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Civil Unrest - Housing in Hawaii12/13/2022 The civil infrastructure of our cities are based on piping waste, water, electricity, and other forms of energy through pipes... Which are usually underground, and take a fortune to build, maintain, and expand. This system is the result of eons of evolution whereby we now place them under roads so as not to get in the way of building foundations. Then we direct stormwater, wastewater, and other byproducts away from the buildings through these pipes to go somewhere. And we direct air, fresh water, electricity, gas, and other important items into the pipes for various uses that a building may need.
It's a simple system, but takes an extraordinary amount of energy from designers, engineers, and building officials to coordinate this orchestra of spaghetti that is essential for our lives. It's an incredibly fragile system since when a pipe breaks - usually due to an accident, natural disaster, or just plain apathy - that we must pay another extraordinary sum to not only find the leak, but to dig large trenches to replace them. It's surgical, and costs more than surgery. For those of you who aren't planners, this spaghetti that runs through our streets are engineered in size based on specific assumptions about our weather, population growth, and local usage at the time of development. AND it is regulated by our civil servants who faithfully serve our cities and municipalities. Each dancing in a choreography that is mostly helpful, and with federal oversight by agencies like FEMA and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Who both work very hard at trying to manage the slow cleanup of our environment through steep fines and regulation if our municipalities fall out of line of our environmental goals. The city municipality keeps a strict chain of command of who and what pipes are put into the ground... and most importantly - when. This regulation can hold off real estate development in many areas for decades. Here in Hawaii, developing a significant portion of raw land into homes, shopping, schools, and other services typically takes about 25 years... nearly an entire career... or about two and a half real estate cycles. Just to arrange for the potable drinking water, the storm water management, the roads, the land subdivisions and setting up roads, fire station access, and other city services... take over ten years. It probably can be done faster... but our city planners want to manage the growth of our cities. It's not in the public interest to grow too fast.... we've seen what's happening in China. It's possible to manage the pace of growth, but in our town of Honolulu - growth is managed not with a simple yes or no. But rather it is done with a more passive aggressive approach... yes you can... but you'll need to do these things... and when you finish those, we'll see if there's more to do since new laws may have been added in the 25 years since. And so the builder is stuck in a mire of extraordinary risk of time and cash in order to develop their property. And the waiting consumer who needs a home must wait for quarter centuries - yes the Department of Hawaiian Homelands actually has clients on the list who are waiting for access to land for that long (and longer)... as they wait for the infrastructure to be planned and executed. I'm sure you might already be able to detect the subtle hints of cultural exclusion popping out of the sea like an iceberg. This is the true reason why housing in Hawaii in non-existent. That we must wait, and that we can no longer afford the housing that exists. And the true reason why we have NO affordable housing. The civil infrastructure that purportedly helps our city and it's inhabitants stay clean, healthy, and at most times dry, protected, and "civil" in times of disaster is what all this "hoopla" and "auwe" about housing is about. There is a solution....Yes - after years of think-tanking with our American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honolulu's Design for Risk & Resiliency Committee, yours truly actually has one... But before we unveil it, there's a bit of background info to digest; several dots to connect, and a huge helping of imagination. Isn't this what architects are supposed to do for society? Help you imagine? First we must question the core premise of how and why we build the civilization that we do. What if we decide that we want to take more risk? That we don't mind treating our own water? That we don't mind getting flooded once in a while? That we could lose our homes in a hurricane? That we could lose lives? That we may need to find other ways to treat our sewage to be sanitary? Or that we won't have power piped in to our homes? Perhaps we generate all of the above on our own? In the coming articles, I'll tackle each of the decisions that we've made about our lives, health and safety - and then you, dear reader, can decide if waiting a quarter century is worth it.... For perhaps the risks that we think we are mitigating... are truly not. At which point waiting those 25 years may not be worth it at all! For isn't the loss of time sometimes greater than the loss of anything else? Stay tuned - we'll start connecting the dots together!
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the First "next" step11/30/2022 Howzit gang - if you're reading this post, then you will be following a journey into the vast, vast unknown. The future. Here I'll try to coalesce all ideas and future actions as well as record my daily development toward a meandering path to build our futures and attempt to save the planet at the same time. I guess we all do that in our own small way... so this one will just be another journey.
