Run this town...(the Jay-Z way)!

"Making your mark on the world is hard.
If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. it takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of  failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. It's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you leanrn from it; whether you choose to persevere."


                                                                                         - Barack Obama.




Yesterday, I took the first interview of my life. I interviewed a celebrity architect in his Austin office. He is designer of one of the greenest home in the states. I was little bit nervous. A little, honestly. It felt really awesome. After the interview, he patted on my shoulder saying, "keep focused". He was not crazy type like me but he is cool. He is decent, polite and organized!


Duh! Creative-people never can be organised. I refuse to clean my room. Lol!


Back to story, I sent him my questionnaire earlier the night. Therefore, the interview was just nothing dram and melodrama........BUT I like it. it's my first duel with celebrity. Two years earlier when my friend called me and told that she was invited to dinner in Frank O Gehry's home, I was so jealous but I was so happy for her. Now, I interviewed Peter Pfeiffer and he invited me to his home. It's the house earned the highest point rating ever given by the Austin Green Builder Program (www.austinenergy.com), one of the most stringent programs in North America. Anyway, he is not Frank Ghery but he is he.


Here is the questions i sent to him. What do folks think? Was I cool? I'll try to post the video later.
Though blogspot sucks in video thing but.......! I'll put youtube link. I am summarizing everything here...not his exact words!

As an Architect, Peter Pfeiffer, do you think….

Is there a great chasm between collegiate architectural and the actual practice of architecture? If not, then to be in detail, can students design better than any practitioner?

Yes! There is. A huge.

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What is the hardest part of being an architect? 

To satisfy, convince and make client think your way.  

What inspired you to study/practice architecture?

My dad; Being a carpenter my dad had extensive workshop in home so I started playing with it from childhood. Eventually, it made more sense. 

(I don't know whether he was lying or not! For me, I love to sketch and create but I never thought that I will be end up being an architect with specialization in energy optimization )

Especially practicing Natural Ventilation?

It feels great when you save money through your design and use the nature properly.

What is sustainability for you?

Not the bookish knowledge but practicality with Life Cycle Cost.

What is the magic of “Texas Tuscan”?

Hahaha...It's goofy. I saw there are plenty homes in your city but It's not sustainable. If there is magic, I don't believe in that.

Do you think there is vast difference between architecture of the world than the USA? IF yes then what is it?

We, in the states build for only 10-15 years! We build box for temporary purpose unlike Europe or may be your country. Tell me about your country....hahahaha (smile).

(Peter Pfeiffer, you are cordially invited to my country. Come over. Let's do something for poor.)

What’s your opinion about the new dual-mode (partial nat. vented) buildings (i.e. San Francisco Federal Building by Morphosis)?

I personally don't like Tom Mayne. He is more into graphics not into architecture-architecture. 

(He broke my heart. He does not know about the coolest building. I picked up my sketchbook and explained him about the A/C and non A/C part creating imaginary lines pretending the sketchbook is the section of the building. He liked the building, I guess. Don't hate Morphosis, please!)

What do you think about new Architectural-Engineering firms (i.e ARUP, Buro Happold or the NREL)?

Honestly, I don't have explicit idea about these guys but all architect should have the engineering knowledge.

(Yesss! My explanation is working under his head! Ohhaaah! Hoooo.....! I was doing freestyle inside.)

What is your favorite book? What book are you reading now, if any?

I am kind of into more business not into recreation. There is no more books in my bed side table.

(I forgot his fav. book. He told me. I will tell it later after watching the video again.)

If you enjoy music, What’s your favorite band or artist? what is in your CD/MP3 player presently?

I am a news person not a music person. Although I like 70s.

(Come onnn! You are in the music capitol...!!) 

What’s best moment of the day?

Morning when I initiate design thinking!

Or it could be late night when I finish some design.

Most satisfying project…

You can name this project. There are few but it's the best since it's my own residence and my wife is happy.

"Are you married?"

"No"

"You will see.....hahaha (loud laugh)" 

(I thought in my mind....to get the same-frequency-girl is difficult and more complicated is to make the decision that she is the one. She is the soul-mate. I smiled also.)

Your message to Texas A&M Architecture "Aggie"s (being a "Longhorn")....

You need to sell yourself. If your client fall asleep during your presentation, then you are gone!
You need to complete your sentences. You need to learn how to talk in paragraphs!
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(These are secrets! I won't tell ya!)






Yess!! Let's run this town.