Ep 118: Architectural Interns
Getting a job as an architectural intern is important, it is critical to gain an understanding of what type of firm and what sort of projects you will...
06-02-2023 21:46
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Ep 117: Graphic Matters
Architects still communicate their designs through the use of graphics ? and there are a lot of techniques that are up for consideration ... these are...
22-01-2023 21:44
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Ep 116: Workaholic
Does the architectural profession expect more time out of its employees compared to any other highly educated service provider" Architects do see...
08-01-2023 21:45
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115: The Art of Getting it Wrong
Architecture is not a trade, it?s a craft ? and since this suggests that time and evolution are a consideration to development, it also suggests that ...
11-12-2022 21:41
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114: Holiday Gift Guide for Architects (2022)
For the 13th consecutive year, Life of an Architect presents THE definitive holiday gift guide for architects.
The post 114: Holiday Gift Guide for Ar...
27-11-2022 21:40
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Ep 113: An Architect?s Office
The design of an Architect\'s office presents a unique opportunity to address design culture while providing an opportunity to show off your creative ...
15-11-2022 21:43
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Ep 112: Final Presentations in Architecture School
We are talking about "Final Presentations in Architecture School" today as we review what that process looks like, how to prepare, and discu...
30-10-2022 21:42
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Ep 111: Talking Shop with Kevin Rice
In this episode of our Talking Shop series. we are joined by Kevin Rice of Diller Scofidio + Renfro and we discuss careers, office culture, and archit...
17-10-2022 21:44
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EP 110: Modern Home Challenge
We are starting a design exercise called the "Modern Home Challenge" with the intent to go through a design process that would help us under...
04-10-2022 21:44
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Ep 108: Ask the Show (Fall 2022)
How much drafting does a fully licensed architect do" What is something you learned in the industry that you hadn?t been taught in school" A...
06-09-2022 21:59
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Ep 107: Design Development
Learn about what happens during the design development phase of a residential project when you hire an architect. This is typically the phase the clie...
22-08-2022 21:45
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Ep 106: Architecture School 101: Equipment
Around this time every year that a new crop of potential future architects are about to start their first year of architecture school, and they have q...
07-08-2022 21:35
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Ep 105: Interior Architecture
Architecture is a field with a wide variety of possible pathways and careers. Today we will focus our attention on the closely related field of Interi...
24-07-2022 21:35
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Ep 104: Conventions ? The Best and Worst of Times
Depending on your age, sooner or later you will end up at one convention or another. For some people, this is a yearly migration full of can?t-miss op...
10-07-2022 21:38
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Ep 103: Architects and the Art of Being Happy
Architects and the Art of Being Happy is a difficult topic but there are some direct and simple steps you can take that will improve your daily experi...
26-06-2022 21:41
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Ep 102: Business Development
Today, we are discussing the concepts around business development, which is something that, with almost 99% certainty, no architect was ever taught in...
13-06-2022 21:36
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15 Tips for Young Architecture Professionals
It\'s that time of year when graduating students join the workforce or students have summer internships. So I decided to share this list of tips for y...
06-06-2022 21:36
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Ep 101: Design Process
The design process for each person is different even though there will always be some similarities. I assembled my own sequence process of Discovery -...
30-05-2022 21:33
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Architectural Graphics 101: Cover Sheet
They can look different but the information is typically the same ... or is it" After a lengthy hiatus, it\'s time for "Architectural Graphi...
23-05-2022 21:54
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Ep 100: The 100th Episode
It\'s taken almost 4 years to get here, but the Life of an Architect is celebrating a milestone. Welcome to the 100th Episode where Andrew and I take ...
16-05-2022 21:57
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Studio Lessons 101: Diagrams
After a week full of various studio reviews, I realized how essential diagrams are to the presentation of one?s architectural ideas. While they may no...
09-05-2022 21:32
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Ep 99: Construction Drawings
Construction Drawings are the documents architects use to convey architectural intent - size, location, quantity - and learning how to properly prepar...
01-05-2022 21:32
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Ep 098: Architecture Presentations
Being an architect for some people means standing up in front of a bunch of people and talking about your architectural decisions. If you are a stude...
18-04-2022 21:36
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Out of Touch"
So this past week the architectural internet has been abuzz with commentary and reactions to a recent roundtable discussion that happened at an archit...
07-04-2022 21:54
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Ep 097: Burnout
The architectural profession seems to unnecessarily romanticize the amount of work it takes to do our job so it was only a matter of time before we di...
