Custom Residential Architects Network

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Perry Cofield AIA
Design Ways & Means Architects
Arlington VA
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For David A's defense of the video re blacks and women I have no comment.  But when he spoke of working with Louis J, whose average job size usta be around 6 mil in TX, I rest my case:  This working group may simply be too elitist for the middle class of many otherwise properous cities.  As a Master Builder, I think Louis is a great guy; so is Bob Ivy in his high-stakes commercial environment..  But both appear to come frrom the remnants of the aristocracy of slave/agricultural societies, so relevance to the average Joe in the year 2013 is lost.  This at the very time we try to show relevance in the way we had some success back in the 50s.  Again David: Get out off your high horse. Your video certainly doesn't relate well to my 500k jobs/clients in the DC area.  I ask the AIA once again:drop the Institute nonsense, and become a trade association. Not only an SOB, I also grew up as the son of the Prez of a local trade association.  Decide who you are, or kiss your ---- goodbye to the general public.  You can't have it both ways.

Perry,

Your attack on Luis because we used a picture of him working with his multicultural and diverse office is ridiculous and not to the point.  Further, Luis has dedicated year of his life, including a term as national chair to build CRAN. What have you done for CRAN?

If your point is that we only represent the rich, your are simple wrong. It sucks being wrong, but get used to it in this case. Our advisory board is made up of medium firms, small firms, and single practitioners that practice CUSTOM residential architecture. If your point is that we should use imagery for smaller custom projects in the future, that was already brought up as a constructive criticism in this very post above and duly noted. Fair point, great suggestion.

I am not the AIA, and I do not run this board, but I encourage you to find and join a trade association... and post your attacks on their board.  You can rest your case there.

Dave


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David Andreozzi AIA
Barrington RI
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2013 22:34
From: Perry Cofield
Subject: CRAN video



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Perry Cofield AIA
Design Ways & Means Architects
Arlington VA
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For David A's defense of the video re blacks and women I have no comment.  But when he spoke of working with Louis J, whose average job size usta be around 6 mil in TX, I rest my case:  This working group may simply be too elitist for the middle class of many otherwise properous cities.  As a Master Builder, I think Louis is a great guy; so is Bob Ivy in his high-stakes commercial environment..  But both appear to come frrom the remnants of the aristocracy of slave/agricultural societies, so relevance to the average Joe in the year 2013 is lost.  This at the very time we try to show relevance in the way we had some success back in the 50s.  Again David: Get out off your high horse. Your video certainly doesn't relate well to my 500k jobs/clients in the DC area.  I ask the AIA once again:drop the Institute nonsense, and become a trade association. Not only an SOB, I also grew up as the son of the Prez of a local trade association.  Decide who you are, or kiss your ---- goodbye to the general public.  You can't have it both ways.

David,

I have been reading the negative responses as well as all of the positive responses to the video and agree with your points whole heartedly.  For you and all of the CRAN committees, I am grateful to what you do as I do not know where you find the free time?

Although I do work for the 1%, the majority of my commissions are with the remaining 99%.  What they do not want to see on a video is ho-hum architecture.  Everyone likes beautiful pictures of stunning architecture, whether large or small.  My clients are fully aware of their budgets so my response is that beautiful design with imagination does not have to come with a high price tag.  It is up to us as architects to do our creative thing and provide them with a final product that knocks their socks off, no matter what the budget. 

I said it before but I for one will be linking CRAN's first and future video's to my soon to be released, redesigned website.

Thank you,

John

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John Lehman AIA
Lehman Associates, PC
Highland MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2013 07:52
From: David Andreozzi
Subject: CRAN video

Perry,

Your attack on Luis because we used a picture of him working with his multicultural and diverse office is ridiculous and not to the point.  Further, Luis has dedicated year of his life, including a term as national chair to build CRAN. What have you done for CRAN?

If your point is that we only represent the rich, your are simple wrong. It sucks being wrong, but get used to it in this case. Our advisory board is made up of medium firms, small firms, and single practitioners that practice CUSTOM residential architecture. If your point is that we should use imagery for smaller custom projects in the future, that was already brought up as a constructive criticism in this very post above and duly noted. Fair point, great suggestion.

I am not the AIA, and I do not run this board, but I encourage you to find and join a trade association... and post your attacks on their board.  You can rest your case there.

Dave


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David Andreozzi AIA
Barrington RI
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2013 22:34
From: Perry Cofield
Subject: CRAN video



-------------------------------------------
Perry Cofield AIA
Design Ways & Means Architects
Arlington VA
-------------------------------------------

For David A's defense of the video re blacks and women I have no comment.  But when he spoke of working with Louis J, whose average job size usta be around 6 mil in TX, I rest my case:  This working group may simply be too elitist for the middle class of many otherwise properous cities.  As a Master Builder, I think Louis is a great guy; so is Bob Ivy in his high-stakes commercial environment..  But both appear to come frrom the remnants of the aristocracy of slave/agricultural societies, so relevance to the average Joe in the year 2013 is lost.  This at the very time we try to show relevance in the way we had some success back in the 50s.  Again David: Get out off your high horse. Your video certainly doesn't relate well to my 500k jobs/clients in the DC area.  I ask the AIA once again:drop the Institute nonsense, and become a trade association. Not only an SOB, I also grew up as the son of the Prez of a local trade association.  Decide who you are, or kiss your ---- goodbye to the general public.  You can't have it both ways.

Thank you John!

As you know, everyone on the Advisory Group dedicates so much time and personal money to this dream; that of creating a new AIA that actually provides support and education for ALL Custom Residential Architects. We have always encouraged and accepted constructive criticism to that end goal. Anyone that has participated in our years of open forums at AIA Convention, Symposium, or Reinvention will attest. We dont take it all suggestions, because we have to vote and agree on a path as an AG, but we appreciate them all.  No one on the AG pretends to be anything more than architects trying to figure out how to build our little home on the USS Mothership AIA.  To have people who really don't know what we do (some who are not even AIA members) come here with the same arguments to shit on our efforts over and over with is frankly dishearting. If someone doesn't like what we are doing, get off your vitriolic spewing keyboard, move your ass, and do something different and better to improve things yourself. Really! Propose to do something yourself!  Ask CRAN to consider helping.  Or perhaps your idea is better served and appropriate to the Housing KC. Or perhaps your efforts are better served without the AIA in your local trade association. Go for it, really!

We have accomplished so much in such a small amount of time, and the dream is growing exponentially both in volunteer support and the long line of sponsors that want to associate themselves with us... and in do doing, providing us money to provide more support back to our members!

Back to my point, spending all this time defending our actions is time AG members are not working on a CRAN projects or not working for a clients to pay our bills, so we can work on CRAN projects. Again, it is frankly disheartening.

Peace, and again, thank you,

Dave

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David Andreozzi AIA
Barrington RI
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Dave and Besieged Members of the AG,
Don't let the bloody bastards get you down, keep up the good work. There are those of us out there who recognize the energy expended is formidable. I agree with your point to stop wasting time defending and rather continue evolving these inspiring ideas, videos and CRAN products which help all architects. It's not necessary to respond to all of the criticisms. Those people criticizing are free to do so(and should express their views) in the forum, you are likewise under no obligation to waste your time responding or defending. 

Thanks again for all your great efforts.
Peter 

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Peter Brinckerhoff AIA, LEED AP
President
Brinckerhoff and Associates LLC
Glenview IL
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2013 09:48
From: David Andreozzi
Subject: CRAN video

Thank you John!

As you know, everyone on the Advisory Group dedicates so much time and personal money to this dream; that of creating a new AIA that actually provides support and education for ALL Custom Residential Architects. We have always encouraged and accepted constructive criticism to that end goal. Anyone that has participated in our years of open forums at AIA Convention, Symposium, or Reinvention will attest. We dont take it all suggestions, because we have to vote and agree on a path as an AG, but we appreciate them all.  No one on the AG pretends to be anything more than architects trying to figure out how to build our little home on the USS Mothership AIA.  To have people who really don't know what we do (some who are not even AIA members) come here with the same arguments to shit on our efforts over and over with is frankly dishearting. If someone doesn't like what we are doing, get off your vitriolic spewing keyboard, move your ass, and do something different and better to improve things yourself. Really! Propose to do something yourself!  Ask CRAN to consider helping.  Or perhaps your idea is better served and appropriate to the Housing KC. Or perhaps your efforts are better served without the AIA in your local trade association. Go for it, really!

We have accomplished so much in such a small amount of time, and the dream is growing exponentially both in volunteer support and the long line of sponsors that want to associate themselves with us... and in do doing, providing us money to provide more support back to our members!

Back to my point, spending all this time defending our actions is time AG members are not working on a CRAN projects or not working for a clients to pay our bills, so we can work on CRAN projects. Again, it is frankly disheartening.

Peace, and again, thank you,

Dave

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David Andreozzi AIA
Barrington RI
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