SMALL AT LARGE

AS I WAS ARRIVING AT THE 99 CENT STORE SATURDAY IN YUCCA VALLEY, THERE WAS A VINTAGE CAR SHOW IN THE PARKING LOT.

I PHOTOGRAPHED CARS THAT WERE IN MY LIFE AND GOT THE IDEA TO TRY AND MAKE SOME SENSE OF HOW CARS RELATE TO MY ARCHITECTURE WORLD. I MAKING A TIME TABLE OF CARS AND SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS WHILE OWNING THE CARS.

YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE A CONNECTION, PLEASE COMMENT .

MY PRESENT 21 YEAR OLD CHEVY I TALK TO AND THANK FOR STAYING ALIVE. PRAISING IT FOR GETTING ME SAFELY TO PLACES.

MY MUSCLE CARS WERE NOT PRACTICAL WITH GAS. BUT THEY WERE USED WHEN I PURCHASED THEM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL THING OF MANUFACTURING NEW CARS WITH BETTER GAS MILAGE, IS NOT ALL THAT GREEN. IT IS MUCH GREENER AND CHEAPER TO USE MORE GAS AND DRIVE A USED CAR THAN BUY A NEW GREEN CAR.

MY PHILOSOPHY IS THE BEST GAS MILAGE IS NOT DRIVING . WHICH I PRACTICE ON A REGULARLY BASIS .

THE AUTOMOBILES SHOWN HERE ARE OFF THE INTERNET, BUT THE MODELS ARE MOSTLY CORRECT.

THE MODEL A FORD WAS DATING CAR THAT PUT MY MOTHER AND FATHER TOGETHER. IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN A CAR . THEY DROVE ROUND TRIP FROM PASADENA TO DETROIT FOR THEIR HONEYMOON.

RALPH RUEL SMALL, MY DAD THAT LIKED HIS CARS

THE RUBBLE SEAT OF THE MODEL A WAS A BLAST. WHEN WILL IT RETURN?

OLIVE EVELYN TOWNE , MY MOM, SHE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN DRIVING, AND LEARNED ON A MODEL T FORD ON MONTANA HOMESTEADING RANCH

A 1940 CHEVY STATION WAGON, THE CAR OF MY EARLY YOUTH, A STRANGE COMBINATION OF WOOD AND STEEL

ALWAYS UP FOR THE NEXT NEW THING

i
1947 PONTIAC WAGON THAT DAD RIGGED A DOUBLE BUNK BED INSIDE, WITH THE UPPER BED ON PULLEYS THAT PULLED INTO THE CEILING. WE TOOK A TRIP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, CAMPING OUT A LOT. ONCE DRIVING INTO SOME BUSHES THAT HAD GLARING EYES AND HIT A ROCK THAT PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN. A TIN CAN CREATED AN ILLUSION OF PEERING EYES. DAD BOUGHT A RIFLE THE NEXT DAY.

MOTHER, DAD AND MY SISTER PHYLLIS FOUR YEARS MY SENIOR.

MY FIRST CAR. A 1938 DESOTO COUPE, WHAT A MONSTER, MOTOR FUMES BLEW INTO THE CAB. THE BUYERS ALL EXCITED ABOUT FIXING IT UP AND I WAS GLAD TO GET RID OF IT. MY FIRST TASTE OF BEING A MECHANIC AND GRINDING THE VALVES. I REBUILT THE ENGINE OF THE FAMILY STUDEBAKER AND PUT THE CONNECTING RODS IN BACKWARDS IN MY SOPHOMORE YEAR IN COLLEGE. WHAT A MESS. GREASE, OIL , IGNORANCE AND LAYING ON MY BACK WITH ARMS UPWARD AND BANGING KNUCKLES. EVERYONE LAUGHED AT HOW I HAD SCREWED UP. I VOWED TO LET OTHERS BE MECHANICS AFTER THAT, NOT MY THING.

HAPPY DAYS AT UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, SPORTS WERE MY IDENTITY

1940 CHEVY COUPE, I LOVED THIS CAR, WENT EVERYWHERE WITH IT. I PAID EARL SCHEIB $19.95 TO PAINT IT RED. I PUT A WOLF WISTLE ON IT THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SIREN, I WOULD PULL CARS OVER JUST FOR THE LARK. GAS WAS 18 CENTS A GALLON.