03-04-2022 21:32
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Architecture and Graphic Design
I have been talking a great deal lately with my students about many aspects of graphic design as they relate to architecture representation and presen...
31-03-2022 21:50
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Ep 096: The Big Idea
Every good architecture project has a concept. Every. Single One. This is the Big Idea that you will build your entire project around and if you look ...
20-03-2022 21:34
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Creating a Culture of Appreciation
We have been spending efforts recently to look at creating a culture of appreciation in our office as a way of pivoting into the new "working nor...
14-03-2022 21:34
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Master Thesis Presentations
So I have spent the first part of this week in ten-hour days of project reviews for Masters of Architecture candidates who are conducting their master...
10-03-2022 21:32
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EP 95: Schematic Design
Whenever an architect sits down with a client on a new residential project, the first phase that happens is ?Schematic Design?, the initial part of th...
06-03-2022 21:35
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Every Architecture Firm is Hiring
Every architecture firm is hiring right now. If you are an architect with 5+ years experience, you are as rare as a flying donkey reciting Shakespeare...
28-02-2022 21:31
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Architectural Detail Books
As an architect, you need to understand details, and one of the easiest ways to expose yourself is by referencing Architectural Detail books. There ar...
24-02-2022 21:38
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EP 94: Ask the Show ? 2022 Spring Edition
Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins from Life of an Architect answer the most commonly asked questions about being an architect
The post EP 94: Ask the Show...
20-02-2022 21:33
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Architectural Redlines on an iPad
I take a look at the process of creating Architectural Redlines on an iPad to determine if it is worth getting an iPad if you are an Architect"
T...
14-02-2022 21:31
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Architects Working with Consultants
When architects work with consultants, how does that process operate" How many consultants are there on any given project" Well, that answer...
10-02-2022 21:31
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EP 093: The Top 10 Reasons NOT to be an Architect
Ever wondered if you should be an Architect" Here are the Top 10 Reasons NOT to be an Architect - revisiting the list I wrote 12 years ago.
The p...
06-02-2022 21:35
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Design Process ? Redlines
Redlines are not simply a coordination tool - they are perhaps one of the very best conversation starters architects have at their disposal
The post D...
31-01-2022 21:33
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2022 Reading List
For the past few years, at the beginning of each year, I try to choose a stack of books that I plan to read in the upcoming year. So I wanted to share...
27-01-2022 21:33
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EP 092: The Top 10 Reasons to be an Architect
Here are the Top 10 Reasons to be an Architect - a list that has been revisited since I originally wrote it 12 years ago.
The post EP 092: The Top 10 ...
23-01-2022 21:32
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Creating a Work from Home Policy
Creating a Work From Home Policy is a vital part of any business and there are a lot of considerations to work through as we move on from business as ...
17-01-2022 21:32
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Teaching Statement for Architecture
I am working on a project that I have never completed in my career: a teaching statement for architecture. This is a new challenge for me and one I am...
13-01-2022 21:32
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091: Architects and Traveling
Traveling is an important part of being an architect - Seeing different cultures, climates, materials, and spatial solutions is an ongoing life advent...
10-01-2022 21:35
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Objectives for 2022
There will be plenty of changes for the Life of an Architect in 2022, mostly in an attempt to keep my sanity, so I am taking a look at my objectives f...
03-01-2022 21:37
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090: Architectural Graphics
Graphics are the language that architects use to communicate intent to the people we serve. We draw to explain our designs, to explain the materials, ...
13-12-2021 21:32
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089: Small Firm Mentality
Can a large architecture firm operate with a small firm mentality" In this episode, we discuss this concept with Mike McGlone from Alamo Architec...
28-11-2021 21:33
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Studio Lessons 101: Architectural Resolution
So I have been having conversations with my colleagues about this idea of what I will call Architectural Resolution. This is not exactly about the ima...
19-11-2021 21:33
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088: Holiday Gift Guide for Architects (2021)
For the 12th consecutive year, Life of an Architect presents THE definitive holiday gift guide for architects.
The post 088: Holiday Gift Guide for Ar...
14-11-2021 21:32
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10 Mistakes Architecture Students Should Avoid
In order to find success, here are 10 mistakes architecture students should avoid as they work their way through college.
The post 10 Mistakes Archite...
08-11-2021 21:35
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Ep 087: Architectural Model Making
Architectural model making is built into the creative process in school - so why do we quit once we leave school" Here is a case for making model...
31-10-2021 21:33
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Do Architects Draw Too Much"
Do architects draw too much" The amount of documentation that is going into our residential sets grows with every project, and I think it\'s a pr...
