SMALL AT LARGE

VIEWING PLATFORM 1957

THIS WAS A BLOCK PRINT MY FATHER MADE ANNOUNCING MY BIRTH SEPT 4, 1937

THIS IS MY TALE ABOUT BEING RAISED IN A NURTURING MIDDLE CLASS ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS, AND A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR. YES, THERE WAS PREJUDICES AND TRITE LESSONS TAUGHT AS WELL, BUT WHAT I WAS GIVEN WAS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT ALLOWED ME TO BE SELF MOTIVATED TO PURSUE IDEALISM. AS PARENTS THAT IS OUR
GOAL TO GIVE A SPRING BOARD TO ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT TO PURSUE THEIR INTERESTS THEY LOVE.

MY ROOTS ON THE SMALL SIDE OF THE FAMILY GO BACK TO ENGLAND, CLOTHING FOR THE ROYALTY, INCLUDING THE KING. AN OFFICER OF THE ROYAL NAVY, JUMPED SHIP AND BEGAN A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA. ONE OF THE EARLY SETTLERS THAT BEFRIENDED THE NATIVE AMERICANS WITH HIS TRADING POST, THAT WAS BURNED DOWN BY SOME REBELLIOUS BUCKS. HE WAS COMPENSATED BY THE CHIEF, WITH A GRANT OF ONE OF THE LARGEST EARLY LAND DEEDS IN MAIN. YEARS LATER THE GRANT WAS QUESTIONED FOR TITLE AFTER HIS DEATH. THE PAPERS WERE EVENTUALLY FOUND HIDDEN IN A SECRET COMPARTMENT OF HIS DESK. AFTER THE FACT. ANOTHER EARLY SMALL WITH RED HAIR WAS KIDNAPPED BY THE NATIVES, WHILE FISHING, AND SINCE HE HAD RED HAIR WAS SPARED AND KEPT AROUND TO APPROPRIATE CHILDREN.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THE ENGINEERS OF HENRY FORD IN HIS BOOMING START IN DETROIT. VERY INVENTIVE AND HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH EDSEL FORD. HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER CAME TO A HALT WHEN HE INTERCEDED IN A RENTERS COUPLES FIGHT, FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED A CRIPPLING BLOW FROM A HAMMER TO HIS HEAD THAT RESULTED IN EPILEPSY. FORD GAVE MY GRANDFATHER A HOME THAT I VISITED AS A KID.

MY FATHER RALPH RUEL SMALL WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH SCHOOL AFTER HIS FATHER’S INJURY. HIS MOTHER TOOK IN WASHING , TO SUPPOT THE FAMILY OF FOUR. MY DAD A REAL CHARMER : HANDSOME, SMART, WITTY, SANG AND PLAYED THE PIANO. HIS SISTER LUCILE GREGARIOUS AND GOOD LOOKING, BUT NOT GROUNDED.

HE HAD A REOCCURRING BOUT WITH TB WHICH INITIALLY WAS BROUGHT ABOUT WHILE WORKING AS A NIGHT WATCHMAN IN A REFRIGERATION PLANT FOR EDSEL FORD. THE JOB INVOLVED A SHIFT OF OVERSEEING REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT . MY FATHER AND THE PRECEDING WATCHMAN HAD AN ARGUMENT. RESULTING IN ONE NIGHT MY FATHER ARRIVING ON HIS SHIFT TO FIND A NUMBER OF DANGEROUS PNEUMONIA VALVES OPEN, WHICH HE FELT WERE DELIBERATELY DONE BY HIS ADVERSARY. MY DAD WAS AWARE OF THE DANGER AND WRAPPED HIS FACE IN A WET TOWEL AND PROCEEDED TO CLOSE THE VALVES. EDSEL FORD SHOWING UP AS THIS WAS HAPPENING. THIS EXPOSURE TO FUMES DAMAGED HIS LUNGS AND CONTRIBUTED TO MY DAD GETTING TB.

MY FATHER, ATTENDED ANTIOCH COLLEGE IN ITS HAY DAY, WHERE THE STUDENTS WENT TO COLLEGE FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEN WENT TO A CAREER JOB FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEN BACK TO SHCOOL IN A ROTATIONAL PATTERN, HE EXCELLED, BUT HAD TO LEAVE COLLEGE AFTER A COUPLE YEARS DUE TO CONTRACTING TB. MY DAD WAS SEMI OFFICIALLY ENGAGED TO EDSEL FORD DAUGHTER AT THIS TIME.

I SPOKE TO A WOMAN THAT KNEW MY FATHER WHEN HE LOOKED LIKE THIS, AND SHE CONFESSED HE WAS EVERYTHING THAT WAS DESIRABLE. INTELLIGENT, WITTY, CHARMING AND ENGAGING. THE TRUE SALESMAN FOR LIFE. HE VOTED FOR HENRY WALLACE IN THE 1948 ELECTIONS. A PROGRESSIVE THAT WAS WAY AHEAD OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE AND
STOOD FOR ALL THE RIGHT THINGS.

