SMALL AT LARGE

SERVING THE RICH –

THAT IS WHAT ARCHITECTURE IS ABOUT.

IN MY DAUGHTER’S MOVIE, “MY FATHER THE GENIUS”, I AM SEEN STOMPING AROUND IN THE BACK YARD OF THE NELSONS’ NEW HOUSE COMPLAINING ABOUT SERVING THE RICH. THE NELSONS ARE SAINTLY COMPARED TO THE RUN OF THE MILL RICH. BUT THEY DEFINITELY HAVE THEIR LIMITS.

MY WIFE SAYS, WHY ARE YOU SO OPPOSED TO THE RICH? THEY PUT IT TOGETHER TO GET THE MONEY, DO NOT BE NEGATIVE TOWARDS THEM.

NELSON'S POOL AND HOUSE IN THE BACKYARD, SANTA MONICA CALIFORNIA, 2000

IN ARCHITECTURE THE RICH ARE THE CLIENTS, THEY CALL THE SHOTS. BEING REJECTED BY THE RICH HAS LEFT ME A DAMAGED SOUL. THE MAIN REASON IS THAT THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD THAT CAN BE BUILT WITH THEIR MONEY TO BETTER THE WORLD. I READ IN TIME MAGAZINE THAT ARCHITECT PIANO, THE RICH DARLING OF WHAT IS CORRECT IN ARCHITECTURE, WANTS TO DO PUBLIC HOUSING, BUT HAS NOT. A TALENTED FORMER STUDENT OF MINE, THAT SPECIALIZES IN PUBLIC HOUSING FOR YEARS CANNOT IMPLEMENT GOOD DESIGN, BECAUSE OF THE RICH DEVELOPERS CALLING THE SHOTS. THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN WHAT COULD BE AND THE RICH.

BUILDINGS REQUIRE OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY. THE LARGER COMPLEXES REQUIRING MULTIPLE MONEY SOURCES. SO THE ARCHITECT IS THE CONDUCTOR OR CHAUFFEUR FOR THE MONEY, HOPING NOT TO GET FIRED. AS POINTED OUT TO ME BY A POWERFUL CLIENT, ARCHITECTS ARE EXPENDABLE. THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND TALENT. THE RICH PRIDING THEMSELVES ON HOW GOOD OF A SHOPPER THEY ARE TO GET THE RIGHT ARCHITECT. A BIT OF A CHALLENGE WHICH THEY ARE NOT UP TO TASK OF DOING.

THE RICH ARE FRIGHTENED TO DEATH ABOUT ASSOCIATING WITH ME: I DO NOT RESPECT MONEY AS A GOD. SITTING ON A SANDY BEACH IS MORE REAL FOR ME THAN SAILING IN A YACHT. FLYING IN THEIR PRIVATE PLANES IS NO BIG DEAL, NOR BEING IN A CRAMPED LAMBORGHINI. ALTHOUGH I LIKE BEING ON A YACHT, IT IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT. THE RICH LIKE TO BE AROUND PEOPLE THAT RELATE TO THEIR VALUE SYSTEM. I COULDN’T CARE LESS THAT THEIR SHIRT WAS CUSTOM MADE. I COULD TAKE THEM TO WALMART AND GET A CLOSE DUPLICATE AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE, BUT THAT WOULD NOT RECEIVE THE STATUS THEY WANT BY SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY THAT SEPARATES THEM FROM THE PACK. AT AN ARCHITECTURAL PARTY I MEET A WOMAN THAT CLAIMED SHE ALMOST COMMITTED SUICIDE BECAUSE SHE HAD A DOWNTURN IN FINANCES THAT DID NOT ALLOW HER TO RETAIN HER MAID AND BUTLER.

THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HAVING APPRENTICES COMING TOGETHER FOR A FORMAL EVENING ONCE A WEEK WAS TO TEACH THEM THE ASPECTS OF LIFE THAT THE RICH LOVE. CHIT CHAT, MANNERS, FORMAL CLOTHES, WINE, FOOD, PLAYS, ETC. ARCHITECTS SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND PEOPLE WITH MONEY. AFTER ALL THE RICH SPONSOR BUILDINGS. IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO, AND WHEN YOU READ ABOUT PAXTON AND THE THE CRYSTAL PALACE. THE MONEY MAN USED PAXTON TO CREATE A DREAM.

A BROKE INTERIOR DESIGNER FRIEND OF MINE WOULD RENT A FANCY CAR TO VISIT HER CLIENT. LIKEWISE AN ARCHITECT FRIEND OF MINE COMING OFF A DIVORCE WITH A REGULAR CAR, RENTS A CLASSY CAR TO MEET WITH CLIENTS. THE RICH FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH PEOPLE THAT RESPECT MONEY.

ARCHITECTURE IS A RICH MAN’S GAME. JUST THE MENTION OF AN ARCHITECT SENDS VIBRATION OUT ABOUT SPENDING MORE MONEY. MOST CONTRACTORS CAN MEET THE BANAL TASTES OF THE RICH. LAWS REQUIRE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES ON LARGER PROJECTS. A NECESSARY EVIL FOR MOST DEVELOPERS. RICH DOES NOT MEAN SOPHISTICATED OR CULTURED IT JUST MEANS THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THEIR TASTE IS THEIRS AND THEY FEEL PRIVILEGED TO SPEND MONEY ON WHAT THEY LIKE.

IN NICARAGUA LABOR IS CHEAP. YOU CAN GET A WELDER FOR SEVEN DOLLARS A DAY. THE EXPENSE OF MATERIALS IS ROUGHLY THE SAME FOR NORMAL CONSTRUCTION VS ARCHITECTURAL CREATIVE DESIGN. A SIMPLE EXAMPLE BEING A CURVED WALL. A SMALL FRACTION OF THE LABOR COST BEING MORE TO DO THE CURVE IS A CONVINCING ARGUMENT TO NOT TRY ADVENTURESOME DESIGNS. IT IS RATIONALIZATION TO NOT VARY FROM THE NORM, BUT I THINK THE RICH DO NOT WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. EVEN IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT. THEY WILL LAVISH EXPENSIVE MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT ON THE PROJECT TO DEMONSTRATE THEY ARE WEALTHY. GRANITE COUNTER TOPS FROM THE LOCAL REGION VS SOME FAR OFF LAND GRANITE THAT COST SOME ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT IS A MUST TO SHOW OFF HOW WEALTHY ONE IS.

SINCE MAKING CHOICES IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY OF THE RICH, THEY RELY ON BRANDS, STAMPS OF APPROVAL, AND OTHER PEOPLES RECOMMENDATIONS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WANT TO TELL THE WORLD THEY ARE SPECIAL. I RECENTLY GOT A GLIMPSE FROM A HUSTLER FRIEND OF MINE THAT WEARS A FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR WATCH. I LOOKED AT MY WALMART FIVE DOLLAR WATCH WITH THE BLACK BACKGROUND AND CIRCULAR FACE WITH CHROME FINISH AND LEATHER STRAP AND FELT THE WALMART DESIGN WAS BETTER THAN HIS SIMILAR $5000 VERSION. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH KEEPING TIME, BOTH WATCHES WERE THE SAME. IT DOES NOT STOP THERE, WITH HIS BETTER THAN I POD AND $100 SHIRTS. ALL REALLY MEANT TO SHOW THE WORLD HE IS RICH, WHICH HE IS NOT. HIS EXPLANATION OF LEAVING THE WATCH IN HIS WILL, SEEMED SHALLOW. HERE IS A GUY THAT DESPERATELY WANTS TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE RICH AND DOES ALL HE CAN TO PLAY THEIR GAME.