To where you may ask? To the moon and Mars... literally. What? yes it does sound a bit weird - but in the spirit of adventure and exploration... pls indulge me as I connect a number of dots over future blog entries. Feel free to comment along the way. Yes, I am a fan of Elon Musk's vision for SpaceX. To get to the moon and Mars there is so much we need to build. And of course my focus is on extreme environments... Not just stormy, sea level rising coastlines, or icey plateaus on the South Pole, but true space travel and living in space. I can see the technology needed, but no team or talented people to build it yet. And since I can't do it alone, I'm about to set on an adventure to build a team that can do this. Yup - it's incredibly crazy - but I really believe that if we don't aim this high, we'll never solve our planetary existential problems that I'll also be blogging about. So the reason why I've changed my "label" from architect to investor/architect is that I'm on the hunt to invest in existing firms willing to also design for this level. Those firms currently consist of businesses that need a succession plan that have roughly 10 people and are in different consulting industries including, but certainly not limited to: design firms focusing any of: architecture, interiors, landscape, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, coastal and also verticals in: PR, grant writing, and finance what do I offer? a new vision of where civil design really needs to go. I'll explain more in future posts... Just imagine off-grid but on steroids. talk soon! -H
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Zoning & Planning Resources4/21/2022 https://3.basecamp.com/4176297/buckets/11990967/messages/4856524098
DPP Planning Department Website: https://www.honolulu.gov/dpppd/default.html C&C of Honolulu - Revised Ordinances of Honolulu ROH Online: https://www.honolulu.gov/cms-ocs-menu/site-ocs-sitearticles/839-table-of-contents.html EA then EIS https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol06_ch0321-0344/hrs0343/hrs_0343-.htm notes: EA required for govt lands, conservation land, Waikiki Special Design District, Shoreline Area (inside of the 40' line) , Historic register (national or Hawaii), proposal of amendments to county general plans (start w/ DPP notification), waste or energy facilities. EIS process depends on the conditions of the development and which agencies are reviewing/ initiating. SMA: Special Management Area: https://planning.hawaii.gov/czm/special-management-area-permits/ step 1: DPP determination application major or minor. 500k threshold step 2: Application: site plan, elevations SMA-Permitting-Procedure.pdf 134 KB View full-size Download participant_guide_to_the_sma (3).pdf 6.05 MB View full-size Download 4.8.2021SMA Minor.pdf 112 KB View full-size Download Zoning: https://www.honolulugis.org/ important maps: Flood & Sea Level Rise Hawaii: https://www.honolulugis.org/apps/climate-ready-oahu-web-explorer/explore NOAA site: https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/#/layer/slr/2/-17570127.410679933/2426955.114006695/15/satellite/none/0.8/2050/interHigh/midAccretion
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Vlog5/1/2018 Hello everyone, please follow my GOFERNO vlog on Youtube to watch episodes related to design, and live footage when I'm designing! You'll get a very transparent view of what I do, and how I do it.
Please subscribe to the channel! Thanks!
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CONTRACTORS & ARCHITECTS7/17/2017 A prospective client asked me a great question today:
How do you best transfer a set of beautiful plans to a contractor who can execute the plan? The prospective client's experience has been exclusively with design-build firms, so the question is coming from a unique perspective. Usually the way we transfer beautiful ideas is to start with a 3d-model, and then turn them into production drawings. It's the quality and density of these production drawings that can help or hurt the project and the contractor. Sometimes the drawings are full of every material, bolt size, color, wood grain direction, etc. And sometimes they are left to the craftsman to build something wonderful based on a few artistic directives. And other times the details are basic construction details that most contractors can follow without a hitch. It depends on the level and quality of the project. What's important is to match the drawing level and the people reading and building the drawings. The important thing is that there is a clear understanding between owner, architect and contractor of where design ends, where construction begins, and that we don't step on each other's toes. Now the easy way to we like to solve this dance is by having the contractor hire the architect. Then the dance becomes a little more controlled, easier to manage, and keeps the Architect from doing anything too outrageous. And it's true - at times architects do need to be reigned in. Their ideas are too difficult or expensive to build. And it's also true that contractors can do the same, although most err on the opposite side: of being too pragmatic, practical, or simply cost-driven. For in the mind of the contractor - what else could be important? But let's say that the Architect tells you that the arrangement of rooms in a home or even the location of the cooktop at the island can result in huge changes in the dynamics of how a family functions? Or that the addition of food and water to a park that only has grass has the power to triple the amount of people who use it? Now this information could be immeasurably valuable and it might be important to listen to ideas that are not simply cost-driven. Ideas like this cannot flourish under the controls where the left brain rules over the right brain in all cases. There must be a balance. And if not... well that's the difference between Apple and Blackberry. So design-build can be a delicate dance as well... It has certain controls... and can be just as fragile or possibly more fragile than conventional builder-designer relationships. But whatever the system, the result is that the owner will need to deal with the product of the two... Which comes down mainly again to people, integrity, and their communication ability. DESIGN-BUILD I love design-build! It's efficient. The designer comes up with an idea, and since they are in-house the contractor can then translate the design into something that they can build. It's fast, direct and works well. For those of us in the design-build