TO RECUPERATE FROM TB, HE WENT TO HIS UNCLES TURKEY RANCH IN UTAH AND AFTER A FEW MONTHS GAINED HIS HEALTH BACK. THEN OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO AND CAUGHT AND WORKED ON A TRAMP STEAMER SHIP TO SOUTH AMERICA . ON HIS WAY BACK HE GOT A JOB WITH UNION OIL, DRIVING A TRUCK IN THE ORANGE GROVES OF CALIFORNIA. MY MOTHER WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE TOWN OF BREA WHERE THEY MET, EAST OF LOS ANGELES. SHE WAS BORN ON THE FAMILY FARM IN IOWA AND WAS RAISED ON A HOMESTEAD RANCH IN MONTANA. EDUCATED IN A ONE ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE. SHE LOVED IT AND HAD A PONY NAMED TEDDY. FARMING WAS TOUGH AND A DROUGHT HIT. HER FATHER EVENTUALLY PACKED THE FAMILY UP AND MOVED WEST TO PASADENA CALIFORNIA AND STARTED A FURNITURE STORE WITH MY GRANDMOTHER, BUT DIED A FEW YEARS AFTER.

MY MOTHER IN MONTANA ON TEDDY HER PONY. EVERY TIME I BLEW OUT MY BIRTHDAY CANDLES AS A CHILD I WISHED FOR A PONY LIKE TEDDY

THE FAMILY HOMESTEAD IN MONTANA, MY GRAND FATHER, MY MOTHER, AND MY GRANDMOTHER

OLIVE EVELYN SMALL, THE PTA PRESIDENT AT WESTWOOD GRAMMAR SCHOOL (PTA MEANING PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION)

MY MOTHER GAVE ME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE ALL HER LIFE, EVEN WHEN I SCREWED UP. MY BIGGEST FAN.

SHE HAD MANY ROLES. WIFE, MOTHER, AUNT, BUSINESS SECRETARY AND HOUSEKEEPER. I SAT IN THE KITCHEN WATCHING WHILE SHE SLAVED AND TUTORED ME TO
PASS THE SPELLING TEST ETC. THE COLLEGE EDUCATED SCHOOL TEACHER PERFORMING FOR ALL.
MY FATHER WENT INTO THE RETAIL FURNITURE BUSINESS THROUGH MY MOTHERS FAMILY BUSINESS IN PASADENA. AFTER A SERIOUS QUARREL WITH MY MOTHER’S MOTHER THE YOUNG FAMILY WENT TO SAN DIEGO WHERE I WAS BORN. A WELCOME JOY AFTER A TRAGIC DEATH OF AN OLDER SISTER PULLING A POT OF BOILING WATER OFF THE STOVE OVER HER HEAD , RESULTING IN HER DEATH . THE ONLY OUTSTANDING FEAT I PERFORMED AT AN EARLY AGE WAS TO FLOOD THE HOUSE FROM A BATHROOM TUB OVERFLOW. AROUND FOUR , I REMEMBER, A FRANTIC RESCUE BY MY FATHER AFTER I FELL INTO A PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL, OWNED BY A PATRON OF MY FATHER. MY FATHER LEAPED FROM A SWING AND DOVE TO RESCUE ME.

RALPH SMALL FURNITURE STORE, BEVERLY HILLS. IT SOUNDED IMPORTANT AND MY DAD WORE THE BEST OF CLOTHES, BUT WE WERE ALL MIDDLE CLASS AND LIVED MODESTLY IN WEST LOS ANGELES ON VETERN AVE BETWEEN PICO AND OLYMPIC. I DID NOT GET THE TENNIS LESSONS OFFERED BY THE PRO THAT SAID HE COULD MAKE ME A STAR.

THE DECORATOR FURNITURE STORE IN BRENTWOOD THAT MY DAD DOWNSIZED TO FROM BEVERLY HILLS AFTER RECOVERING FROM TB DURING MY JUNIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL. MY MOTHER BRAVELY RUNNING THE STORE WHILE HE WAS IN THE SANITARIUM RECOVERING.

MY FATHER PUT A HAMMER IN MY HAND AT FOUR AND ENCOURAGED CARPENTRY CONSTRUCTION. I HAD A BAND SAW AT 12.

ONE OF MY FIRST DRAWINGS OF A HOUSE WITH A CAT RUNNING UP THE SIDE. NOTICE. ALL CURVES.