ARCHITECTS ARE EDUCATED AND TRAINED TO BE VISUALLY SENSITIVE. THIS CREATES AN UNDERSTANDING THAT FEW ARE PRIVILEGED TO. THUS IT IS WEIRD TO BE RARIFIED TO VISUAL TASTES TOWARDS WHICH OTHERS ARE CLUELESS. DIPLOMACY IS THE KEY TO EDUCATING IGNORANT CLIENTS. A TRAIT I FIND BLOCKING DIRECT CONVERSATION. THERE MUST BE A TRUST AND RESPECT FROM THE CLIENT TO ACCEPT VISUAL ADVICE. THE ULTIMATE BEING WHEN THE ARCHITECT CAPTURES THE POSITIVE DESIRES OF THE CLIENT AND INCORPORTES THAT TO PRODUCE A FINISHED PRODUCT.

WHEN AN ARCHITECT HAS SUPER STAR STATUS THEY CAN CALL THE SHOTS, AND THE CLIENT FOLLOWS, BUT MOST PEOPLE DEEP DOWN CONSIDER THEMSELVES ARCHITECTS, AND THEIR TASTE IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. THE RICH FEELING ENTITLED TO CHANGE THINGS EVEN WITH ARCHITECTURAL ART PIECES IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. A GOOD EXAMPLE BEING JOHN JOHANSEN MONUMENT HOUSE TORN DOWN BY PHIL DONOHEW ,THE LIBERAL TALK SHOW HOST.

I HAD A SUPER RICH CLIENT TELL ME THAT THE KEY TO BEING PROSPEROUS, WHEN CREATIVE LIKE MYSELF AND INEPT WITH MONEY, WAS TO LATCH ONTO A MONEY PERSON TO PROPEL MYSELF FOWARD.

THAT HAPPENED WHEN I DID MY BIG PROJECTS IN NICARAGUA. THE MAYOR HERTY WAS A MONEY MAN. HE COULD WHEEL AND DEAL TO MOVE MONEY TO BUILD ANYTHING. ALL THAT I NEEDED TO DO WAS FURNISH HIM WITH VISIONS OF WHAT COULD BE AND HE SOLD THEM TO THE RICH.

I AM ASTOUNDED AT RICH PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS. THEY ARE FOREVER COMPLAINING ABOUT LOVE AND RESPECT. AND DO THE DUMBEST THINGS LIKE COMMITTING SUICIDE OR OVERDOSING.

ALL THE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE SPOILED RICH AND FAMOUS SPEAKS OF THE VALUES OF THE SOCIETY. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GET WACKED OUT, WHEN WITH YOUR MONEY YOU COULD HELP OTHERS BY BUILDING COMPLEXES, TOWNS AND CITIES TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYBODY. THEY LACK VISION AND MORALS. I AM ENVIOUS OF THEM HAVING FUCK YOU MONEY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DO ANYTHING THEY WANT. I COULD DO SO MUCH GOOD WITH THEIR MONEY. THEY SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON SHRINKS, WHEN MANY OF THEIR PROBLEMS COULD BE SOLVED BY HELPING OTHERS. HEALTH BEING THE EQUALIZER THAT TOUCHES EVERYONE, RICH OR POOR. I PITY THOSE THAT ABUSE THEIR WEALTH AND I FIND THEM DISGUSTING. WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY I HAVE A CHIP ON MY SHOULDER WHEN I AM AROUND THEM.

ARCHITECTURE AS PRACTICED IS A SERVICE PROFESSION MEETING THE WISHES OF THE RICH. NOW IF THE RICH HAVE A LACK OF BOLD POSITIVE IDEAS THEN THERE WILL NOT BE PROJECTS BETTERING MANKIND. THE WORLD CANNOT WAIT AROUND FOR THE RICH TO GET WITH IT, THERE IS A LOT TO DO THAT NEEDS AN EXPONENTIAL CHART OF IMPLEMENTATION. IF THE POOR ARE LEFT OUT OF THE EQUATION, REVOLT HAPPENS. THE POINT BEING THAT THOSE WITH THE GOLD SHOULD LOOK FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD. WARREN BUFFET SAYS THE GATES GIVE AWAY MONEY RIGHT. I SENT A LARGE PACKAGE TO BILL GATES YEARS AGO WITH NOT EVEN A NOTE BACK OF RECEIVING. ALSO A PACKAGE TO BRAD PITT WITH NO WORD BACK. I MUST BE THE DEVIL WITH THESE PEOPLE. OR THEY PUT IN PLACE A TON OF SCREENS TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM ME.

