by Jeff Serbin | Jan 22, 2014 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Interiors, Planning
I recently visited the Barrett Jackson Automobile Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona to witness the old vs. new, the factory vs. custom, the ordinary vs. unique, items costing a few dollars to ones that will empty your wallet. Its all about DESIGN.
1920’s Ford Model A (barn find)
Just like architecture, historic vs. new, tract vs. custom, ordinary vs. unique, one can really gain an appreciation and inspiration from other forms of design. For some, design may come from fashion, looking at silhouettes, fabrics, colors and textures of clothing on a supermodel.
Others may get inspiration from nature, looking at the forms of plants or animals or shapes of minerals formed by thousands of years of pressure. For others, it’s the fashion of the automobile with its silhouettes, materials, colors and textures of a supercar.
As an architect, I am not customizing something on 4 wheels, but sitting on a concrete foundation. Just like a car with a destination in mind, sometimes with a focus of Horse Power or driving in style from point A to point B, architecture serves a purpose for creating a space to get work done in a quick and efficient manner or to live in luxury or style. And just like a car, buildings do need restoration, from structural frame up restoration or rotisserie restorations. Say that really fast about 10 times and you can be an auctioneer at the Barrett Jackson.
Space prior to restoration
Space after restoration
As an architect and working on tenant improvements, I feel like the early coach builders from the 1900’s or the custom car designers of today. The idea of taking an old building designed for a particular past use, cutting and chopping, moving elements, creating new spaces, changing finishes, selecting fabrics for the furniture is all part of the customization of architecture. It takes a bit of time and imagination to transform something from old to mimic designs of the past or create new concepts.
Space before tenant improvement
Space after restoration
All you need is an architect who specializes in customization of the built environment. One who understands and cares about the users and visitors, how they plan to use the space and the setting in which they want to work. One who looks in the past and towards the future. So the next time you are looking to design something new and exciting or retain something of old, look for ways to get inspired.
by Lara Serbin | Dec 16, 2013 | Architecture, Blog
My family and I went on the West Valley Rock & Mineral Club field trip. The main stops were Dixie Mine to look for turquoise, 4th of July Butte to dig up Agates and finally Sundad Ghost Town. Looking for rocks doesn’t cost anything, its fun to find a cool rock and I really love listening to Chuck’s stories during the hot dog cook out in the desert during lunch.
Remember https://serbinstudio.com/exploring-harquahala-ghost-mining-town/, well Chuck went on that trip too. There were about 15 WVRM members yesterday which included these 2 crazy guys from Kentucky with super thick accents. It was like they just stepped off their homemade time machine last stop Vietnam War. One of them thought I looked more like a Pat! Once he knew my name he said it perfectly. Nicest and liveliest guys you ever want on a WVRM trip.
Jeff and Chuck have the most rock and mineral knowledge of the crew. Our second stop after finding a lot of turquoise treasures at the Dixie Mine was 4th of July Butte, Chuck said “This is where people from Phoenix would come to set off fireworks since they weren’t allowed to blow up anything in Phoenix!” The Butte must have been famous after the age of the auto, I mean who would ride in a horse and carriage for 70 plus miles to the middle of nowhere!
As we got out of our dusty cars, jeeps and trucks we took in the mountains all around us with cool names like Yellow Medicine Butte and Woolsey Peak. The kids were running around all excited after Chuck informed everyone, “You wanna cross the road and look fur Blue Agates along side of the washes, everything west of the roads bin picked over!”
Chuck was right, we all found tons of Agate. Since I am flexible and tiny my tactic was to crouch under the brambling Palo Verde trees growing in the middle of the washes. I quickly found glints of cool greyish blue in the dried mud. After I broke my nail and cut my finger digging them out I held them up to the sun and I could see the rock glowing from within. The outside is porous with small holes like a sponge and the inside is like looking into the eye of a dark desert monsoon. Awesome! It is miraculous something so gorgeous is just laying covered in dust and mud in the desert.
We did end our trip at Sundad a hippie ghost town. There were no buildings just neatly arranged organic shapes with rusted out trinkets and beautiful broken glass in the center. The site did have a peace and love vibe it was still giving off from it’s once thriving Hippie Commune of the 1960’s and 70’s.
Stop your car and walk in the desert.
by Jeff Serbin | Dec 3, 2013 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Interiors, Planning
Sidewalks are traveled slowly by foot, taking us from point A to point B. They aren’t measured in Miles per Hour(MPH) but in Cubic Feet. Most of the time we traverse them without much thought. They aren’t typically architectural masterpieces of design, but monotonous slabs of grey concrete.
Existing sidewalk before replacement.
Sidewalks come in many colors, textures and finishes like that sweater you bought on Cyber Monday from American Eagle, but placing too much design may be trendy or outdated in years to come. A nicely designed sidewalk although can complement a building when designed properly. In the case of Digital Realty’s Data Center building in downtown Phoenix, the sidewalks are meant to take a back seat and not compete but complement with their new architectural façade.
Digital Realty East Sidewalk after construction.
