TOIstudio: clarifying the hunt for new studio space

This is my first weekend in 3.5 months that I am not studying for an ARE (Architect Registration Exam). I was somehow under the impression that if I spaced them 2 weeks apart I could get through the entire mess without losing momentum.

I was sick of em after the third exam, which is when I got my first fail. I don't know what I botched up as it was a vignette. I probably misread something, however the results give very imprecise instructions as how to improve. "Do better next time, sucker", basically. However, I did manage to wade through all 7 in 3.5 months including over the holidays and travels and whatnot. I'm just waiting on the results from the very last exam taken last week. Whatever, I have been working in offices since 2003, having the license really doesn't do much for me at this juncture, it isn't like I am doing "architecture" on the side (I am not, if anyone is interested, no architecture to see here!). Legally I am not sure if the title Intern Architect is appropriate  To be honest I don't care what you call me, as long as I can do work that I find interesting and is of a high caliber  I'm not hung up on titles much, I would rather get stuff done.

Bringing the exams to somewhat of a close (for 5 months at least) has allowed me to ratchet up the hunt for a new space. I would love to define "new space" better then just that but my discussions with some various CDC Economic Development teams has allowed me to self clarify that I don't really know so much what I want, I will just know it when I see it. After working in Detroit Shoreway on various installations I do admit I really like that community. The CDC is very active and Councilman Matt Zone seems truly interested in engaging citizens in arts, culture, education, etc. Sort of community development via groundswell in lieu of gentrification. I appreciate that. That being said I love Lakewood. The amenities are fantastic, the city is small, dense and completely walkable. It is as bikeable as most of the local cities (urban biking wise, although it could improve) and there is a tremendous local flavor to bars, restaurants, retail and business. Ohio City is another area I am hoping to start looking into. Graham Veysey may not have been the first to re-invest in the area not centered on West 25th, but the new Transformer Station and Rising Star Coffee would be the sort of dream neighbors I personally covet.

Today is really the first day I get to have a realtor drag me around to look at some properties. I am hoping to find a great art studio space in which I can set up a small design office, work with wood, metal and composites (light fabrication if you want to call it that) and construct some mock-ups or assemble installations before hauling them off to the site. I am also planning on having a few+ open houses a year. The studio would be fantastic if it could be collaborative and if it were located in a neighborhood that would be open to the idea of public installations on residual space. And I would like to live on the property to keep an eye on it but also so when I get home from work I can jump into some coveralls and go to town making stuff. Proximity = success to me. So, in a nutshell, living space (2-3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath, kitchen/living space, shop area (1ksf), office/gallery (500sf), parking for van, small van, motorcycle and space for a trailor in an inner suburb to Cleveland on the West Side, hopefully super close to transit and other art/design nerds. And close to a great bar, having that "third space", that is required. I would love a small area to garden. I don't mind shoveling too much snow and the MarJ and I are still on the fence about childrens, soooooo no idea how local schools plays into this yet.

Starting the search, lets see what we can find. I'll try to be the best neighbor ever, but I will not loan out tools, sorry folks.

Kauffman Park Master Plan Community Meeting - Feb. 13th

Kauffman Park Master Plan Community Meeting
Wednesday, February 13th
Multi-Purpose Room at Lakewood Public Library
15425 Detroit Ave.
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
6.30pm

Come hear what Lakewood Alive’s Design Committee and Kauffman Park Friends have been up to since the community provided their input into the process of developing a Master Plan for Lakewood’s seven-acre, downtown greenspace.

Lakewood resident and urban planner, Bryan Evans will present a new vision for Kauffman Park on Wednesday, February 13th at  6:30 p.m. in the Multi Purpose Room at Lakewood Public Library located at 15425 Detroit Avenue.

via:
Lakewood Observer
Hopefully on the City of Lakewood Calendar eventually.

West Side Market Vendors Benefit - Feb. 9th @ The 5 O'Clock Lounge

It was pretty big news this past weekend, that an electrical fire occurred at the historic Cleveland West Side Market closing down the main building and vendors within. The market is scrambling to clean, repair and re-open as it has become a staple of Cleveland's economy and community. While the main building is closed for repairs the adjacent produce stands are accessible and some vendors are open.

This Friday, February 9th the 5 O'Clock Lounge in Lakewood is having a benefit to raise money for the vendors of the West Side Market. A $10 cover charge completely goes to the West Side Market Tenants Association.

5 O'Clock Lounge

11904 Detroit Avenue

Lakewood, Ohio 44107

1pm

Benefit for the Vendors of The West Side Market Facespace page

Donations can be made directly to:

United West Side Market Tenants Association

The West Side Market

1979 W. 25th St.
Cleveland, Oh 44113

Attn: Jeremiah Wiencek Stand D-12

West Side Market News

Michael Symon starts West Side Market campaign for vendors

Thngs I miss from teaching

There is an enormous multitude of "things" I miss from teaching, the most obvious that comes to mind is searching through the library and digging through journals in search of that one perfect article for the next lesson. A simple series of examples and thoughts I could point out as precedence to grant some import to the obtuse or difficult design problem that the students had set before them. Something I would make them read and write short responses or questions to (3 of them actually, I got the idea from another professor from NCU - Charlotte) the articles, due prior to the next class, that had quite a bit to do with the exercise for the week. I would show up early to studio, a couple or few hours, and set down in the library or in the faculty lounge, reading whatever I could find, making my usual marks in the margins or jotting notes in my sketchbook.

Recently another friend has taken an adjunct position at the 'local' university I had taught at and had asked for a few suggestions for articles regarding the idea of "materiality", a rather wide topic in fact. I sorted through my folder of pdfs and sent a small selection of various degrees of difficulty. Sometimes I would bombard my students with Frampton, spin them with Graf or just be straight shooting with good ol' Ching. Either way, as the semester would go on the quality and level of responses would improve until they were more a joy to read and respond to then not.

Something that the profession duly lacks, at least locally, is the sort of discourse from reading assignments.; parsing of ideas, conversation regarding interpretation, mayhaps even anecdotal comparison.

Lately I have been reading CLOG (while letting copies of LOG pile up (what is up with these names?), but taking the train to the office is granting me an extra hour and half of reading time each day, that I wouldn't normally utilize, however my chance for discussion is slim. The audience isn't as interested as if they were in studio class. The profession is lacking the sort of discovery and wonder, its place taken by attempting to decipher the intent of those running the projects, or instead, attempting to get the project to run smoothly.

It is a chance lost, I fear.