THE USA ELECTS PRESIDENTS THAT THEY THINK WILL HAVE A BEER WITH THEM. OBAMA, CLINTON, BUSH, REAGAN. AND THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS HAVE THEIR WIVES BUY DESIGNER CLOTHES FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THEIR INAUGURATION BALL. OH, BECAUSE IT IS EXPECTED OF THE OFFICE. THEIR INTERESTS ARE THE RICH. JERRY BROWN MADE AN ATTEMPT AS FIRST GOVERNOR IN CALIFORNIA TO DRIVE A COMMON CAR AND LIVE IN AN APARTMENT. I HEARD RECENTLY CONGRESS GETS ACCUSTOMED TO LIVING WELL WITH THE LAVISH MONEY SPENT ON THEM BY LOBBYISTS. IN NO TIME AT ALL THE GOODIES BECOME IMPORTANT. I HAVE FORMER STUDENTS HELL BENT ON PUTTING THEIR KIDS IN EXPENSIVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS. WHERE DOES THIS LEAD? EDUCATION WITHOUT MORAL PRINCIPLES IS JUST LEARNING A TRADE.

HOW DOES THIS ALL AFFECT ARCHITECTURE? BIG TIME. HOW WILL WE EVOLVE TO A HIGHER GLOBAL STATE IF NOT EVERYONE IS INCLUDED. TAKE ANY SCALE: TOWN, CITY, STATE, COUNTRY, CONTINENT, WORLD. ARCHITECTURE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF EVERYONE’S LIFE. THE ONLY ARCHITECT THAT I AM AWARE OF THAT CLAIMS TO BE A COMMUNIST IS OSCAR NEIMEYER. THERE WAS A COMMUNIST FRIEND OF MINE, THE LATE RICK DAVIDSON THAT DID A LOT OF SOCIAL PROJECTS, BUT LACKED THE SKILL TO PULL OFF SIGNIFICANT DESIGN. FILL ME IN, I WOULD LOVE TO DESIGN PUBLIC PROJECTS FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANITY THAT ARE SENSUOUS ECOLOGICAL TURNED ON PLACES . THE BARE MINIMUM JUST CREATES SLUMS, AND A FEELING OF NO SELF WORTH. IT TAKES AN EDUCATED PERSON TO APPRECIATE AND INTERACT WITH THE MINIMUM.

ALL SOCIAL MOVEMENTS RELY ON EDUCATION. I WAS RAISED TO HATE COMMUNISTS. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE LATE ALVIN BOYARSKY, MY PROFESSOR AT OREGON AND HEAD OF THE AA IN LONDON, TOLD ME COMMUNISTS WERE GOOD, THAT I STARTED TO QUESTION MY EDUCATION. IN NICARAGUA IN 1986 AND 1987 THERE WAS A SPIRIT TO BUILD A COUNTRY FOR THE OVERALL GOOD OF HUMANITY. I FELT A PART OF THIS, BUT IT WAS SHORT LIVED WITH ELECTIONS OF THE RIGHT WING SPONSORED BY THE CIA. TO PROPERLY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WITH ALL VIEWPOINTS DISCUSSED IN A RATIONAL INTELLIGENT WAY IS DIFFICULT. THE POWERS WANTING CONTROL INTERRUPT HONEST EDUCATION. SO THAT IS WHY THE INTERNET IS SO POWERFUL WITH UNLIMITED ACCESS. WHAT IS SAD IS THAT PORNOGRAPHY DOMINATES THE INTERNET HITS. THE REAL FRUSTRATION OF THE SOCIETY. HOW TRAGIC.