WHEN I WAS FIVE I WENT TO AN ALUMNI REUNION AT OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE FOR MY MOTHER . ONE OF THE EVENTS FOR THE CHILDREN WAS A FOOTRACE ON THE COLLEGE TRACK . I WAS SENT FORWARD TO RUN A RACE. UPON THE EXPLOSION OF THE STARTING GUN I STOOD THERE IN A DAZE AND PROCEEDED TO TROT AFTER THE OTHER CHILDREN. UPON MY RETURN TO THE STANDS MY FATHER LAID DOWN THE LAW. IN THE NEXT RACE, I CHARGED FORWARD AT THE SOUND OF THE GUN LEADING THE PACK, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THE FINISH LINE STRING, SO I SLID UNDER THE STRING. WHEN I WAS IN THE THIRD GRADE I CAME HOME WITH A REPORT CARD OF PREDOMINATE C’S MUCH TO THE DISGUST OF MY FATHER. HE SAID.”THESE ARE” C’S ” . “SURE” I SAID, “EVERYBODY GETS ” C’S” HIS RESPONSE “YOU ARE NOT EVERYBODY”

ME, MY LATE: DAD, MOM AND SISTER PHYLLIS, FOUR YEARS OLDER. MY SISTER ALL PROPER AND CORRECT. A MAID ONCE CALLING ME HONEY CHUNK AND HER FUSS BUDGET. THAT WAS OUR RELATIONSHIP GROWING UP. BUT AS ADULTS SHE WAS EXTREMELY LOVING TO ME AND OPENED HER HOUSE UP TO EMBRACE ME, MY FAMILY, AND OTHER RELATIONSHIPS. SHE SEWING HIPPIE COLORFUL SHIRTS AS PRESENTS FOR ME.

FIRST GRADE WESTWOOD GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1944

FIFTH GRADE WESTWOOD GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1947 I IN THE BACK ROW CENTER. GAIL RAPPAPORT THIRD FROM RIGHT FRONT ROW WAS MY FIRST GIRL FRIEND IN THE 6TH GRADE

THE CAVALIERS 1955 UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL A SOCIAL YMCA GANG.

I WAS OFF AND RUNNING. BUT SCHOOL WAS HARD, I HAD THE DRIVE, BUT I LACKED THE STUFF THAT MADE LEARNING EASY. I WAS A SLOW READER, FORMAL ENGLISH WAS A MYSTERY AND SPELLING MADE NO SENSE TO ME. WHAT I RELIED ON WAS MEMORY, MATH, ART, CREATIVE WRITING , SPEECH , ATHLETICS, AND ANY THING TO DO WITH MY HANDS. I WAS POPULAR, SO I POWERED MY WAY THROUGH, BUT ALWAYS AWARE OF MY WEAKNESSES. I BROKE UP WITH MY FIRST SERIOUS GIRL FRIEND, ROSINE REYNOLDS OVER HER PREFERENCE OF MODERN FURNITURE OVER TRADITIONAL FURNITURE. MY FATHER HAD A TRADITIONAL FURNITURE STORE. MY TASK WAS DELIVERING FURNITURE. I MET THE WORLD WHILE CARRYING FURNITURE INTO PEOPLE’S HOUSES. I CAN STILL REMEMBER A VOLUPTUOUS BRUNETTE IN TIGHT SHORTS, THAT MY OLDER DELIVERY PARTNER WARNED WAS THE KIND OF WOMAN TO STAY AWAY FROM.

IN HIGH SCHOOL I LOVED BASKETBALL, I WAS PRETTY GOOD AT IT, BUT LACKED THE REFINEMENT TO BE GREAT. UNIVERSITY HIGH WON CITY MY JUNIOR YEAR WHILE I SAT ON THE BENCH AND THIRD IN CITY, MY SENIOR YEAR. I DID NOT START, BUT PLAYED A LOT. THIS WAS A BLOW TO MY EGO THAT STILL HAUNTS ME. TRACK WAS MY NATURAL TALENT, BUT IT WAS NOT MY LOVE. MY FATHER WANTED ME TO BE AN ENGINEER, BUT I LACKED THE MIND FOR PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY. ARCHITECTURE WAS A NATURAL RECOURSE SINCE I LIKED BUILDING OBJECTS AND I DID WELL IN DRAFTING CLASS.

