Design

My architectural design process, though highly intuitive, is derived from a solid analysis and response to a specific sense of place, including an understanding of the climatic orientation, geography and the owners specific programmatic requirements. The process also includes a system of defining and evaluating the ‘problem’ by asking and re-asking questions. This is accomplished through exploration and discussions with the clients: paying careful attention to verbal and written descriptions as well as non verbal cues. As the architect, I must both lead and follow and am charged with the daunting task of creating a building which must include my clients vision as well as my own. The finished building, if a success, will be a collaboration between the owner, the architect and the builder.

A successful building must solve both the functional and formal requirements …how will the building be occupied and used by the owner… as well as the aesthetic challenge of creating a beautiful structure. My basic functional and formal considerations include concerns not only about making the floor plan work but also about creating well proportioned spaces filled with light and air as well as using natural materials and standardized methods of construction. The means of construction are carefully considered and detailed during the design process but can only be achieved during construction by a necessary collaboration between Architect and Builder. Always present as well is the requirement for the building to relate physically to its environment. In Southern California as an example, the climate dictates a blurring of the distinction between inside/outside and asks the building to have an “indoor/outdoor” feeling.

Sustainable Design

I strive to create buildings incorporating ‘sustainable’ practices and materials and am totally committed to exploring and implementing these objectives when the owner shares this commitment. Using readily available, high quality, and local materials and creating construction details that complement the materials’ natural characteristics goes a long way towards making buildings which are efficient, economical and sustainable.

Previous to becoming an Architect, while designing and building custom playstructures and playgrounds for children the use of discarded industrial material, such as cargo nets, tires, timbers and plywood construction barriers was major part of the idea of the play environments. At the beginning of my career, the terms ‘Green’ and ‘Sustainable were not in use, however throughout my career, I have tried to create buildings using passive methods of heating and cooling, cross ventilation, geographical orientation, insulation, locally available or recycled materials, etc. Through the use of these principles of passive solar design along with other quickly developing innovations, creating sustainable buildings is becoming even more feasible.

Design-Build Information

The traditional method of delivering a finished building in the United States is for the owner to enter into contracts with both an architect and contractor separately. In this format the contractor works from (interprets) drawings made by the architect and the architect observes and advises the owner during construction but has no direct control over the actual construction of the building.

Another method in use is referred to as Design-Build in which the Architect is responsible for the construction as well as the design. The Design-Builder is thus able to more closely control the construction details and methods, as well as more easily make modifications as required during the process. This method eliminates one of the required contractual agreements used in the traditional method and has been gaining popularity in this country in recent years.

Mr. Cohen works equally well using both methods but recently has been able to achieve excellent results with Design-Build. Though this decision ultimately rests with the owner and depends upon the circumstances, Design-Build can be advantageous to owners for a variety of reasons. Among them are improved quality control, time savings, potential for reduced administrative burden, the elimination of one contractual obligation, continuous improvement and evolution of design during construction and the ability to control costs.

The following is from the website of the Design-Build Institute of America, 1994. (www.dbia.org)

“… During the past couple of decades, the use of and interest in design-build in the United States has greatly accelerated, making this delivery method one of the most significant trends in the design and construction industry. The term Design-Build describes the process by which a “Master Builder” creates buildings. A classical notion of single source responsibility, Design-Build is a process that has been embraced by the worlds’ great civilizations. When the citizens of classical Greece envisioned their great temples, public buildings and civil works, Master Builders were engaged to both design and construct these monumental structures. Master Builders accepted full responsibility for integrating the conceptual design with functional performance. To assume anything less than complete accountability for delivering a project was unthinkable. A Master Builder was the chief architect, engineer and builder molded into one.”
“… In ancient Mesopotamia, the Code of Hammurabi (1800 BC) fixed absolute accountability upon Master Builders for both design and construction. In the succeeding millennia, cathedrals and cable stayed bridges, cloisters and corporate headquarters have been conceived and constructed using the paradigm of Design-Build ..”