master builder'), this chronicle will highlight the inner as well as the outer journey in pursuit of the stated, as well as related, goals.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy embarking upon this journey with me! Perhaps you will become a part of the story as well . . . . I look forward to hearing your thoughts and insights along the way! It may well be that your wisdom will make possible my (our?) ultimate success!
Good night, and thank you for becoming an important part of my life. Just how important we may soon see! Invite anyone who you think could contribute or would enjoy this to come along for the ride! We will not do this alone . . . .
Howard Roark, Architect (From The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand).
PS. There is a bit of irony here in that Rand and Roark, true to the emerging architectural theory of their day, were dismissive of the role, indeed the value, of architectural traditions. Nonetheless, by my embracing them fully, in contrast to even the more 'tolerant' view of architectural history today, I, like Roark am cast in the role of the 'maverick.'
http://www.blogger.com/www.ThoughtAuthor.com
To anyone who stumbles across this 'window' into my world, I want to thank you for dropping by, and express my hope that you will find something here that will contribute to your success and happiness. I am creating this blog in an attempt to 'force' myself to embark upon a specific course, and stay that course for the next eleven months (331 days).
I admit up front that I got the idea from Julie of recent Julie and Julia fame. Many of you have no doubt seen the movie which was based on the book and true story of a young woman by the name of Julie who set a goal to 'cook her way' through Julia Child's famous cookbook in a year's time. While I don't recall the precise number of recipes, Julie had to both prepare one or more and blog about it just about every day for the good part of a year.
I hope you will find my own aim to be equally 'noble,' while admittedly being a bit more difficult to 'encapsulate' into daily ('bite-sized') morsels! In my case, there aren't 500+ recipes for me to follow and comment on every day or so; in fact, there is no predetermined script of any kind. In a much more true-to-life fashion, I will have to create the process 'on the fly.'
Will this make for interesting reading? To be honest, I don't know. What I do know, however, is that if I can see this through, we will 'both' get some revealing insights into the mental (spiritual) and 'physical' processes involved in creating the world as we wish it to be - by design, in other words.
So, what is my quest? Okay, I'm not Dan Brown (yet!), but my quest does involve historic architecture. Okay, my quest is historic architecture, or, at least, to recreate a portion of it. And just what does that mean? To begin with, I will recreate three to four (hopefully four) historic houses in the next nine months. Yes, I'm planning to 'give birth' (or rebirth, as it were) to either triplets or quadruplets by November 4th of this year . . . some three weeks before Thanksgiving. (More on the significance of Thanksgiving later.)
What do I mean by 'replicate'? I mean that I will select three architectural masterpieces (historic residences) somewhere in the country, and - assuming that there are not detailed photographs or drawings available - I will visit each home, photograph it extensively (inside and out, hopefully!), measure it (inside and out . . . ), and then create two-dimensional plan and elevation drawings of each on the computer, along with three-dimensional computer models. I/we will then create or 'print' detailed physical models of each - probably at a scale of: 1/4"=1'-0" (1:48).
In the interim I will contact each of four nationally recognized home design and decor magazines and suggest a national competition among architects and designers to recreate and update for today's lifestyles three to six architecturally significant historic houses, to be published each month for four months, starting in July (the third quarter of this year's publications). If each magazine agrees to participate, there will be a total of twelve to twenty-four winning residences each month, and forty-eight to ninety-six overall. Each magazine would select the three best designs each month, which would amount to twelve finalists per publication in the four-month period. In November, each national magazine would publish their three reader-selected winners, with perhaps three runner-ups, a total of twelve to twenty-four national finalists.
Here is where of necessity I must be a bit 'covert' as I will soon be dealing with the people and entities that I will now describe, not wanting to give them any 'press' that they may not wish to have at this point. To the degree to which I am successful, of course, they will welcome the additional exposure in the near future, but for now, I will respect their privacy. (Obviously, it is their desire for media attention and the traffic created thereby that will motivate them to participate.)
Not far from where I live, there is an exclusive residential development with some 500+ beautifully treed lots of approximately one 'city acre' each. It is easily the most unique residential development in the state as well as the region, and potentially, in the entire nation, if properly executed and marketed. All of the streets, sidewalks, and other amenities were finished several years ago - unfortunately (except to the alchemist), just before the 'housing bubble' burst. While a number of lots sold initially, there are currently only a handful of completed and occupied homes within the development - with no additional homes under construction. Of the small number of homes that have been completed, almost all are architecturally significant.