I WAS IN THE RIGHT CLUBS AND DATED A NUMBER OF GIRLS. HIGH SCHOOL 1955 WAS AMERICAN GRAFFITI, HAPPY DAYS , ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK, AND PATTI PETRU (MY PETITE CHEER LEADER GIRL FRIEND). UPON GRADUATION THE LOCAL UNIVERSITY OF USC TURNED ME DOWN IN ARCHITECTURE, SO I WENT OFF TO OREGON. I SOUGHT OUT MY MENTOR TRACK COACH JIM PURCEL TO SEEK HIS ADVICE. JOIN A GOOD FRATERNITY WAS HIS ANSWER. THE SUMMER BEFORE I LEFT I WORKED FOR VICTOR GRUENS AS THE MAIL BOY. THIS WAS THE HEYDAY OF THE FIRM. ESPOUSING SHOPPING CENTERS WITH RELIGIOUS ZEAL. ONCE VICTOR FOUND ME NAPPING ON THE WRAPPING TABLE . I DELIVERED MAIL TO FRANK GHERY AND CARLOS DIEZ. ONE HIGH POINT WAS ELGARDO CONTINNI THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER PARTNER SCREAMING INTO THE PHONE ABOUT HOW MUCH A MISTAKE HAD COST THE FIRM.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON 1955, AT EUGENE, OREGON WAS THE EPITOME OF AN IVY COVERED COLLEGE CAMPUS , AND ENGAGED IN SUCH THINGS AS PANTY RAIDS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AWAY FROM MY SUPPORTIVE COMFORTABLE HOME. I WAS AT A LOSS. BUT SOON GOT A PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRACK, RUNNING FOR BILL BOWERMAN, THE INVENTOR OF NIKE SHOE. PHIL KNIGHT THE LEADER OF NIKE WAS A RUNNING MATE. BOWERMAN SAW MY RAW TALENT OF A HURDLER, BUT EVENTUALLY WANTED TO CHANGE ME OVER TO MIDDLE DISTANCES, I REBELLED. WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT CHANGE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN, BECAUSE I WAS FAST AND STRONG. YOU ONLY GET THE ATHLETIC CHANCE ONCE IN YOUR LIFE AND I BLEW IT. MY MENTAL CAPACITY WAS LIMITED ABOUT SEEING THE BIG PICTURE. LIKE ALL WINNERS KNOW, IT TAKES TOTAL COMMITMENT, I DOING ARCHITECTURE AND SPORTS AT THE SAME TIME. I AND ONLY ONE OTHER ARCHITECTURAL STUDENT WERE COMPETING IN A MAJOR SPORT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE.

I JOINED THE SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY. I WAS STARTING TO MAKE SOME BAD DECISIONS. DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT I THOUGHT WAS EXPECTED OF ME RATHER THAN DECISIONS BASED ON MY SINCERE DESIRES. I LOVED BASKETBALL. ON DADS DAY MY FATHER SAW ME PLAY FRESHMAN BASKETBALL, AND HAD ME QUIT. THE COACH QUESTIONING MY DECISION DUE TO MY SKILLS, A REAL MISTAKE, BECAUSE ONE SHOULD PURSUE ONES LOVE WHEN MAKING A DECISION. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE FRATERNITY AS WELL, RATHER THAN GOING WITH MY FRIENDS TO A LESSER KNOWN FRATERNITY, I WENT FOR THE BIG NAME OF SIGMA CHI.

SEARCHING FOR GUIDANCE, I BECAME A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN AT THE LOCAL BAPTIST CHURCH, LED PEOPLE TO CHRIST AND RAN THE COLLEGE PROGRAM.

IN THE SUMMER OF 1956 I PARKED CARS AT CHASSENS THE BEVERLY HILLS HOT SPOT RESTAURANT. JOE ARNOLD THE DOOR MAN, A GRADUATE OF USC THAT SPENT HIS DAYTIME HOURS VIEWING MOVIES SO HE COULD PROPERLY WELCOME THE MOVIE CUSTOMERS OF CHASSENS. JOE LIKED ME, BECAUSE I COULD RUN FAST. ANNEX TWO, WAS PARK THE CAR ON ANY STREET YOU CAN. GROCHO MARKS, JOAN CRAWFORD, DEAN MARTIN, FRANK SINATRA, ALFRED HITCHCOCK. AND THAT BIG GUY ROCK HUDSON WHO GOT PISSED AT ME, BECAUSE I DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM, WERE A FEW I ASSISTED. THE HIGHLIGHT FOR ME WAS A MERCEDES GULLWING ROASTER WITH THE DOORS THAT FLIPPED UP, AND THIS GORGEOUS KNOCKOUT BEAUTY IN AN EMERAL GREEN SATIN DRESS RAISED HER HAND UPWARD FOR MY ASSISTANCE. I HAD NEVER SEEN A WOMAN SO BEAUTIFUL. AFTERWARDS THE DOORMAN EXPLAINED SHE WAS A HIGH PRICE HOOKER.

ONE EVENING, I WAS CALLED INSIDE CHASSENS TO RECEIVE THE PHONE MESSAGE THAT MY FATHER HAD DIED, VERY CRITICAL, BECAUSE HE WAS THE MAJOR DECISION MAKER AND CHEER LEADER IN MY LIFE. I WAS DEVASTATED.

MY FIRST YEAR AT OREGON WAS WITH ARTHUR ERIKISON, THE YOUNG CANADIAN ARCHITECT TEACHING THREE DIMENSIONAL BASIC DESIGN. THAT EVENTUALLY BUILT GREAT BUILDINGS, PROFESSOR BROWN HAD US DRAWING TO LOUD MUSIC WHATEVER CAME INTO OUR HEADS. I CAME BACK AFTER MY FIRST YEAR TOTALLY CONVERTED TO MODERNISM. I REBUILT THE BATHROOM COUNTER IN OUR SPANISH STYLE HOME IN WEST LOS ANGELES WITH AN ANGLE THAT POKED YOU AND LOOKED OUT OF PLACE, BUT MODERN.

