Kahn’s poetry between wall and column. As a young architecture student, I remember being awestruck the first time a faculty member introduced me to Kahn’s question: “You say to a brick, ‘What do you want, brick?’ And brick says to you, ‘I like an arch.’ And you say to brick, ‘Look, I want one, too, but arches are expensive and I can use a concrete lintel.’ And then you say: ‘What do you think of that, brick?’ Brick says: ‘I like an arch.’”

The Dieter Kienast project. I believe that a sound site strategy is responsible for ninety percent of the success of any architectural project. Of course, beyond the initial principle of settlement, keeping an eye on how the project unfolds through multiple design phases —urban, architectural and human scales— and making constant adjustments to the site strategy is an important barometer of the health of the project.

I am often reminded of the experience of eating, and choosing the day’s specials, at restaurants around the world (Michelin starred or not). The inventiveness, the perfectly cooked subtle and innovative flavors, and the beautifully presented dishes are part of showing off the chef’s skill.

About sketching -an iterative process, Part 2. I believe that for any design process to be successful, there is a need for iterative sketching to accompany the production and testing of architectural ideas. To be able to compare and contrast between sketches is critical and allows decisions to be measured on the strength and legitimacy of one’s conceptual ideas.

Design versus project. There is much to say about how curricula are developed and their importance in defining the content of any rigorous academic program; in our case an architectural education. Traditionally, classes within the discipline of architecture are taught according to required and elective professional courses, while additional opportunities provide students with a personalized liberal-arts education.

Thoughts on architectural education, Part 1. While studying architecture in Switzerland, I remember struggling with the many competing and conflicting voices regarding what architecture meant, and most importantly, what my future role as an architect might hold.

Study sketch to drafted sketch. Sketching might be for some a natural gift, but for most of us it is about the patient—and often painful—practice of setting one’s pencil on a white sheet of paper and letting ideas leave their mark.

The meaning to draw to scale. While learning about architecture, I remember needing to overcome many stumbling blocks, in particular those surrounding fundamental questions about what makes good design. Included in this larger inquiry was the ability to think spatially, the confidence to translate ideas into space, and how to sketch in an iterative manner.

Architecture: principle of settlement. I believe that for architecture to exist within a landscape, it should be site specific. This desire for permanence has always given architecture a raison d’être to belong to a site, a place, or more importantly, a context.

La Petite Maison by Le Corbusier. We all know that for a project to be successful, one needs to have a strong concept as well as the talent to implement the complex process of getting it built. Yes, I selfishly assume that most architecture should be built, while acknowledging that I see our environment continue to be populated by less-than mediocre buildings designed by both architects and non-architects.