In 2012, Digital Realty revitalized their facility at 120 East Van Buren Street. The building sits upon a downtown city block in Phoenix and is surrounded on all 4 sides by sidewalks. The building which originally housed The Arizona Republic Newspaper when constructed in the 1940’s, now houses Digital Realty’s Data Center. It’s sidewalks over the years had morphed into a variety of colors, textures and finishes. The sidewalks which were owned and maintained by the City of Phoenix, had bits of sandstone and pink concrete to reflect a south western motif. It was not complimentary to the forward looking façade and was haphazardly cut and replaced to allow for a variety of utilities that had been installed over the years. This made the sidewalks a bit of an eyesore. Landscape was not cohesive and City of Phoenix street lighting was inefficient. Archaic high pressure sodium lighting surrounded the site, not new energy efficient LED which are becoming the norm.
Digital Realty South Sidewalk after construction.
So in 2012, Serbin Studio and Digital Realty began the master plan design of new sidewalks around the facility. Digital’s brand is modern and sleek, representing the digital world of fast moving data. Their speed is more reflective of a Porsche Carrera GT driving 208 MPH than a Honda Accord in the slow lane.
Digital Realty South Sidewalk after construction.
In 2013, Serbin Studio’s design was constructed for the new sidewalks, updated LED site lighting and landscape by DPR Construction. The sidewalks around Digital Realty are containing a fast and furious digital world, bringing you data not in MPH miles per hour or cubic feet, but in mbps megabits per second.
by Jeff Serbin | Nov 20, 2013 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Collaboration, Graphics, Interiors, Planning
Last summer, I had the opportunity to travel along the Western coast of Washington State in the Olympic National Park. It’s vast mountain ranges with it’s hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine undisturbed forests, it’s 73 miles of coastline, give you a sense of tranquility. However, I stumbled upon something which left me feeling unsettled.
Tsunami warning
We visited a well-known coastal beach, Ruby Beach. It’s very impressive with it’s monumental Sea stacks. On our way down the path to the beach I saw a very dis-concerning sign. What to do in the event of a Tsunami, where to go! My plans to spend hours building an 8th Wonder of the World sand castle only be destroyed by a wave was squashed.
This evacuation plan essentially said “Run like hell to the highest point!” I definitely would obey if I saw a looming wave coming my way. All I could conjure up was videos I had seen on YouTube of the Tsunamis around the globe. Tranquility (T-RAN-Quility), no more.
As an architect, one of our responsibilities is to create buildings which are safe that have a clear path to exit, just in case you have to “Run”. We all had fire drills in elementary school, right?
Exit Plan
Recently, I had the opportunity to prepare one of these plans for a building. By code, a building has to prepare evacuation maps (floor plans) for public buildings to teach people how to exit from that building. Who better else to do so, an Architect. In a small building, it’s likely obvious, but when you are within a large building with multiple floors and various paths of travel, it does become important.
This building has 6 floors and over 300,000 square feet. The plans typically show where the stairs, elevators, fire extinguishers and the fire pulls. I learned at elementary school never to play with one.
The code doesn’t really tell you where they should go, just what should be on them. Typically it’s at the elevator lobby. Essentially, the plans are graphic design projects because they have to be clear, accurate and look pretty.
Exit Plan Enlarged
So hopefully in your travels on a Washington Coast beach or within a large building, you’re only running when nature calls.
by Lara Serbin | Nov 9, 2013 | Architecture, Blog, Collaboration
I really get a kick out of public speaking. This week I was invited to speak to the kids in the Drafting class at Estrella Foothills High School. I decided to go general and personal so no power point. I was kind of all over the place but found my stride after this guy up front yawned in my face. I have to remember to make it about them in some way.
No matter how advanced computers get I want kids to learn how to sketch. Drawing an idea in front of people creates understanding so quickly. I hope at least a couple of them get a hold of some buff trace paper and markers. I have 2 more high schools to visit this month. I think I will stick to the rule of 3 topics: training to be an architect, experience working for architects and the journey of having my own firm.
by Lara Serbin | Oct 24, 2013 | Architecture, Blog, Collaboration
I just rsvp’d for my 20 year reunion at the College of Architecture at the University of Arizona in Tucson. I just got totally excited about this when I saw the centrum with those terrific columns they installed when we were there. The columns are not there anymore. All the good times came rushing back to me. Funny that I am still wearing Birkenstocks while I check off that I am coming to the event. How could I not come. I hope lots of my alums show up. We are or were such a competitive bunch. I guess that is why I watch Project Runway because it reminds me of the pressure to come up with a design idea and make it work.
There is Jeffrey and I working away in studio. Studio work was best done at night. Today College of Architecture is looking really slick and modern. When we were at school we occupied the older building with no fancy computers. We were actually discouraged from the professors to use any computer aided design and wearing clothing that fit well.
Top Ten Reasons for Being at Studio:
1. Jeffrey.
2. No clean up ordinance.
3. Walking to 7 Eleven for pretzels and soda.
4. Eavesdropping on people using the sole pay phone.
5. Studio smell.
6. Thrift store couches to take naps during an all-nighter.
7. Laughing at Shawn Shahabi and Brian Farling.
8. That guy who always wore 50’s clothes.
9. John Mele impersonations of Professor Bogosian.
10. When the structures professor said my design was so good he could roast an ox in there.
Just Flip the Plan!
For Madison Dwight.
