There are a lot of reasons why I like being an architect, some of which I’ve covered here before on site. In particular, I really enjoy being an architect that specializes in residential architecture – something that I’ve focused on for about the last 15 years. Despite my belief in “The Architect’s Ego” and why it’s actually a good thing to have, my own reason for loving my job as much as I do has a much to do with where I currently am and why I am here.
I’m in the Northwoods of Wisconsin sitting on a deck, which overlooks the lake … there’s a nice breeze blowing and the temperature is currently in the neighborhood of 65 degrees. I know this view well since I have been designing a cabin to sit on this site on and off for about a year now. The cabin isn’t for me but rather some good friends of mine. They weren’t always my friends; I didn’t know them a year ago – we became friends after I started working with them on this project.
That’s why I love being an architect that specializes on residential architecture.
These projects are incredibly personal for me and the process, when done correctly, is personal for the client. I typically get to know the people I am working with pretty well and as a result, some sort of personal relationship develops. How personal? Well, I am sitting here on this dock writing this post while my wife is getting coffee with the my new friends. My daughter is still recovering (i.e. sleeping) after a long day of playing with the daughter of my friends. We have integrated our families together which is decidedly more personal than just designing a cabin.
Over the past year, we have shared stories to one another about our families, and this trip up to the Northwoods happened so that the families could finally meet one another. This is a family vacation.
Even though the purpose of this trip was not to work, I can’t help take advantage of this opportunity and go through the recent changes to the drawings, talk about the layout of the cabinetry, review the materials for the building, etc. I’ve even got a meeting scheduled on site (about 20 feet from where I am currently sitting) with the contractor later this morning.
Since we’ve arrived, my family has indulged in the idea of owning a lake cabin in a place like this – probably an easy thing to do since A) it’s beautiful up here, B) their idea of “hot” is still twenty degrees cooler than ours, C) lakes (and subsequently, lake property) is extremely plentiful up here. In fact, I’m told (by my new friends) that there is a property just down the same road from here that is currently for sale …
I really do hope that you enjoy doing your job as much as I enjoy doing mine. Every job has moments that can try your patience or exasperate you with some sort of chore – but for me those moments are few and far between.
Enjoy yourselves,
PS – I suppose I can’t write a post about a cabin in the Northwoods without giving some sort of update on the creepy, creepy basement. I’m trying to remember if my daughter has ever been in a basement like this before – certainly not one this creepy.
I think she enjoyed it actually, played along pretty well … until a spider web hit her in the face, then she was “I’m out!”