ARCHITECTURALLY MY FIRST PROJECT OF NOTE WAS A VIEWING PLATFORM. A COUPLE OF ARCHES HOLDING SWOOPING CURVED WALLS THAT HELD A PLATFORM. I RECENTLY LOOKING AT IT AND REALIZED I HAD THE ARCHITECTURAL MAGIC FROM THE BEGINNING. THE NEXT WAS AN APARTMENT TOWER OF FLIPPED WEDGED UNITS THAT ACTED AS A SCREEN. WITH OPEN ELEVATOR AND STAIR SHAFTS. THE PREDOMINATE PROFESSOR OF THIS ERA BEING EARL MOURSUND. A MAN THAT ENCOURAGED EXPERIMENTATION. I THRIVED UNDER HIS GUIDANCE. ANOTHER PROFESSOR PHIL DOLE STATED THAT IF YOU HAD TO FORCE A FUNCTION INTO A SHAPE IT PROBABLY DIDN’T WORK. NOW I REALIZE THAT A SKILLFUL DESIGNER HAS ALL THE TOOLS TO DO SO.

VIEWING PLATFORM, SKINNERS BUTE, EUGENE, OREGON UNIVERSITY OF OREGON 1957. IT HAS THE UNIVERSAL BEAUTY THING THAT I SEEK.

SUSPENDED FACTORY 1959 STUDENT PROJECT UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

APARTMENT HIGH RISE 1959 STUDENT PROJECT UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

A WEDGE UNIT THAT FLIPPED AND SLID BACK AND FORTH ON ITSELF. A GLASS SCREEN WITH OPEN CIRCULATION LIGHT SLOTS.

THE WEDGE GLASS WALL APARTMENTS

EARL MOURSUND PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OREGON, 2006

EARL MOURSUND A YOUNG PROFESSOR OF MINE THAT WAS STILL GIVING CRITS IN 2006 WHEN I WAS A VISITING PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON. ALL FOR EXPERIMENTATION AND CREATIVE THOUGHTS INITIATED BY THE STUDENT. NOT ONE TO COPY FROM THE MASTERS. HE GAVE ME GREAT ADVISE ON PURSUING ARCHITECTURE. I ENDED UP GIVING HIM A CLIENT THAT BUILT A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS . WE ARE STILL IN TOUCH. HIS MIND ACTIVE AND CONSTANTLY LEARNING. A UNIQUE TIME AT OREGON WITH A LOT OF FANTASTIC PROFESSORS THAT THREW CAIRS IN HEATED ARGUMENTS ABOUT ARCHITECTURE.

THE LETTERMEN IN FRONT OF SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY 1957 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON. KAY BRUIN THE SIGMA CHI SWEET HEART. I ON THE LEFT.

I CANNOT REMEMBER HER NAME, BUT WE WERE THE ESSENCE OF THE FIFTIES AT SOME COLLEGE DANCE

A WOOD CARVING 1957

SIMA CHI FRATERNITY PARTY I CALLED HER COW EYES, A MODEL AND BANKERS DAUGHTER, THAT WAS TAKING INTERIORS THAT EVENTUALLY HAD AN AFFAIR WITH ONE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSORS THAT LED TO HIS DISMISSAL. SHE WAS WAY TOO SOPHISTICATED FOR ME, DICK ENGLE ON THE LEFT BECAME A MINISTER AND ADVISED ME TO STICK WITH ARCHITECTURE. I WAS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN AT THE TIME AND CAME CLOSE TO ENDING UP IN A SEMINARY.

A YEAR LATER IN 1958 I WAS MARRIED TO JOANNE WOOD, A SPUNKY INTELLIGENT BEAUTIFUL BLOND FROM MY CHURCH GROUP. SHE GAVE UP HER COLLEGE EDUCATION TO PUT ME THROUGH COLLEGE.

I WAS 20 IN THE SPRING OF 1958 A REAL SHOCK TO MY SYSTEM, BUT IT SOBERED ME UP FOR RIGOROUSLY PURSUING ARCHITECTURE. I TRADED MY LETTERMAN’S SWEATER FOR ARCHITECTURE. I DID NOT NEED IT ANYMORE, I GOT THE GIRL. I HAD A BRIEF 6 MONTH STINT IN THE OREGON NATIONAL GUARD ACTIVE RESERVE. ON CHRISTMAS OF 1960 WE HAD OUR FIRST CHILD, CHRISTINE MARIE SMALL.

JOANNE WOOD AND GLEN HOWARD SMALL GETTING MARRIED 1958

IN THE OREGON NATIONAL GUARD, LEARNING HOW TO KILL AT FORT ORD. 1958 I HAD A MENTAL TRAMA AFTER MY FATHER’S DEATH AND COULD NOT MAKE CLEAR DECISIONS, SO I VOLUNTEERED FOR ACTIVE SERVICE FOR SIX MONTHS. JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO RESPECT MY ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION.

