Style
Art, Nature, and Sustainability
As an artist and a designer I have spent my life constantly studying my surroundings wherever I have traveled: From analyzing nature and its impacts on the built environment to studying the most respected architecture and art of the world. From the Grand Canyon and the Forum in Rome to cliff dwellings of the Anasazi and the Maya ruins at Caracol. I have traveled widely and been influenced dramatically by what I have seen and studied. I do not typically believe that it is important to make a statement with my work for the sake of notoriety. Nor do I profess to be an expert designer of any particular style. Instead, I believe the most important goal of any work should be to positively influence those who experience, occupy and interact with my work through a respectful reflection of the culture and lifestyle of my clients and also to ensure that the work will stand the test of time.
Integration of Art and Nature into the built environment:
I believe ‘art’ is one of the true indicators of human intelligence. In fact, I believe that all forms of construction related design are simply art with an intent to positively impact daily human life. While some art hangs on walls in museums only to be viewed once in a while, other art surrounds us, envelops us and influences our daily lives in ways we don’t even realize. In practice, I contemplate this idea and carefully consider how my works will be experienced. My ideal of integrating art is not typically obvious, such as a well placed sculpture in a garden or mural on a wall. More often it is the entire work that is the art. From careful contemplation of complementary colors and contrasting textures among plants to artful paving designs and masterful works of stone and masonry. Every example is full of art and every where you look there is a new experience. My works are done with an eye for detail and always to create a lasting visual impression.
In addition to art, I discovered at an early age that nature has an amazing impact on how we learn, how we feel, and even how we socialize. I grew up playing in the mangroves and estuaries of Florida bays, hiking the Smokey Mountains and camping along the Suwannee River. From these experiences I have learned that nature has an inherent power to recharge the human spirit. In fact, I believe strongly that nature brings out the “inner child” or that particular part of our psyche that tends to come out whenever we experience something for the first time. For these and other reasons I believe that it is very important to integrate nature into urban fabric to the greatest extent possible.
Sustainable (Common Sense) Design:
Beyond art and nature, I believe very strongly in the consideration of the overall implications of my designs. From start to finish I design with thoughts on the environmental and social costs as well as the financial costs. Starting by guiding clients to the appropriate selections of building sites and ending with assistance and consulting on the appropriate selections of materials with life cycle costs in mind.