Where is your favorite travel destination?
My favorite place to visit is Europe in general, and probably London specifically. Europe reminds me that nothing we design and build is temporary, and that it will likely be there much longer than we may imagine. A long history is evident in the buildings, urban environment and beautiful public spaces, and I find inspiration in the bold blend of old and new. It always reminds me how much we in North America can learn about compact design, embracing density, and public transit.
What’s your favorite building?
I think the Sydney Opera House is my favorite building (selecting from a long list of favorites), because not only is it beautiful and cutting-edge (both at completion and today), but it instantly gave a whole country a recognizable icon. I still remember the first time I saw it, and was surprised and amazed how the ‘shell’ shaped roofs were covered in scale-like ribbed interlocking glazed tiles, and how it sparkled in the sunlight. It was inspirational to say the least. On a more humorous note, another favorite building as a child was the Brady Bunch house . . . as a budding young Architect, while admiring the outside of that rockin’ split level house, I noticed that the outside didn’t match the inside. Perhaps I was a strange child.