industry - we can't see it any other way! But my fellow engineers (yes - I'm a civil like you guys - I just chose architecture) who own Design-Build firms... what happens if the designers you have on staff are in need of fresh ideas? What if they are so stuck in their ways of design, that they can only design what you tell them you are capable of building easily and simply? Where's the challenge and ability to innovate? It takes a great designer in your firm to push your limits... make you think like engineers again... and take you out of your comfort zone? Now what happens if you don't have that designer? How do you stay innovative? How do you keep challenging your capabilities and evolving so you can stay competitive? You do what everyone else does: take on custom work from the old-school. Yup - we must admit it! Sometimes efficiency causes us to lose innovative ability. We are so focused on making money efficiently we forget that innovation is what makes capitalism so damn fun! And HARD! We've all got stories about this. Hope you can share some! So to answer the question above: Yes design build is a great way to translate design into physical... but IF the project needs a bit of innovation, different thinking, or just something cool and original... then it takes an independent designer who is conditioned to think that way. Not that my fellow creatives in design-build firms can't do it.. Uh, uh. You got the goods... but it's tough when your boss doesn't give you the FREEDOM. You know what I'm talking about. Design-builders - you also know that you have a limited palette, right? Your firm has built relationships with specific suppliers so you can efficiently deliver. When you get a design that specifically calls for something different - efficiency goes out the window! So now you're about as inefficient as a regular firm. Let's take cabs as an example. You build them in-house or with a supplier that knows exactly what you need. But let's say I come along and say that the cabs need to be sleeker with a thin profile top and are going to be full-box, don't need a sub-top (because the client hates spatulas and tongs getting stuck under there every time they open the kitchen drawer) - we're going to use a thin 5/8" top right on top of a whole solid box... and I need a 5/8" gap behind all boxes because we want to run LED lights driven by a brain needs to be in there. So now your millwork supplier is going nuts trying to figure out what I just specified, and your design team is reeling as they modify your details that have not changed in a decade. It's been so long since they did a custom box that they forgot how to re-draw the cabinets. ALL your efficiency goes out the window. You eat your shirt, and know that at least the next job you'll have innovated yourself - but in the mean time you are starting to bleed on this job. You have to smile at the client because it's not their fault... it's the damn architect (me) who threw a wrench in the whole operation because you bid this as your typical custom cab job. Didn't mean to do it... and I'd have the heart to tell you to read this blog and give you very specific details about this when I have you price a job... So don't worry. But if it's not me - watch out guys. Efficiency also could mean you are more fragile. The goal is to be antifragile. OLD SCHOOL So old school had a method of checks and balances so that the Architect and the Contractor had no relationship to each other but to help the owner's interests. The Owner had to manage 2 contracts - one with the Architect, and one with the Contractor. Design-build came along and crushed that. So now it became a 2-part contract - Owner and Contractor(Design-Builder). There's all kinds of ways that the Architect and Contractor could now collude to make the job as affordable as possible... Or as profitable as possible. So you can see how this can be a double-edged sword because it's like trying to play 3-way poker with the dealer and a card counter who belong to the same team while you the owner are left to put all your money on the table. No one is watching for your interests.. That was the reason why the Old School said no way, you keep the Architect separate from the Contractor. But in our modern wisdom, we also supposedly became more honest, so we began to do away with what the old-school said, and invented design-build. So to get back to answering the question of translation of my architectural drawings to getting them built. It's a matter of putting together drawings that specify exactly what the owner wants - while still giving the contractor ways to find efficiency in achieving the result. If we go back to the cabinet example - I would draw the cabinets and the details so that the millworker understood the changes needed. And I'd even meet with the contractor to explain it to the millworker. The Millworker would redraw my drawings based on his understanding of what was specified, and I would check his shop drawings before he proceeds with fabrication. Ineffecient? YES. Effective? yes. There's a system of checks and balances in place. If the millworker decides not to redraw before fabrication - he does so at his own risk.... NOT the owners. Let's say he makes a mistake and produces the cabinets with a conventional open top. He'd have to re-do it, unless the owner says "I can live with it, but you must give me some credit because I don't think you priced the cabinets to be built this way." So a credit would be extended and received, and the owner is left with paying less (but still a lot) for their ladels and tongs still getting stuck when they open their brand-new cabinet drawers. And we end up blaming the architect. Damn architects - they give us headaches, and stuck drawers! Yes, that's my life, and hence the blog. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Now the chance of success in a project - with nothing going wrong, or delays happening is roughly 5%. That's not me... that's with all US construction projects which are managed the way they are. If you doubt it, and want to learn a more reliable way of project management then read this VERY important book: SCRUM. SCRUM is used in the development of software, but has not yet made it to the building industry except in a few rare cases. It has made it to the design industry... well at least for some of us.. Me included. But until it reaches construction... yup the success rate will still remain at about 5%. Design builders and fellow engineers. Read SCRUM, and your life will change... guaranteed! Construction has gotten so complicated that the general contractor can barely manage it... So Owners have hired Construction Managers to help keep track of all of the complexity. This works relatively well (5%) on large jobs. But on small projects (under 30,000 sf) a good General contractor should be able to manage the job with no issue. So how is the architect involved in all of this? MEANS and METHODS. Architects come up with the design, and engineering. But how it is put together and by what means is up to the Contractor. This is where the line is drawn between design and build. I can depict the result with first hand knowledge of HOW it is built... But i cannot dictate or enforce the MEANS and METHODS of a project to a Contractor. He is licensed to figure that out. Admittedly I have "unofficially" given ideas on HOW things can be done, but it's only "unofficially". It's important that a design is made so a product can be built easily, and also maintained easily. We as architects must understand this in order to keep the costs of MEANS and METHODS low. Well at least good architects do this. TRUST Trust is the foundation of capitalism. Without it we are nothing. No lawyer can write a document to cover all risk and liability when it comes to dealing with untrustworthy parties. There is no room for deception, greed, and looking out exclusively for your own interests in capitalism. Capitalism works best when parties look out for and consider each other's interests. And so it is with Contractor and Architect. When we look out for the owners interests as well as the contractors, then we begin to find ways to build good will. (yes another intangible). Trust and goodwill are the intangibles that are difficult to identify on any balance sheet... And yet it is the glue that binds successful project teams together. So when Contractors and Architects work together with the Owner in mutual trust relationships... Wow. That's when real architecture magic happens. So how do you get there? I can't tell everyone to fear God, be good, and behave like Jesus... But I can say that it would be very beneficial to follow the 4-way test of Rotary.: IS IT THE TRUTH? IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED? WILL IT BUILD GOOD WILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED? AND THE 5th tenant: WILL IT BE FUN?! i'm actually working on putting this into my terms of agreement language so that all of my clients need to follow this. It seems weird, and not very "legal" sounding. But it works in setting a tone and culture of how the job and relationships on the job need to work. IF you have any thoughts, games or tests that can detect integrity in a person's character in one meeting or interview... Please let me know. Even if it's a card game. These are all great ways for clients to interview both architects and contractors. that's it for now! stay creative!
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The Truth About Permitting5/3/2017 Why does permitting take so long? Why is the city so slow in issuing permits?
The truth is that the city is getting faster and faster as each year progresses. But the REAL reason - which the city has been so nice to avoid pointing the finger... is drumroll.... ME. Yes, I'm responsible. The Architects and engineers out there who are preparing the plans. The draftsmen and designers who are submitting the drawings... IT'S THE QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE CITY REVIEWS! Let's define what I mean by QUALITY in drawings. here's an excerpt of an email I sent to one of my clients whom I've worked with for many years, and is finally doing her home: "Quality means: communicating the "right" information to the examiners who are looking at the drawings and making comments. If they are confused in any way, this immediately leads to a 2 week delay as they will make comments, and then it needs to be turned around. NONE of us score 100 percent perfect scores every time. We all get comments back. but some of us get "A"'s, and some of us get "C's or worse in terms of speed of response, number of comments, rejected drawings, etc. The better you know the code and what the examiners are looking for - and how to present that information, the better response you'll get in terms of speed of approval. I've had a few 100%'s in my career, but no way am I batting 1000.. Also had my moments, fails just like we all do. It's taken years of practice and working with the Department of Planning and Permitting to know the nuances. I started taking care of comments on permit drawings in 1993. So I've got a few years under my belt. Sometimes we are rushed with too many jobs... and then mistakes happen, things are missed. Often it is editing, typos, - information missing.... really basic things. It happens to architects, the engineers, to the best of us. It usually happens when the office is flooded with work, and the clients are asking to push the deadlines. Just the nature of the beast. Then it's a whirlpool effect: economy busy. everyone going for permits. the designers are flooded with work. mistakes are happening. the reviewers at DPP are bogged down with the volume, and the poorer quality of the drawings. they are forced to take more time to understand the drawings... time ticks further, the public gets frustrated... jobs and construction is slowed down... meanwhile the jobs keep piling up... which is why I've structured my business as it is.. limited clients. yes, I'm a little more expensive so i can keep laser focus. which helps with permitting, construction, pricing accuracy, and less questions and returns to the site for the contractor... All resulting in much less time wasted. So in the end, although it seems like it's more expensive, it really isn't. Because the time efficiency leads to much higher quality which leads to less mistakes(which is the #1 money burner) , less time wasted (the #2 money burner), and ultimately better affordability. goes back to my formula: velocity + quality = affordability" Now you must know that not all Department of Planning and Permitting reviewers are equal. Some are better than others. Some like to nitpick, others know that they are simply taking care of and reviewing life-safety issues... they are watching my back to make sure any mistakes I make, and the contractor could make - are caught. For my safety and yours. It's an excellent service. We must always try to remember why they are there. Although they are called "regulators", they should be called super-heroes, public defenders, or perhaps just Protectors.
