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208 El Salto Road
Arroyo Seco, NM 87514

A STATEMENT OF BELIEF

Designing and building is a manifestation of personal growth committing significant resources of time, money, and energy into creating a permanent structure.  The new form represents the achievement by the owner of certain goals, as well as a means to attain future ones.  Together, we explore opportunities to create architecture that maximizes the potential of the building site and is compatible with the owner's tastes, lifestyle, budget, and investment goals.

The design is responsive to the Owner's expression of their needs and desires within the boundary determined by the proper allocation of funds (the budget).  Efficiency in space planning, life cycle cost effectiveness, and future maintenance expense are a part of the design criteria.

The design process follows a linear progression from writing the program and site analysis to schematic design, preliminary plans, through construction documents and specifications.  Plans are reviewed and approved by the Owner at each phase before the next one begins.  The Designer may serve as an advocate of the Owner in obtaining or negotiating bids and inspecting and supervising the actual construction work.

The initial stages of the design process are: saturation, incubation, illumination, and verification.  First, I immerse myself in the contradiction between what needs to be done, and what can be done with the existing means and ideas.  Then, I allow my preconscious mind to work on the problem, waiting for the inspiration that may come while I am cooking or driving or skiing or flying.

Successful design includes the three elements of firmness (structure), commodity (space and relationships), and delight (aesthetics).  The Designer seeks to integrate and prioritize choices of construction materials and methods, functional practicality, and aesthetic satisfaction.

A special knowledge and dedication are required to successfully execute energy conscious, solar, and natural daylighting design to create "green" buildings. I prefer to design a building to work with the natural environment rather than in spite of it.  We have only to discipline ourselves in designing our habitats so as to tap the flow of eternal energy.

The quality of the design is a product not only of the talents and skills of the Designer, but also a direct reflection of the values transmitted by the Owner.  There will never be great architecture without great patrons.

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