If my character lays claim to autonomy, independence and freedom (of which privation the trade latterly ceases to satisfy) I firmly believe that collaborative teamwork between designers (amongst architects in particular) is necessary for Practical Training purposes. (The UK required PT of its qualifying architects well before EU countries adopted similar measures.)
To this end, collaboration should be able and can indeed override the primary relationship of servant to master (I myself have experienced this with some, but by no means all), elementary lever of resources, to embody generosity, without which predisposition any attempt at creativity is ultimately sterile.
Unfortunately in design practice regularly crops up the greedy inspector Max LUCRE, with state mandate to sequester funds (that one would prefer to set aside for the achievement of nobler goals) and redistribute them (in the name of democracy, to be sure) in favour of other, basely arithmetical ends. Such that remains little margin for in-depth reflection, sometimes hardly enough to properly constitute and archive for the prescribed period — that of professional liabilities — a project file’s burdensome contents.
Not all, however, grasp this heartbreaking state of affairs (the ugly works of architecture that get built — fruit, to a certain extent, of this drive to squeeze life out of stone — stand however cruel witness) and it even happens that employers renounce covering outgoings an employee will have to bear in expenses and tax. (As an architect in Brignoles, who was looking for staff, once put it bluntly : if you allow for paying tax on your salary, we’ ll never manage !)
To preserve my solvability (a deontological obligation), I have often found myself perplexed and obliged to simply quit. All the easier to decide when contracts are precarious any way, or remuneration inferior to costs, either of living itself, or that elusive opportunity to increase one’s chances elsewhere.
AND PARTENAIRES, Vanves, 2004-05
Delegate or single-handed representation
- Tender offer (bodywork design) in negotiation with SIEMENS, Nuremberg, 2005
- PREDIT trade fair, Clermont-Ferrand, 2005
- Valenciennes tram infrastructure building works, 2005
- Preparation of tender offer (bodywork design) in response to CSR Sifang, China, 2004
- CFF building works, Paris, 2004
- Tender offer (livery design) in negotiation with EUROSTAR, London, 2000
TREVOR LAHIFF, London, 2000
Fired (thanks to pressures from &P for the EUROSTAR deal then remitted after a week, I finally threw in the towel, when my rental contract expired. Sacred River Ltd. engaged me soon afterward later, to oversee the building site for Sketch, 9 Conduit St., London.
- Li.Ter apartment, Cadogan Sq., London (Jacques GRANGE, decorator)
KOETTER KIM & ASSOCIATES, London, 1999-2000
- DS 8 studies for CANARY WHARF, 1999
- Sketch studies for the developer FIDELITY, 1999
- Location studies for transport hub at West Hampstead, 2000
- Visualisation drawing of of windshield canopy for CANARY WHARF, 2000
- Sheffield One ideas competition, 2000
P+P+F GOUJON, Nice, 1998-99
Sub-contracted draughtsmanship & marginal design input for :
- Villa extension, St. Jean
- Watchtower refurbishment, St. Jean
- Garage & pool, St. Jean
- School, St. Jean
- RC skeleton recuperation, Vallauris
- Villa transformation, Antibes
- Small villa conversion, Nice
- Transformation of mas provençal, Opio
- Lavoir house conversion, Alpes-Maritimes
- External works, Opio
- Glazed veranda, St. Jean
- Railings, Villeneuve-Loubet
D. PETRY-AMIEL, La Gaude, 1997
- Contract advice for Fours Seasons Terre Blanche design bir, Tourettes en Provence, 2000.
- Hotel audit for anglophone client, 1997
L. LINIERE, Opio, 1995
- Contract drawings for pour a small villa, Opio
E. ABOULKER / ABK, Paris, 1991-2001
- Survey & change of use scenarios, Imp. de la Défense, Paris, 2001
- Offices pour LNC, Courbevoie, 1991
- Offices pour LNC, r. Petit, 75020, 1991
- Housing pour LNC, Courbevoie, 1991
- Perspective of a proposal by Pierre-Louis FALOCI pour ABK, Gentilly, 1991
F. BELLET, Paris, 1986-1989
- SCI des 3 Bornes, Paris
- Boutiques Pierre FREY, Paris
- Headquarters of St. Raphaël, Paris
- Works for condominia, Ile de France
REICHEN & ROBERT, Paris, 1986
REICHEN & ROBERT are not worthy of the title architects, nor even militant ! Such was the declaration of the only fellow architect with whom, freshly settled in Paris, I had any real desire to collaborate. To be sure, certain colleagues were real good sports and the office was an agreeable space. Shame about the rest.
- Apartement for Tom C., Pimlico, London.
SDA, Milan, 1979-1981
Studio di architettura was the label, in typewritten characters, stuck to the door of the office, v. Maddalena 1, fo the associated architects associés Aldo ROSSI and Gianni BRAGHIERI. I worked there for a period of around 27 months.
J. DEAL, Walton on Thames, 1979
Already I was expected in Milan from September. I woeked a few weeks during August to save my cash. JD (whose clients included CofE) said to me : come back, don’t hang around in Milan, it won’t be good for you. A prophet, indeed !
- Measures survey tasks etc.
Related pages / pages apparentées / pagine apparentate :
Design employers / Progettisti datori di lavoro
OPUS INCERTUM : Take Your Pick / Faites Votre Choix / Scegliete Voi
Reverse chronology / chronologie inverse / cronologia invertita
opus incertum 