25-10-2021 21:32
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What is Architecture"
What is architecture" How do we define architecture as a profession, as a practice, as a concept" I?ve been talking a lot about this lately ...
21-10-2021 21:33
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Ep 086: Reimagining the Path to Licensure
Getting licensed as an architect is difficult. It requires considerable time and dedication but what if we reimagined the Path to Licensure
The post E...
18-10-2021 21:35
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Residential Architecture 101 ? Specifications
Specifications are a critical part of the construction documents, and we are developing a standard for our residential projects.
The post Residential ...
11-10-2021 21:33
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Ep 085: Design and Fabrication
Design and fabrication is a topic that all architects discuss. How does it inform the creative process, who gets involved, why does it make sense"...
03-10-2021 21:33
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The Perspective of Work-Life Balance
Finding the Perspective of Work-Life Balance is incredibly difficult, even more so if you haven\'t figured out what that means to you.
The post The P...
13-09-2021 21:34
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Studio 101: Starting Architecture School
Let?s talk about starting architecture school. What is going to happen in your first year of architecture school" This is a list of the top five ...
09-09-2021 21:34
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Ep 083: Ask the Show
In today\'s \'Ask the Show\' episode, we answer ten questions ranging from salary, quitting your job, the value of a prestigious degree, and more.
The...
06-09-2021 21:35
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Business Development and Social Media
Architects are increasingly turning to social media platforms to demonstrate their design skills and leverage that exposure into business development ...
30-08-2021 21:35
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Episode 082: The Side Hustle
Do you know what a Side Hustle is" And if you are an architect, it isn\'t if you have one, it\'s how many of them are you likely to have"
Th...
22-08-2021 21:34
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Residential Architecture 101 ? Architectural Fees
It is really simple to know how to determine architectural fees on a residential project, what is difficult is getting people to agree on the amount.
...
16-08-2021 21:35
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Architectural Graphic Standards Collection
So as it turns out I may have a slight problem with collections or maybe it?s a compulsion. I have an almost full collection of Architectural Graphic ...
12-08-2021 21:33
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Episode 081: Motivation
Motivation is the ingredient that defines the difference between desire and will in the process of setting and attaining goals ?
The post Episode 081:...
09-08-2021 21:33
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Residential Architecture 101 ? Room Matrix
A residential room matrix is a powerful tool that can list rooms sizes and how these contribute to your construction budget.
The post Residential Arch...
02-08-2021 21:37
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Architects on the Screen
Our profession has been represented as architects on screen for entertainment purposes for quite some time. As a profession, we have been portrayed in...
28-07-2021 21:35
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Ep 080: Is Architecture Art"
Is Architecture Art" THis is a question I have been asking architects for years and the answers are always interesting ...
The post Ep 080: Is Ar...
25-07-2021 21:36
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Happy Hour at the Borson House
According to a very scientific research study, conducted by me in my kitchen laboratory - a very high percentage of architects enjoy drinking.
The pos...
20-07-2021 21:36
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Ep 079: Designing a House
Managing design vision, personalities, budget, and construction techniques are just a few things discussed today in Episode 79 ?Designing a House?
The...
11-07-2021 21:36
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Renderings for Residential Design
The use of digital renderings for residential design has become an integral part of the design process and valuable in client meetings and conversatio...
06-07-2021 21:38
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Ep 078: Redlines
?Redlines? is the word used by architects to reference the red ink that is used to mark up corrections that need to be made on architectural drawings....
27-06-2021 21:35
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Printing Architectural 3D Models
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 project...
21-06-2021 21:35
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Virtual Conventions""
I am not certain that virtual conventions are really worthwhile. That may be a controversial statement, but I think I can stand by it even in a post-p...
17-06-2021 21:36
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Ep 077: Design Better
Most architects design until the drawings leave the office so why is there so much bad architecture out there" We can all aspire to Design Better...
14-06-2021 21:37
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Architectural Graphics: Arrows or Ticks"
Architectural Graphics are a topic that I discuss a lot, and today is no different. Do you use arrows or tick marks at the end of your leader lines&qu...
08-06-2021 21:43
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Big Ideas or Technical Details"
Is the education of architecture school about the big ideas or the technical details" This is a question that has been on my mind quite a bit lat...
03-06-2021 21:34
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Ep 076: Critical Skills of an Architect
Here are the top 4 critical skills a person should have to experience success and satisfaction as a practicing architect.
The post Ep 076: Critical Sk...
31-05-2021 21:35
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