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A Philosophy of Teaching Design8/31/2016 How does one learn design? More importantly why does one learn design?
The question of why is difficult - particularly when the 'Why" is buried in the limbic part of the brain. It's intuitive, it understands, it creates, and is in touch with "feelings". But with one problem. The limbic brain does not control speech. This given means that design is a phenomenon that is difficult to understand and verbalize. It must be felt, understood, experienced and experimented on. The thing about design is that it is steeped in a sense of mystery. But in actuality it is merely a process. Instructing students on this process lends itself to both personal and group experiences. Design is democratic. Design has its process. Design is like an athletic competition! Like athletes, designers need to be well conditioned, and constantly practicing to perfect their craft. We also need clean clear processes which stumped me for the entire year. As I write this, it occurred to me that I had started this blog, got overwhelmed with unanswered questions... and stopped to ponder... for 9 months! But now I have the answer. The answer lies in algorithms. Processes that allow one to work through the creative process in a collaborative and fast process that works far better than the processes we use today. In fact the only industry that uses this process is the software development industry. And it is slowly spreading through tech... and now finally - I'll be using it in designing brick and mortar. The answer is SCRUM. For those of you who heard of Scrum, great! For those of you who haven't - highly recommend a book by Jeff Sutherland - co-founder of Scrum almost 25 years ago. here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Scrum-Doing-Twice-Work-Half/dp/038534645X Now the amazing thing about this book is that it really works. I mean REALLY works. We got Maui Divers Jewelry open at the international marketplace using this method. The method was used on a penthouse design where we conducted the interior design in 2 weeks after about a year mired in a previous waterfall management style. The method works, and you will get to see it in action when design work is completed in 1/2 the time for nearly half the cost... (if I can get my engineers to cooperate, then you'd truly get half the cost.) This method is what I tag the Algorithm of Innovation... It is a simple process that opens up a task into it's most transparent, highly communicative, team-centered system that I have ever, EVER, encountered. And I'm getting along in years! For me simply it is an industry disruptor, and I will gladly lead the charge. It's a killer app. Those who do not adopt will not be in business after 1 more cycle. OK - read the book, and see what I mean... Or if you don't want to know, and just need it taught to you, I'm working on certification, and then I'll teach this as it applies to the creative building arts. please let me know your thoughts on this! talk soon! -H
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2016 what's coming...1/27/2016 Howdy readers, it's been a while since I posted! I've been busy working out my craft with 87ZERO, and still continue to do so to this day. There's been A LOT going on, and as the luxury market begins to cool down, the rise of mid-market will begin to heat up. Keep in mind, however, there's going to be a lot of activity for luxury interiors as the new projects begin to raise the bar on luxury living in Hawaii.