The ownership of the project is currently in the process of changing hands. Apparently that process has been underway from the time I first became aware of the project back in July of 2009. I contacted the soon-to-be project owner at that time, and he told me to "get back to [him] in a month." I did, but that still put me about six months ahead of 'the changing of the guard' that is supposed to take place a few weeks from now.
A few days ago I sent an email to the current owner, who I have met only once. He is somewhat of a real estate legend in this area, and has a 'colorful' past - disliked by some and admired by others. When I stopped by his office some six to seven weeks ago to discuss the marketing of the project, he promised to call me . . . which he graciously did. He informed me of the upcoming change in ownership, and offered to pass my name along to the new owner.
Just today I read his response to my recent email. In it he encouraged me to "be patient," that he would again let the new owner know of my interest, and try to secure a "sit down" for me if the new owner didn't respond within a few weeks. I emailed him my appreciation, along with my continued interest in getting his own thoughts on my proposal. He is a busy man, but may just make the time. Having him call me back, as well as respond to my recent email were both quite encouraging!
Meanwhile, replicating the three (or more) houses on my part, and convincing the four major publications to sponsor a national competition are just the beginning. I mentioned that I would complete them some three weeks before Thanksgiving. Here is why: On Thanksgiving weekend (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), 2010, I propose to hold the first annual Macey's Thanksgiving Day Parade . . . of Model Homes . . . at the development. (My oldest granddaughter, now eleven years old, is named Macey, so I have envisioned this for a number of years now.)
No big deal! All that we need is for one or more of the national magazines to sponsor the historic-home design competition, while the new owner of the development agrees to hold the parade of model homes in his development - five and nine months from now, respectively. More importantly, the new owner will agree to strengthen the architectural 'guidelines' for the development, requiring that every home built therein be based on an architecturally significant historic home approved by the 'reconstituted' architectural review board. This, in combination with the national design competition (which could, along with the Parade of Homes, become an annual event), will result in the development becoming nationally recognized
The 'model' homes will, in fact, be detailed architectural models, of each home, situated on a specific site within the development, and displayed under an awning on that very site - in lieu of a furnished model costing millions of dollars (each). The models should cost no more than $10,000 a piece, and, presenting both the lots and historic houses, complete with scaled trees, and all other improvements, in museum-quality display cases ('under glass'), will elicit highly emotional responses on the part of each of the thousands of prospective buyers who will ultimately view them. Twenty four models, complete with unlimited artists' (computer) renderings of both interiors and exteriors, along with virtual reality tours in and around each one, might be produced for 1/4th the cost of a single furnished model.
Having said that, we may also succeed in having each of the national publications build its winning design, while perhaps a local builder would build the grand champion (or a collaborative effort between publication and builder, etc.) - thus providing several full scale historic replicas that would serve as the centerpieces for the Thanksgiving Day Parade. The twenty-four national finalists would serve as the designs from which the 'model' homes would be produced. The drawings, computer renderings, and virtual reality tours would be provided as a requirement of the competition. The national publications would, of course, offer the plans for sale, which profit would be shared by the magazine and the architect/designers (and their sponsors).
So, there you have it! There is much to do, but this entry will serve as my 'announcement to the world' of what I/we intend to accomplish. (No one ever succeeds at anything alone, in spite of outward appearances. We always receive help from a myriad of sources, and we should therefore be willing to recognize and share the credit.)
While there is much more to say regarding my plans for the future, along with many of the details of my past as they relate to current and developing circumstances, what I have outlined here is the 'gist' of my quest for the next nine months: national competition, my own historic designs, and the parade of 'model' homes. As I am an author (who has written on the subject of the mind), in addition to being a registered architect ('master builder'), this chronicle will highlight the inner as well as the outer journey in pursuit of the stated, as well as related, goals.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy embarking upon this journey with me! Perhaps you will become a part of the story as well . . . . I look forward to hearing your thoughts and insights along the way! It may well be that your wisdom will make possible my (our?) ultimate success!
Good night, and thank you for becoming an important part of my life. Just how important we may soon see! Invite anyone who you think could contribute or would enjoy this to come along for the ride! We will not do this alone . . . .
Howard Roark, Architect (From The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand).
PS. There is a bit of irony here in that Rand and Roark, true to the emerging architectural theory of their day, were dismissive of the role, indeed the value, of architectural traditions. Nonetheless, by my embracing them fully, in contrast to even the more 'tolerant' view of architectural history today, I, like Roark am cast in the role of the 'maverick.'
http://www.blogger.com/www.ThoughtAuthor.com
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