IN NICARAGUA THE COMPUTER IS THE GREAT RESOURCE TO EDUCATION, BUT WHAT IS DONE WITH THAT TOOL IS WHAT COUNTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE IS A RATIONAL EVOLUTION PRESENTED TO THE WORLD TO COME TOGETHER, BUT THE TOOLS ARE IN PLACE TO DO SO.

THROUGHOUT WESTERN HISTORY THE RICH HAVE CALLED THE SHOTS. THE SECOND INGREDIENT BEING POWER , THEY GO HAND IN HAND. I AM CONVINCED GREED IS A HUGE MOTIVATOR IN SOCIETY, IF GREED IS INTERRUPTED THEN REVOLUTION WILL FOLLOW. IN RECENT HISTORY THE IRON CURTIN CAME DOWN UNDER THE FLOOD OF CAPITALISM. RECENT RUMBLING S OF THE POOR BEING HELD DOWN HAVE SET THE PENDULUM THE OTHER WAY WITH THE PEOPLE GAINING POWER IN LATIN AND SOUTH AMERICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. HOW TO USE GREED AS A POSITIVE MOTIVATOR IS THE CHALLENGE. IT SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IN THE MODERN WORLD TO BE CONTENT WITH SIMPLE THINGS. INVENTION SPREADS DESIRE.

IT SEEMS SO OBVIOUS THAT IF THE RICH WANT TO STAY IN POWER, THEY MUST HAVE POSITIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR, INCLUDING ARCHITECTURE. ARCHITECTURE ALONE CANNOT CHANGE THINGS. THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE ARCHITECTURE CREATE THE WELL BEING. THE FAMOUS CHICAGO HIGH RISES FOR PUBLIC HOUSING THAT BECAME NIGHTMARES FOR LIVING ,WERE JUDGED USELESS AND BLOWN UP. I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT THE ARCHITECTURE WAS THE FAULT . I KNOW IF I LIVED THERE WITH INTELLECTUALS OF LIKE MIND, IT WOULD BE WELL MAINTAINED AND RESPECTED. THE GROUNDS LUSH WITH LANDSCAPE, GARDENS, PLAY SCULPTURE AND RECREATION. WHAT WAS LACKING WAS THE EDUCATION OF THE INHABITANTS. EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE NEEDS, BUT THE RICH HOLD THE KEYS TO THAT EDUCATION AND IT IS NOT IN THEIR INTERESTS TO BE QUESTIONED INTELLECTUALLY. SO IGNORANCE OF THE POPULOUS WILL PREVAIL UNTIL THE POPULOUS KNOW TOO MUCH, WHICH MIGHT BE TOO LATE.

MY FRUSTRATION DRIVES ME TO SEEK ISOLATION. BACK TO THE BASICS OF LIVING MEAGERLY IN SOME BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. WHICH TAKES ME OUT OF THE GAME. I GET PLEASURE FROM SIMPLE FOODS, LIKE CORN ON THE COB, ARTICHOKES, BAKED POTATOES AND BARBEQUE CHICKEN. ALL IN SEASON FOR A PITTANCE OF RESTAUARANT COSTS COMPARED TO HOME COOKING. NOW THAT IS PLEASURE FOR ME BACKED UP WITH MY RECORD COLLECTION. BEING A DESIGNER AND A WEEKEND CARPENTER I CAN TAKE ALMOST ANY MATERIAL AND SPACE AND TURN IT INTO AN ART PIECE TO TO SURROUND ME. THIS TAKES ME OUT OF THE GAME, BUT THANKS TO THE INTERNET I AM A VOICE TO BE HEARD.

WHERE ARE THE RICH THAT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE OREGON DUCKS FOOTBALL AND MY ARCHITECTURE? CONTACT ME I: I AM READY TO SERVE THE RICH.

GLEN