I BUILT A PRAM THAT I CARRIED ON TOP OF THE CAR. WOOD WORKING SKILLS I HAD, NO MESSY GREASE.

MY 1948 STUDEBAKER COUPE THAT I DROVE OFF TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON IN 1955
NOT UP FOR THE LONG DISTANCE TRIPS AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP AFTER A COUPLE YEARS.
THE REAR WRAPAROUND WINDOW HAD THE FUTURIST LOOK.

VIEWING PLATFORM 1957, GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT ARCHITECTURE

1955 ROCKET 88 OLDSMOBILE THIS CAR WAS THE REAL THING AND A DREAM TO DRIVE, OF COURSE IT GOT THE GIRLS.
MY FATHER HAD DIED AND MY MOTHER NEEDED THE STATION WAGON TO RUN THE FURNITURE STORE. I GOT MY FATHER’S HOT ROD.

LETTERMAN’S CLUB AT SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY WITH KAY BRUIN SWEETHEART OF THE HOUSE. I ON THE LEFT REAR.

1954 CHEVY STATION WAGON THAT I ENDED UP WITH TO START A NEW LIFE WITH JOANNE WOOD, MY FIRST WIFE.

TORONTO CITY HALL PROJECT ALVIN BOYARSKY MENTOR PROFESSOR

1960 VW BUG WITH SUNROOF. THE FIRST AND ONLY NEW CAR I HAD EVER OWNED. I LOVED THIS CAR. MY TEST TRACK WAS A RURAL ROAD WITH BUMPS THAT I WOULD SHOW OFF ON AND SCARE THE PASSENGER TO DEATH.

REDESIGNING THE WORLD WITH HARLOW LODGE, A RELIGIOUS RETREAT 1961. THESIS PROJECT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, CORBU PERIOD ALVIN BOYARSKY MENTOR PROFESSOR

T. O. MC COYE HORTICULTURAL CENTER IN LATIGO CANYON MALIBU CA. A. T. WILKES ARCHITECTURAL FIRM.

I WAS SUCKERED INTO BUYING THIS VW MICRO BUS, BECAUSE THEY ADVERTISED WITH A JOCKEY GETTING INTO THE BUS, THAT INDICATED A BOOST IN HORSE POWER. TO PUT A DAMPER ON THAT, THEY PUT A GOVERNOR ON THE MOTOR. TALK ABOUT HAVING ZERO POWER, THIS WAS IT. LOOKED GREAT, BUT THE ENGINE BLEW UP UNDER WARRANTY. WE BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE OF THE EXPANDING FAMILY AND I WANTING TO GIVE ARCHITECTURAL TOURS OF LOS ANGELES.

THIS WAS THE LAST NEW CAR I HAVE OWNED.

UNIVERSAL BEAUTY SAN FRANCISCO WALK THROUGH FOUNTAIN, MY CONSERVATIVE MOTHER LOVED IT.
IN SAN FRANCISCO TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD. PRODUCTIVE DESIGN PERIOD, BUT NOTHING BUILT, DECIDED TO BE A PROFESSOR, SO I APPLIED TO GRADUATE SCHOOLS. I RECEIVED THE ELIEL SAARINEN FULL SCHOLARSHIP
TO CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART. OUTSIDE DETROIT IN BLOOMFIELD HILLS MICHIGAN. GLEN PAULSEN MENTOR PROFESSOR

1960 FORD ECONOLINE VAN THAT MY MOTHER BOUGHT USED FOR ME FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR MY FAMILY TO CROSS THE COUNTRY. AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS THE ENGINE BLEW UP.AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. LOTS OF ROOM, BUT A PIECE OF JUNK. OUR ENGINEER NEIGHBOR WORKED FOR FORD TO DESIGN PARTS TO FAIL AFTER A FEW YEARS USE. WHAT A SCREWED UP BUSINESS MODEL. JAPAN CHANGED ALL THAT.

I LOADED A U HAUL TRAILER WRONG AND THE VAN JACK KNIFED ON THE ROAD CROSSING SALT LAKE. JOANNE DRIVING, LUCKY FOR US WE WERE NOT ALL KILLED.

OFFICE – RESIDENCE PROJECT AT CRANBOOK ACADEMY OF ART. I ALWAYS LOVED SCHOOL.

THE ECOLOGICAL VERTICAL CITY, CRANBOOK ACADEMY OF ART, 1966

VERTICAL CITY TO REPLACE DETROIT 1967 MASTERS THESIS

UNIVERSAL BEAUTY AT URBAN SCALE

CHEVY VISTA CRUISER, FELT GREAT RIDING IN THE REAR SEAT OF THE CAR. GOOD FOR THE KIDS AND IT HAD POWER. GOT LOUSY GAS MILLAGE.

DETROIT STADIUM 1969 FOR THE DETROIT FREE PRESS TO SHOW AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO BUILD A STADIUM IN DETROIT ON THE RIVER. MEGA TENSILE STRUCTURE WITH SKING ON THE ROOF.

REVISED SCHEME TO LOOK BUILD-ABLE

PONTIAC COUPE A TRANSITIONAL CAR . HAD A MAJOR OIL LEAK. CRACKED SOMETHING. NONE OF THE MAGIC STOP LEAKS STUFF WORKED.

WIRE MODEL OF THE CROSS SECTION OF THE VERTICAL CITY, TOLD BY KONRAD WASSERMAN THAT IT WAS NOT STRUCTURAL. AFTER TEACHING NATURAL STRUCTURE FOR 15 YEARS I KNOW IT WAS STRUCTURAL. WATCH OUT FOR EXPERTS THAT DO IT THEIR WAY.

KARMEN GHIA, WHAT A FANTASTIC LOOK, BUT A CHEAP TIN CAN VW. GOOD ON GAS. DROVE TO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA IN MEXICO WITH MILICA DEDIJER MY SECOND WIFE. ALWAYS ABLE TO FIND MECHANICS TO REPAIR.

APARTMENT ERA WITH MIGUEL FLORES IN MARINA DEL REY. THIS ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BEAUTY WITH POOL ON ROOF.

MOVED UP TO CONVERTIBLE KARMEN GHIA, JUST FANTASTIC TO BE IN THE OPEN AIR, BUT THE CONVERTIBLE TOPS WERE A PAIN AND DRIPPED WATER A LOT. A FEW ENGINES BLEW UP, BUT THEY WERE CHEAP TO REBUILD. COULD CARRY MY 3 KIDS IN THE COMPACT SPACE. WE HAD LOTS OF GREAT TIMES.

INTANT IMAGE FOR AN ARTIST. I REMEMBER GOING TO A RICH PERSONS PARTY IN BEL AIRE AND THE HOSTESS COMMENTING WHAT A CUTE CAR. THE RICH DID NOT DRIVE THIS CAR. WHAT IT HAD WAS DESIGN AND FUN FOR A LOW PRICE.

THE BIOMORPHIC BIOSPHERE TO REPLACE LOS ANGELES

THE BB INTERIOR,

LIVING IN THE FLYING HOUSE AND BEING A PROFESSOR AT SCI-ARC. LIFE WAS GREAT.

I GAVE MY DAUGHTER CHRISTINE MY SILVER GHIA AND I PAINTED ANOTHER ONE METALLIC GREEN
I ALSO GAVE MY DAUGHTER LUCIA A BLUE ONE. THE GHIA’S WERE OK FOR ME, BECAUSE I COULD DEAL WITH THEIR CONSTANT NEED FOR REPAIR, BUT DIFFICULT FOR MY DAUGHTERS TO KEEP UP.

THE GREEN MACHINE FOR VENICE CALIFORNIA, DEFINITELY ESPOUSED THE SMALL COMPACT LIVING THAT MY GHIA CARS REFLECTED.

TURF TOWN. MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE WITH ECO SOLAR ZONING SCHEME

MY LAST RED GHIA GIVEN TO DAUGHTER JULIE , IT WAS STOLEN IN A WEEK.

THE LIEBERMAN ADDITION. GETTING A FACE LIFT TO GIVE THE ILLUSION OF IMPORTANCE. A COMMON THEME IN MY CAR SELECTION.

PORCHES 924 TUBO. THE PREVIOUS OWNER REMOVING THE GOVERNOR. IT WENT LIKE HELL. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I GOT RESPECT FOR MY CAR. THE TRAFFIC TICKETS CAME WITH THE RED COLOR AND BRANDING. BUT NOBODY MESSED WITH ME ON THE ROAD. EVENTUALLY IT BLEW UP ON THE FREEWAY. IT HAD A SUN ROOF THAT YOU COULD REMOVE. GREAT FEELING. THE BEST PART BEING LARGE LETTERING ON THE REAR SAYING PORCHE. CAR ATTENDANTS BOWED.

THE REAL PORCHE LOVERS LOOKED DOWN AT ME, BECAUSE THIS WAS A CHEAP PORCHE THAT COULD BE HAD FOR PEANUTS ON THE USED MARKET. IT WAS BUILT WITH A LOT OF VW PARTS. I HAD SOME MONEY DURING THIS PERIOD.

NELSON’S REMODEL IN SANTA MONICA. ANOTHER FACE LIFT.

1961-65 JAGUAR MARK X I CAN NOT REMEMBER IF THIS WAS THE EXACT MODEL, BUT I BOUGHT IT FROM JAN MARDIAN MY LOVE FOR FOUR YEARS. A TOTAL ILLUSION, NOTHING BUT CAR TROUBLE THE WHOLE TIME I OWNED IT. NICE INTERIOR

NELSON HOUSE, NO LONGER TEACHING AND DOING ARCHITECTURE FOR A LIVING, WHICH I COULD NOT MAKE ENOUGH MONEY DOING.

FORD AERO STAR VAN. IT HAD POWER AND WAS PRACTICAL FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MOVING , BUT WAS NOT SEXY ENOUGH TO GET THE LADIES.

MY HOUSE IN SEAL ROCK OREGON WITH 928 PORCHE IN FRONT.

928 PORCHE THE CAR THAT WAS A DREAM TO DRIVE. MADE TO GO 120 MPH ON THE AUTO BAUN FREEWAYS IN GERMANY WITH A COMFORTABLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS MEN EXECUTIVES..
PORCHE LOVERS REJECTED, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A REAR ENGINE MOTOR, BUT I LOVED IT. THE FEAR BEING IF THE TIMING BELT BROKE THE ENGINE BLEW UP. NEVER HAPPENED TO ME, BUT IT HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT CAME AND WENT THAT WAS FINALLY SOLVED, JUST BEFORE I SOLD IT. IT WAS LIKE LOOKING AT A BEAUTIFUL BODY OF A WOMAN. IT TURNED ME ON AND STILL DOES. IT HAD A BUILT IN SUN ROOF.

I BOUGHT IT IN CALIFORNIA AND ON THE DRIVE BACK TO OREGON I WAS STOPPED FOR SPEEDING, THE OFFICER REALIZING I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR, GAVE ME A BREAK WITH NO TICKET, BUT ASKED HOW DOES THE CAR HANDLE? I HAD IT FROM 2000-2009. I AGAIN I HAD SOME MONEY AND COULD AFFORD TO LOOK THE PART.

AFTER THE FIRST FALL RAIN IN OREGON I WAS ON A CURVY COAST ROAD HIGH OVER THE OCEAN AND WAS TAIL GATING A TRUCK GOING SLOW. THE TRUCK FINALLY PULLED OVER AND I STOMPED ON THE GAS AND FOUND MYSELF DOING A TOTAL SPIN NEXT TO THE CLIFF WITH ROCKS AND SURF BELOW. I THOUGHT I WAS A GONER, BUT ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE EMBANKMENT OPPOSITE THE CLIFF. LUCK WAS WITH ME. I GREEDY WITH CAR POWER HAD ALMOST LOST MY LIFE..

COLON ROTUNDA FOUNTAIN 2004 MANAGUA NICARAGUA

JOURNALISTS ROTUNDA MONUMENT MANAGUA, NICARAGUA 2004

1988 TOYOTO CORONA MANAGUA NICARAGUA 2003 GREAT CAR, BUT THE ROADS OF NICARAGUA WERE TOUGH ON THE CAR, PLUS WHEN I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY IT WAS MISTREATED. ONCE STOPPED WITH 3 WIFE CHRISTIAN BY POLICE OFFICER THAT THREATENED TO TAKE ME TO JAIL. I CALLED ROGER LEWITES MY PARTNER AND HE EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER I WAS A FAMOUS ARCHITECT DOING THE CONCHA ACOUSTICA. THE OFFICER SAID, WELL IF HE IS SO IMPORTANT WHY IS HE NOT DRIVING A BETTER CAR? I GAVE THE OFFICER A BRIBE AND DROVE HOME. I ALSO HAD MY 928 PORCHE BACK IN THE STATES WITH MY HOUSE.