BAROQUE SCULPTURE 1959

AT OREGON I TOOK A SCULPTURE CLASS FROM ZAN ZACH, A MAN THAT LET ME DO WHATEVER I WANTED. I PLAYED AROUND BY TAKING A SOLID PIECE OF WOOD LIKE A FOUR BY FOUR AND CUTTING IT WITH A BAND SAW. INSTANT BAROQUE SCULPTURE. I DID ONE FOR A MUSICAL PROFESSOR AND MOUNTED IT ON THEIR LIVING ROOM WALL. IRONICALLY HIS WIFE HAD BEEN MY BONE HEAD ENGLISH PROFESSOR. (REFERRING TO REMEDIAL LEVEL TEACHING IN ENGLISH) SHE PASSED ME, DUE TO MY CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS.

CHUNKS OF WOOD MASSES GLUED TOGETHER. 1959 LOOKING AT IT NOW AS ARCHITECTURE, IT COULD EASILY PASS FOR COMBINING BUILDINGS. I SAW SOME ARCHITECTURAL COMPLEX LIKE THIS RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED.

A PLAY GROUND SCULPTURE FOR ALBANY OREGON. 1960 THE NATIONAL GUARD USED IT AS A BUNKER. THERE WAS SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ROUGH SURFACES, BUT CORBU AT THE TIME WAS DOING BRUTAL EXPOSED CONCRETE STRUCTURES AND WAS ON THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE. THE SCULPTURE DID BRING JOY AND FUN FOR AWHILE. I PERSONALLY BUILT IT WITH THE HELP OF RALPH CERRIGINO A FELLOW ARCHITECTURAL STUDENT.

PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE ALBANY OREGON 1960

1959 I DESIGNED MY FIRST HOUSE DURING THIS PERIOD FOR MY LIFE INSURANCE SALESMAN AND TRACK FRIEND, BOB DECKER AND HIS WIFE. A WOODY GOODIE. QUITE DIFFERENT THAN MY SCHOOL WORK. ROBERT RICHELIEU MY ARCHITECTURAL STUDENT SIGMA CHI CONTRACTOR FRIEND AND I BUILT THE HOUSE.

THEN ENTERS ALVIN BOYARSKY, A FRESH BRASH UPSTART INSTRUCTOR AT OREGON. THE LATE DIRECTOR OF THE AA IN LONDON, THE ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION WAS THE BEST SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE WORLD UNDER ALVIN’S DIRECTION . PETER COOK, WARREN CHALK, JANIS KAPLINSKY, ZAHA, RICK MATHER, ETC. EXCITING TIMES. HE SMOKED CIGARS AND SIPPED FINE WINE AND WAS FULL OF LIFE WITH INTELLIGENT COMMENTS AND VAST HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE.

AT OREGON ALVIN WAS RECRUITED, BECAUSE DEAN LITTLE WAS BUILDING A BAUHAUS AT UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, ALVIN HAD JUST FINISHED A STINT AT CORNELL. ALVIN A CORBU FAN WITH A QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND DEDICATION , DESTINE TO MAKE MAJOR WAVES IN ARCHITECTURE. I WAS IN FOURTH YEAR. ALVIN LOVED HAVING EAGER HARD
WORKING STUDENTS HE ENCOUNTERED AT OREGON. MENTIONING THAT CORNELL STUDENTS THOUGHT THEY KNEW TOO MUCH. WHEREAS OREGON STUDENTS WERE UP FOR NEW IDEAS AND DEVOTED TO ARCHITECTURE. THE WILD WEST WITH A LOT OF ENERGY.

AT OREGON HE STARTED US WITH THE WINNIPEG CITY HALL COMPETITION. I MADE A TWISTING INVERTED MACHINE THAT FELIX CANDELA, THE RENOWN MEXICAN THIN SHELL ARCHITECT SAID WOULD NOT STAND UP. THE FLOOR PLAN WAS A LARGE OPEN TWO STORY SPACE WITH A PRIVATE OFFICE FAÇADE THAT EXPRESSED THE FUNCTION CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OFFICES. HOWARD BAKEN AND I SHARED THE PLASTER INSTITUTE AWARD FOR EXCELLENT DESIGN. ALVIN WAS THE FIRST PROFESSOR TO INVITE ME TO DINNER AND TREAT ME AS A PERSON. HIS WIFE, ELIZABETH CALLED ME IGNORANT. FOR GOOD REASON. BUT ARCHITECTURE IS DEMOCRATIC AND LETS COWBOYS LIKE MYSELF BUILD.

IN THE PLANS ON THE RIGHT SHOWED A WORKING POOL ON THE LEFT WITH A OFFICES ON THE RIGHT FACADE THAT EXPRESSED THEIR FUNCTIONS

THE STARK OFFICE POOL SIDE

THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICE SIDE WITH CONNECTIONS TO FLOORS ABOVE AND BELOW

THE PROJECT TWISTED INTO AN OPEN WELL OF PARKING, THE CONCEPT TO LEAVE THE LOT A PARK AND GO VERTICAL.

MY THESIS WAS A RELIGIOUS RETREAT THAT MADE AN ATTEMPT TO COMBINE MY RELIGIOUS PRIVATE LIFE WITH MY ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION. THE SITE WAS ON THE MC KINSEY RIVER, WITH A MINOR CREEK TRIBUTARY. THE APPROACH WAS THROUGH AN ORCHARD. THE FIREPLACE WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO DRAG TREES INTO.

THE BUILDING WAS A HUGE CAVERNOUS SPACE THAT ALL THE FUNCTIONS ORIENTED TO. IT WAS LAID OUT ON A ORTHOGONAL GRID WITH FOUR CIRCULATION CORES, A TWISTED STRUCTURAL PATTERN CONNECTED THEM. IT SPIRALED AROUND TO A CULMINATION OF A SEVERE VERTICAL ALTER WALL THAT HAD A FIREPLACE AT THE BASE AND A HUGE CLEAR STORY INDIRECT LIGHT AT THE TOP. IT WAS THE CLIMAX OF MY CORBU PERIOD. IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS TRADITIONAL TO GET FELLOW STUDENTS TO ASSIST WITH THE FINAL DRAWINGS. BOB ARRIGONI, A METICULOUS SKILLED PRESENTER CAME FORWARD AND LED MY ASSISTANT GROUP OF STUDENTS WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL SET OF DRAWINGS. THAT COUPLED WITH MY DESIGN AND MODEL SKILLS MADE A STERLING PRESENTATION. ALL IN ALL A GREAT BUILDING, BUT OUTWARDLY BRUTAL. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THE LOCAL BAPTIST CHURCH TO TAKE SERIOUSLY. CLINGING IVY WOULD HAVE SOFTENED IT. BUT THE BRUTAL STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE, WITH HARSH SEVERE FORMS AND MATERIALS,`WAS IN AND I WAS DISCONNECTED FROM SOFTNESS.

AN EXERCISE WITH A SQUARE, ROTATED IN PLAN, AND A SERIES OF AXIAL GAMES. ALVIN HAD A WAY OF SAYING JUST A FEW ENCOURAGING WORDS THAT WOULD DRIVE ME ON. HE TOOK OUR CLASS TO THE LIBRARY TO SEE CORBU BOOKS. ALSO HE GOT STRANGE BOOKS FROM THE AA IN LONDON OF STUDENTS WORKS THAT HE POINTED TO. HE SAID THINGS LIKE HE HATED THE LIBRARIAN AND COMMUNISTS WERE GOOD. ALL MIND EXPANDING FOR A NAIVE USA STUDENT. WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT I STARTED TO ASK QUESTIONS. MAYBE THERE WERE SOME THINGS I NEEDED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BEFORE REACHING A CONCLUSION. AFTER ALL I HAD VOTED FOR NIXON AGAINST KENNEDY, PRIMARILY BECAUSE KENNEDY WAS CATHOLIC.

HARLOW LODGE RELIGIOUS RETREAT, THESIS PROJECT UNIVERSITY OF OREGON 1961 RENDERED BY GLEN HOWARD SMALL
A FEW YEARS AGO I VISITED THE SITE AND THE CHURCH HAD BUILD A SANCTUARY. NOTHING THAT COMPARED TO MY PROPOSAL HOW SAD.

BOB ARRIGONI RENDERED FRONT ELEVATION HARLOW LODGE 1961, THE ERA OF ZIP-ATONE.

BOB ARRIGONI RENDERED REAR ELEVATION HARLOW LODGE 1961 BOB WAS A PARTNER IN BACKEN ARRIGONI AND ROSS OF SAN FRANCISCO, WE ALL TOGETHER AT OREGON. BOB SAYING TO ME A FEW YEARS BACK THAT HE DOES NOT DO CURVES, HE HAD ENOUGH CHALLENGE WITH STRAIGHT LINES.

ALVIN BOYARASKY SHOWED US CORBU SKETCHES AND SAID GO FOR IT. AND THESE ARE THE SKETCHES I DID. THERE WAS AN EMPHASIS ON GEOMETRY OF PLANS THAT THE BUILDING EVOLVED FROM. PLUS THE MOOD SKETCH INTERIOR LIKE THE LOWER RIGHT.

THE FINISHED PLAN WITH PRIVATE LIVING STUDY CELLS. AND SHARED GATHERING SPACES. THE CAVERNOUS MAIN SPACE IN THE MIDDLE CULMINATED WITH THE ALTER FIRE WALL. A SMALL CHAPEL ON THE UPPER LEFT.