As you know, Vida was cancelled... for now. But it will be back - probably next cycle. But mid-range projects are taking off, and luxury still reigns in Waikiki... so this cycle still has some legs.. in fact, I think it will have a bit longer legs than people think just because we have been so stagnant for so long. Interest rates remain low as we remain stuck in an economic doldrum where interest rates and growth are manipulated and controlled for the world's best chance to rebuild wealth. Of course we will have bumps and grinds with the markets - but the western world cannot afford to take huge economic hits... so I am predicting a slow growth grind that keeps everyone happy, but fearful enough to wage true competitive capitalism. No free lunches, low-hanging fruit, or easy money - just solid hard, and competitive work is what we need to bring everyone's economies back around. And that's exactly what we all need. My prediction for this year is that the stock market will correct, and keep people guessing. Some portend disaster, while CNBC and the talking head's there continue to tell all that the world is strong. We know that it is not, but we all pretty much agree that you will see other economies fail before we do. First it's the middle east, then the BRIC nations, then Japan, Europe, and finally us - the holders of the world reserve currency. But as economies fail, hate and blame, resentment and jealousy flourish.. So be ready for more terrorism, scares and unhappy people..... at least until hey learn to get back to work, and start sweating to make a living instead of just protesting the unfairness of whatever they are experiencing. Back to our micro-market - strong visitation, strong construction, money flowing through Hawaii... all looks good for the year. Hawaii really is a special place. No place like it on earth, and REALLY coveted... Which makes real estate in Hawaii always a great investment.... unless we pollute the heck out of the place, or use our isolated island location as an experimental lab for the rest of the world. The maker-movement is taking on roots here. People are choosing to go custom, and pushing their creativity. I'm so glad that we are moving away from catalog buying, and more toward the mentality of "hey, I can make this!". I'll be busy working on a few smaller projects that you'll get to see take shape as we move from concept into reality this year. What a great time to work on creative projects! As the boys on my son's basketball club team use as their rally cry - "Hard work! Let's get it!" -h
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Creativity unleashed3/29/2014 In the last year, a lot of folks have been asking me if I still write the newsletter, Hawaii Leading Indicator. I stopped doing it when I left pacific atelier, but will resurrect a new email newsletter. Don't know what it will be called yet, but it will probably be more geared toward national and international events that lead to way outside the box thinking.
Why? because it allows me to write and reflect on my reading and research, and also to share more thoughts on how it connects to our local economies. Naturally it will have a slant toward the construction industry, but no guarantees that it will stay there! I know none of you are one-dimensional readers! So what are the coming trends that I'm seeing developing? 1. the luxury arms race. 2. the push to prayer and meditation. a way of seeking spiritual clarity through fasting, exercise and other means. What this does is actually give deeper meaning to our choices to stay healthy, reach new goals, and work on improving our lives. We don't do it just to lose weight any more, or to look good, but for so many more reasons. One being to connect to our spiritual drivers... the reason why we believe we are each put here on earth as unique individuals. That's all I see now. expect to see these things in 6 months to a year from now. get ready!
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87Zero2/27/2013 Hello blog readers. for 2013, i've been working on launching a new mission: design assist. Sanford Hasegawa approached me to help run and manage a trifecta: design, kitchens, and interior fixtures and casework. Here's how it works: there are 3 companies: first - 87Zero provides custom fixturing to very high end clientelle: luxury stores, and the latest - the Vintage Cave a speak-easy at the basement of Shirokiya. 2nd - Studio Becker - the Ferrari of kitchen cabinetry. Third - IDS & Hale Takazawa melded into a single design group supporting the other two.
Our clients will be high-end contractors, architects and interior designers. Why? If you speak to any designer in town ask them this question... do you ever have enough fees to detail the coolest things that you design? the answer is always be no. Never. Ask an interior designer the same question, and they will tell you that we usually get someone else to do it. Ask a contractor who details the things that the designers don't. The answer is: we try to get the manufacturer to do it, and work with the architect to get it done. Or we just do it ourselves, because the manufacturers don't have designers that can do this kind of customization. By next year, we want the answer to be: "we go to 87Zero and they get it designed and built beautifully!" Yes, i'm trying to fill a niche. Is there a market? I think there is. In fact I know there is, because I'm in the same boat as the rest of my colleagues. So if you are an architect reading this, be ready for a call from yours truly! It seems that someone turned on the faucet again in 2013. It's my personal theory that since the world did not end on December 21, 2012, everyone has taken a sigh of relief, decided to borrow money again (since the interest rates are almost nothing), and decided to start buying and investing in things unrelated to the liquid financial markets. It makes sense to buy the things that will do well in an inflationary recession, and hang on as we tread the fiscal cliff. Of course Hawaii is a great place to buy. If you need to spend or invest money in real estate, then pick the best real estate in the world! The Hawaii market will be spurred on by significant global buying. Everyone wants to live in Hawaii. I'm just lucky to be born and raised here. Yes, we are chosen people! Now let's see: global buyers + low interest rates + motivation to get out of cash + incentives to increase density in Honolulu (rail) = construction boom in Hawaii = massive purchasing of interior things to put into those buildings. Ben Schorr (a microsoft MVP) and very smart IT consultant once told me: "when there is a gold rush, sell shovels" Who knows what tomorrow brings, but from where I sit, it looks as if a powder keg is just starting to go off. A damn is bursting... A tipping point is happening. Watch for massive luxury condo sales coming to you this year as developers have surmised the exact equation described above. Many of you who are reading this are already hooked into this... so the only question remaining is how long will the trend last? Keep an eye on the currency wars... I am confident that the United States is determined for this to last as long as possible. It needs to last long enough for us to become the world leader in oil and natural gas exports... which could possibly get us out of the current mess we are in... and the rest of the world. There is hope! If this boom lasts 8 years, then we'll be right in line for our national economy to take flight and begin bringing rewards back to Hawaii.
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Place making via the collaborative11/2/2012 Hello readers, thanks for tuning in. It seems like the last idea published in september gained very little attention except for a few positive responses. No negative ones, though. Lately I've been running into serendipitous events related to data. large amounts of data.
Our fine City and County of Honolulu is launching a program to attempt to be as transparent as possible through a site called Can-do Honolulu. http://can-do.honolulu.gov/ Still a little sparse on the details, and entire data sets not yet available - but if anyone can get a hold of the cities' permit data sets, i would be really interested in that. With that data, I should be able to create a map of projects, along with who the architects and contractors and owners of those projects. Imagine being able to search for my name, and finding all of the permits that have been filed with my stamp on it. Or which projects a particular contractor has been the general contractor for. This type of engine would be really useful as a mobile application as well. Now imagine a data set with an address and all related permits, fused with a data set from the PBN Book of Lists - available for $200. here: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/research/bol-marketing/ We'd be able to find out a heck of a lot of information in a very short time frame about an owner, a property, who's working for them, and begin to map the network of people and companies related to each other. Now imagine that if I had this data on a website (portal), that actually covered all data related to that address or Tax Map Key. Too much information? I'd say so. But savvy business people know this: that organizations that are data driven have higher performance. Don't believe me? Check out the latest Harvard Business Review - it discusses these exact drivers! HBR calls it Big Data: http://hbr.org/product/baynote/an/R1210C-PDF-ENG?referral=00505 I'm on a tear to find out how to use big Hawaiian data as it relates to real estate. With the right data sets, there's no telling what power lies under the hood. But I can tell you that easy access to this type of information in Hawaii is huge.. . because speed of information to a client is EVERYTHING! Keep on the lookout as I begin to work with google Fusion, and some mobile apps to start bringing this data to you. Naturally I'll be using it for two things. 1) to assist my lead generation, and 2) to create a stir with myvillageplan.com Let me know if you want to jump in to assist! The more the merrier! And if I can fundraise, then we can buy more data sets, like Loopnets data sets to go with these. So.... How does this all work with place-making? Here's the thing. Place-making is part art, part science. We take data from human behavior, along with brain research and track to see how human performance is affected by certain elements in the environment. If you add 50% more daylight and sales go up 25% or IQ scores go up 15%, then that is a huge testament to having daylight in your "place". Same thing goes for water, trees, food, roads, street and sidewalk widths, plaza dimensions, whether they are sunken or raised, etc... there is a book in this, and that's part of the reason i'm looking for these data sets. What I really need now, though, is someone who can help access the city's data sets for permit information. Thanks to all!
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Hello everyone, sorry haven't blogged in a while. Summer is over and the fall brings new ideas that have been stewing. If possible, I hope you can leave a reply to this proposal - yeah or nay. Need some response, and probably ideas to help pull this one off!