CONCHA ACOUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA 2005

2001 FORD WIND STAR VAN FOR SECOND CAR IN OREGON. LOVED THE CAR, EXCEPT THE TRANSMISSION BLEW GOING OVER THE PASS FROM CALIFORNIA

ECO RESORT GOLF CLUB FOR ABU DAHBI TDIC 2008

NISSAN 2000 SOLID DEPENDABLE CAR. USED WHILE TEACHING AT THE ACADEMY OF ART IN SAN FRANCISCO 2010

A LOWER CEILING TRELLIS FOR A CHINESE RESTAURANT IN ALAMEDA CALIFORNIA. I ATE THERE OFTEN AND FELT THEY NEEDED A NEW LOOK. A COMMON INTEREST OF MINE TO SEE HOW TO IMPOVE. OWNERS NOT INTERESTED. IT WOULD HAVE DOUBLED THEIR BUSINESS.

TOYOTA WAGON 1990 . THE TRANSMISSION BLEW ON WAY TO LOS ANGELES FROM OREGON IN THE COASTAL REDWOODS.

AQUATIC PARK WITH EX WIFE MILICA DEDIJER FOR NEWPORT OREGON 2011

DOWNTOWN TROPISHERE TO TRANSPOSE EXISTING CITIES TO PARADISE 2012

ECO TOWN ON PACIFIC COAST IN NICARAGUA . SCHEME REJECTED 2013

1995 CHEVY LUMINA, PRESENT CAR THAT GETS OVER 30 MILES TO THE GALLON. AMAZING CAR THAT LOOKS LIKE A SQUAD CAR. THE AAA TOW TRUCK DRIVER CONVINCED ME TO BUY AFTER THE TOYOTA WAGON BLEW THE TRANSMISSION IN THE REDWOODS. IT HAD A COVERING OF GREEN MOSS AND THE FLOOR BOARDS WERE COVERED WITH ROCKS WHEN I PURCHASED. THE ONLY TROUBLE I HAVE HAD IS A NEW FUEL PUMP AND FIXING A PLUG IN ENGINE BLOCK. I LUCKED OUT, IT IS STILL RUNNING GREAT. THE REVIEW IN RESEARCH SAID, FOR ONCE CHEVY GOT IT RIGHT.

THE PAINT IS CURLING ON THE HOOD AND THE CAR LOOKS OLD AND TIRED. WHEN YOU ARE THE OLDEST CAR IN THE PARKING LOT, THAT TELLS A LOT.

1976 GMC MOTOR HOME THAT I BOUGHT NEW, BUT WITHOUT INTERIOR, BECAUSE I WANTED A HIGH END DESIGN CUSTOM INTERIOR THAT I WOULD BUILD MYSELF. HUGE MISTAKE. I DESIGNED AN INTERIOR, BUT ONLY GOT A PART OF A DESK BUILT. STILL HAVE HYDRAULIC JACKS IN MY GARAGE UNPACKED. I LOVED THE LOOK.

MOBILE OFFICE FOR MY GREEN MACHINE. AN EXAMPLE OF CAR AND OFFICE COMING TOGETHER. BUT MUCH TOO EXPENSIVE TO DRIVE AROUND. THE GHIA WAS FOR TRANSPORTATION.

ENDED UP SELLING TO SCI-ARC AND THE SCHOOL USING TO TAKE STUDENTS ON FIELD TRIPS. JIM HUBBLE EVENTUALLY BUYING AND USEING TO TRANSPORT HIS RESTORED CARS. THE REAR OPENED UP LIKE A GARAGE DOOR.

LOTUS SPIRITUAL ARENA 2013

EARTH RETREAT JOSHUA TREE CA 2014

DOWNTOWN ECO CANOPY AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, JOSHUA TREE CA. 2015

PERFORMANCE BACKDROP FOR ROLO CASTILLO RIM ROCK, CA. 2016

OPEN RESTROOM FOR CLOSED LOOP WATER RESTROOM FOR ROLO CASTILLO RIM ROCK, CA 2016

ACTIVITY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER HWY 62 FOR JOSHUA TREE CALIFORNIA 2016 RANDY POLUMBO PARTNER
TO SAVE LIVES AND HAVE FUN DOING IT.