Over the course of my 30 years of Architectural practice, my focus has been to develop an architecture of simplicity, sustainability, and efficiency.
In 1976, while in graduate school, these basic principles led to my thesis research in climatology, regionalism, and designing with natural energy systems. In 1978, I started my own practice to implement these theories “in the real world”. During the next 10 years, I designed and built over 40 projects that reflected and evolved these simple principles. They incorporated a natural and uniquely environmental approach to the architecture of the day.
Since these concepts were then new to the field, I was asked to speak about my work at the First National Passive Solar Conference in Albuquerque, NM, and subsequently at similar conferences throughout the US. I have also taught seminars on Natural Energy Systems in Architecture, and a Design Studio for the Graduate School of Architecture at North Carolina State University. I have taught similar courses at The University of Miami in Miami, FL, and lectured at UCLA’s Extension school.
I have explored and designed buildings in various regions of the country, from the cold climate of Chicago, to the tropics of Miami, including the first passively cooled and heated commercial building in North Carolina in 1987.
More recently, I have designed environmentally responsive buildings in Southern California in collaboration with David Hertz, a leading local proponent of sustainable and regional architecture.
Seven years ago I joined Clive Wilkinson Architects as their technical director. Clive is not only a leader in innovative workplace design, but for the last 15 years, has been using found objects such as shipping containers and other simple materials to transform existing warehouses into vibrant “urban” environments for creative companies such as Google and Chiat Day. I found the recycling nature of the work and the technical analysis of the re-use and re-thinking of materials inspirational.
In the future, my goal is to grow and continue my research to approach a truly appropriate architecture. One which improves rather than destroys the natural environment, recycles our by-products, lives within its means, and responds to its location. Specific topics of concentration would include: