Growing up I had always suffered from a chronic case of wanderlust. I loved to travel and experience different places, people, food, cultures, etc. As a child my father had visited Western Europe on a conference trip and brought back many volumes of full glossy colored picture books. Many of these books featured the great artists and architecture that came out of Europe’s long history. Thus began my lifelong fascination with Europe. In particular, I held a romantic attachment to old France. It was always my dream to visit the City of Lights. When I began my career in architecture as a student I was captivated by the grandeur of classical architecture. I imagined visiting many of the places that Parisian nobility perused in Paris’s glorious age.
That is until I finally visited Europe for myself. By this time my study of the build environment had progressed towards modern and contemporary. It was no coincidence that my visit to Europe was guided by architects that had a particular sway towards Contemporary European Architecture. After visiting many classical buildings there came a point where I just could not step foot into another cathedral, enough was enough. My brain sensory became overwhelmed and I actually began to think that classical was equivalent to boring and commonplace.
I guess my taste for grandeur had waned into a love for simplicity. There was just something beautiful and fresh in the clean lines of the modern counterparts. Contemporary architecture stood out like the joy of having something new. It can be a very warm and inviting atmosphere if done properly. Many contemporary architects use natural materials such as wood or stone in such a way that creates a very rich environment. Mixed with glass and steel and the juxtaposition can be quite engaging. One does not want to leave quickly but rather stay and enjoy the ambiance.
Not only had I developed a love for simplicity. I am particularly drawn by the minimalist branch. There seems to be a misconception that minimalism can not be in the same category as luxury living. But times have changed and that misconception has been thrown out. Since the later part of this century modern architecture styles have developed into its contemporary offspring. One such offspring is the Mediterranean Modern style. It juxtaposes nature with build form in such a way as to create an air of sophistication that can be found only in larger cosmopolitans around the world. Therefore only the affluent can afford to build Mediterranean Modern homes. In colonial America were there was a distinction between the carpenter and so called gentlemen architect. Once again, services are needed to provide for this type of delicate design that can only be accomplished with the sensitivity of an architect.