https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com Sun, 19 Mar 2023 20:02:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Life-of-an-Architect-New-Logo-200-x-200-e1451878774701.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com 32 32 A gifted storyteller communicating the role and value of architecture to a new audience, host Bob Borson uses the experiences acquired over a 25-year career to inform his podcast. <br /> <br /> A small firm owner, architect, and college design instructor, co-host Andrew Hawkins brings his insight from his 20 years in various roles within the profession. <br /> <br /> It responds to the public curiosity and common misunderstanding about what architects do and how it is relevant to people’s lives, engaging a wide demographic of people in a meaningful way without requiring an understanding of the jargon or knowledge of the history of the profession.<br /> <br /> With a creative mix of humor and practicality, Borson’s stories are informative, engaging, and approachable, using first-person narratives and anecdotes that have introduced transparency into what it really means to be a practicing architect. <br /> <br /> To learn more about Bob, Andrew, and what life is like as an architect, please visit Lifeofanarchitect.com<br /> Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins false episodic Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins Bob Borson Bob Borson podcast Life of an Architect, a podcast dedicated to all things architecture with a little bit of life mixed in for balance https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/Life_of_an_Architect_Podcast_iTunes_Thumbnail.png https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/category/materials-and-products/ TV-G Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas bi-weekly 131299242 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/ep-121-material-selection/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ep-121-material-selection https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/ep-121-material-selection/#respond Sun, 19 Mar 2023 19:00:02 +0000 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/?p=38362 When you think of a building – whatever scale or project type, the items that go to create that building are most frequently associated with the materials that are selected that define the appearance of the building. Brick, glass, wood, and metal are all great choices – but the decision on what to clad your […]

The post Ep 121: Material Selection first appeared on Life of an Architect.]]> https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/ep-121-material-selection/feed/ 0 When you think of a building – whatever scale or project type, the items that go to create that building are most frequently associated with the materials that are selected that define the appearance of the building. Brick, glass, wood, When you think of a building – whatever scale or project type, the items that go to create that building are most frequently associated with the materials that are selected that define the appearance of the building. Brick, glass, wood, and metal are all great choices – but the decision on what to clad your project in goes a long way towards deciding things beyond the appearance. . … Welcome to EP 121: Material Selection<br /> <br /> [Note: If you are reading this via email, click here to access the on-site audio player]  <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1562005974350-0'); });<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The "When" jump to 4:13<br /> <br /> When does it happen in the process? Is it early? Late? All the time? Do architects do it differently?<br /> <br /> These were the questions we discussed in this section and one revelation that I discovered was that I have never had a conversation with another architect about when in the process they choose their materials. For me, the first time I start thinking about the materiality of the projects really has more to do with when I start assembling my drawings. If I am going to consider using a masonry wall - I don't need to know which brick I am going to use, just whether or not I need to provide a certain thickness wall that will accommodate using masonry.<br /> <br /> We also discussed when we start making those decisions. Andrew thinks that due to the nature of the projects he works on (K-12 schools), clients frequently drive the "when". One of the things that has evolved over the last few years is our use of visualization software that depicts a more finished product. I discussed this in greater detail in the article "Renderings for Residential Design" about how we are indicating a more finished product MUCH earlier than in years past. I'm not entirely convinced this is a good thing because it moves the conversation more along the lines of "I don't like that color of brick" rather than talking about how the space works.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The "Why" jump to 12:51<br /> <br /> Why choose the material? What are the considerations? Do certain clients value characteristics over others?<br /> <br /> Cost: This is a major consideration and driver in almost every decision that is made. When we get a budget (and we always have a budget) right out of the gate that will influence materiality. Where is the material coming from - am I paying a premium to get a certain material for my project? We also discuss how labor is almost always more expensive than materials. Due to the remote nature of some of the projects I have worked on, and the lack of specifically trained skilled labor, we will not use certain materials. For example, finding a mason in Northern Wisconsin is not as simple as you might think and if I want to build a brick wall, I'm having to import a brick mason in from another part of the state.<br /> <br /> Performance - Maintenance - Durability - Climate: Maintenance and climate are strong motivators driving material selection and both of those drive performance. For Andrew, especially with his public work, how the material performs contributes directly towards its consideration for selection. Can we select a material that doesn't need to be painted (think burnished block versus painted CMU) so you are trading upfront material cost for long-term reduced maintenance cost. Also, choosing a material based on climate and the labor market that develops to support that selection ... let's consider wood siding. I rarely get to use wood on the exterior of my projects because it requires routinely scheduled maintenance to keep it from falling apart or looking shabby. Even if I paint it, and despite the readily available labor market we have in Texas, we do not have the same robust industry of home painters here that you might find along the east coast. Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins 2023 2023 121 121 Material Selection full false 1:01:01 38362 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/2023-kbis-ibs-recap/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2023-kbis-ibs-recap https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/2023-kbis-ibs-recap/#respond Mon, 13 Mar 2023 09:10:04 +0000 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/?p=38347 It has been a minute since we traveled to Las Vegas for the International Builders Show and Kitchen Bath Industry Show, otherwise known as IBS/KBIS. Bob and I make this trip in the first part of February. So I m just now getting to recap the event.

The post IBS/KBIS 2023 Show Recap first appeared on Life of an Architect.]]> https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/2023-kbis-ibs-recap/feed/ 0 38347 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/088-holiday-gift-guide-for-architects-2021/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=088-holiday-gift-guide-for-architects-2021 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/088-holiday-gift-guide-for-architects-2021/#comments Sun, 14 Nov 2021 20:00:07 +0000 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/?p=36726 For the 12th consecutive year, Life of an Architect presents THE definitive holiday gift guide for architects.

The post 088: Holiday Gift Guide for Architects (2021) first appeared on Life of an Architect.]]> https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/088-holiday-gift-guide-for-architects-2021/feed/ 1 For the 12th consecutive year, Life of an Architect presents THE definitive holiday gift guide for architects. For the 12th consecutive year, Life of an Architect presents THE definitive holiday gift guide for architects. Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins 2021 2021 88 88 Holiday Gift Guide for Architects [2021] full false 1:13:15 36726 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/printing-architectural-3d-models/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=printing-architectural-3d-models https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/printing-architectural-3d-models/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2021 05:01:37 +0000 https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/?p=36000 Architects use 3D printers to explore ideas and for the last two weeks, we have been experimenting with the process for one of our residential projects.

The post Printing Architectural 3D Models first appeared on Life of an Architect.]]> https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/printing-architectural-3d-models/feed/ 9 36000