MODEL FRONT

MODEL ROOF

MODEL REAR

SKETCHES. FLOOR PLAN PATTERN OF SQUARE WITH CIRCULATION CORES ON AXIS, CONNECTED WITH LINES. ABOVE EVENTUAL BALCONY PATTERN . THE THRILL OF IT ALL ON THE MODE SKETCH UPPER RIGHT.

THE MODEL PROGRESSION

MY INNOCENT DAYS ENDED WITH ALVIN BOYARSKY. ALTHOUGH I WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THE MINISTRY AT THIS POINT. I HAD A FRATERNITY BROTHER DAVID ENGLE AT FULLER SEMINARY IN PASADENA, HE ADVISED ME TO STICK WITH ARCHITECTURE. BUT I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF RELIGION. I STARTED QUESTIONING THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD. IF HE WAS SO ALL POWERFUL, WHY HAD HE SCREWED UP AND ALLOWED SO MANY INJUSTICES. CHILD BIRTH THAT CRIPPLED MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, BAD GUYS CONSTANTLY WINNING. WARS FOUGHT BY ARM CHAIR POLITICIANS FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. ALLOWING INSIDIOUS WEAPONS. NO THIS WAS NOT A LOVING GOD. IN FACT THIS WAS A STRAIGHT JACKET TO CONTROL THE MASSES. BUT SOCIALLY THE CHURCH WAS A VERY SUPPORTIVE UNIT, THAT CARED ABOUT PEOPLE AND WORKED TO HELP OTHERS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH A NICER GROUP OF PEOPLE. ALL MY TEMPTATIONS COULD BE EXPLAINED AND GIVEN A POSITIVE SPIN TO BE CORRECTED. BUT IF YOU WERE A THINKING PERSON THAT QUESTIONED, THERE WAS NO PLACE , AND AFTER AWHILE I COULD NOT CONFORM.

I LOVED SCHOOL, IN FACT I HAVE NEVER LEFT SCHOOL. SCHOOL IS A PROTECTIVE SHIELD THAT ALLOWS ONE TO DREAM ON. SURE THERE IS CRITICISM, BUT YOU CAN SEEK OUT A SUPPORT GROUP THAT URGES YOU ON, AND TOGETHER YOU CAN FIGHT THE ESTABLISHMENT. AT OREGON THE ENEMY WAS MIES VAN DER ROHE AND WALTER GROPIUS FOLLOWERS. THE SIMPLE ARRANGERS OF RECTANGULAR BOXES. HEROES WERE CORBU, ALVAR ALTO, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT AND MY CLASS MATES LIKE; RICK MATHER AND HOWARD BACKEN. OH YES THE BIGGEST HERO WAS MYSELF. EVEN IN MY MOST NAIVE DAYS I THOUGHT I WAS THE GREATEST. THIS IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT DROVE ME ON. I BELIEVED IN MYSELF. IT IS THE EGO THAT ABSORBS CRITICISM. , THERE WAS ALWAYS THE DOUBT THAT MAYBE I HAD LOST THE TOUCH. BUT IF I CRACKED THE NEXT DESIGN ANOTHER STAR WAS ADDED TO THE EGO. I HAVE HAD MY ARCHITECTURAL FAILURES, THEY ARE ENGRAVED ACROSS MY SOUL. A HUSH COMES OVER ME WHEN I THINK OF THEM.. I COULD GO THROUGH THEM, BUT THEY ARE MEANINGLESS IN MY OVERALL OUTPUT.

I LIKE THE LINE OUT OF FOUNTAINHEAD WHERE ROAK, THE HERO ARCHITECT, SAYS THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD ARCHITECT AND A BAD ARCHITECT IS THAT A GOOD ONE THROWS HIS MISTAKES AWAY.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON WAS A SMORGASBORD FOR TESTING OUT IDEAS IN ARCHITECTURE. I HAD NOT FORMULATED A SET OF CONCERNS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A STYLE THAT I COULD CALL MY OWN. IT WAS ALL ABOUT MAKING SOMETHING INTERESTING AND EXCITING. IT TOOK YEARS TO REALIZE WHAT WAS IMPORTANT. THE 2 YEAR VIEWING PLATFORM CAME THE CLOSEST, BUT I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT AT THE TIME.

ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL CONCERNS WERE NOT TAUGHT NOR DISCUSSED. YES, LIGHT AND AIR WERE CONCERNS, BUT THE GREEN, SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES CAME
WHEN I WENT TO . CRANBROOK FOR MY MASTERS DEGREE.

I RUSHED THROUGH SCHOOL TO GET OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD TO BECOME AN ARCHITECT. THE GOAL WAS TO DESIGN EXCITING BUILDINGS. THE NEXT STEP WAS AN OFFICE.
BUCKMINISTER FULLER CAME TO OREGON AND I SAT FOR AN HOUR LISTENING TO HIS BASIC PHYSICS LESSON AND WAS BORED AND LEFT THE LECTURE. I HAD A LOT TO LEARN AND
DID NOT EVEN KNOW IT.

GLEN