The site is called MyVillagePlan.com If you go to this address, nothing will be there as I have only reserved the name. But the important thing here is the concept and operation that i'd like your input on. please reply below, or via facebook or twitter. i'll take all comments and input and aggregate. rules: ideas are free concept: The concept is to create a blog that accepts multiple authors and responses using video, text, and pictures, posting of documents, etc., that outlines a current project going on in your community. For example, in my community there is an affordable housing project that will come on line this fall at the old Advertiser building. The developer thinks that this project will sell well, and he uses conventional data sources to gather demographic info and location info to determine that market forces are pushing this project. MyVillagePlan.com would be a platform where he can express his ideas of the development, and also hear what bloggers, the community, special interest, the press, and anyone else wanting to weigh in can go to speak their mind. The project would have it's rating by the public before it even gets off the ground. Kind of like a Yelp! for architecture and projects in your community. This platform can save people a lot of heartache, and developers a lot of money. Free market research, and also more eyeballs looking at this than they ever wanted. We'll need some project captains to load information onto the site, but it should be open to all community and special interest voices. In our industry language we call them stakeholders... (people who have an interest in this project). MyVillagePlan.com will be the community voice, the developer's voice, the town square, and the public court of whether a development project has wings, or fail miserably... Now here's the lay of the land: inspired by the three C's as presented by Hokulia Developer CEO John DeFries - Community, Culture, and Commerce. A successful development needs all three. Ignore one, crash and burn! MyVillagePlan.com should organize by these three components to look at Community issues surrounding the development, Cultural issues (ancient, contemporary, and sub-cultures, - don't forget the urban culture, oh, and we also live in a green culture), and commerce - this of course should look at local economic impacts as well as how global currency and outer markets will affect us right here in our community. How will the site sustain itself? Hopefully volunteers, people who care, and tons of eyeballs. The site should be free to everyone, so any particular project can go viral faster. I'll be the first project captain for my community to start off so others can see ideas of information to post, but after that it should be a free for all. If the eyeballs come, sponsorships will follow. If we build this, they will come. But i'd really like to know what y'all think! Now as far as technology goes - i think it can be pulled off with Wordpress and their plugins... wordpress guru's, the site would really love your help with this! If the site get's too sophisticated, (i think simplicity is genius-by the way) then we'll have to grow on a shoestring until we get sponsorships. Sponsors should in no way be able to edit the content of the site, however. Ambition: how big can this be? as an architect, i can imagine a lot. This model MUST be scalable. The big hairy audacious goal should be that no developer or something like superferry in any town in the world should go un-vetted by its community. No longer will governments push their people into projects they don't want, and no longer will we waste money on engineers and architects to design things that will ultimately never break ground. (yes this site could put me out of a job, but damn, it will be worth it!) And finally, the projects that we do build will no longer be these ugly monstrosities that make our heads hurt! Let the vetting begin! thanks all for checking out this entry and thanks in advance for the input!
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Dancing on the Dirt Roads in Hawaii6/18/2012 Two bills passed on Friday that allow farmers in Hawaii to sell agricultural products from their farms, and another to build ag buildings (small ones) without a building permit.
Previous to June 15, one could go to a farm, and only find a roadside stand of fruit or vegetables on the side of the road. Now, we have opened the door to full on retail of fresh and processed goods, even restaurants, serving local farm-based foods and other goods. Logo wear also acceptable! This is huge - we can finally create our own Napa-style diversified agriculture businesses right here in Hawaii. Okay, so you don't believe me: here are the bills Uncle Neil just signed: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/SB2375_CD1_.htm http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/SB2646_CD1_.htm How's this good for Hawaii? Oh, come on! we can make, sell and retail off of farm lands! You can buy goat milk at the goat farm on Maui, or eat at a restaurant right on the farm! huge for agri-tourism, and small farmers, landowners, and people who want to make products from things we grow right here in Hawaii-nei! Huge, huge, huge! Of course it will take some time for farmers and land owners to consider their entrepreneurial nature. But once it catches on, watch for AG lands to jump in value! Big land owners like Mr. Murdoch trying to sell lanai should be very happy.... or maybe he'll start to reconsider trying to sell off all of his lands... Or maybe the banks will reconsider the true appraised values of AG land here in Hawaii. The effects will ripple throughout the Hawaiian economy - just a matter of time, and a chance for all our unemployed to start working the farms again! things are looking up!
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Stories of What I See #14/24/2012 After meditating on an issue about a friend's company and where it is going, this came to me:
Fortune planted a seed up on a high cliff overlooking the sea. It was a wind swept peak with hard compacted dirt and sand. As he dug the hole to plant the seed, he inadvertently cut the seed. 80% of it flew over the cliff to the ocean below. The other piece was planted with high hopes that it would grow into a massive tree - where from its vantage point, one could rule the sea. The tree miraculously grew - by the grace of God alone, but remained small, stunted, windswept, and always struggling. Fortune also planted another seed down in the valley not far from the mouth of the stream that flowed down from the mountains. Beyond the high water mark, the tree grew quickly into a giant. It provided shade to all of the area beneath it, and allowed coverage for animals and other plants to freely lounge in its shad and have a drink. It did not command the sea, But the tree surely became master of its realm.
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It's been a while since a weigh-in on our current events. So let's focus on the president's jobs and competitveness council. An impressive group of people who are assigned with the task to take laser-focused bites into finding the holy grail of turning our country's economic woes around. As many of you know, there are some small tweaks that can be made to a huge engine that will turn it's efficiency on like there's no tomorrow. This council is on the hunt for those small tweaks.... distilling the problems, and then using laser focus to make hopefully radical changes in pushing America into a now global leader of (well, we don't know quite what yet) some new technology. It seems like after their second meeting, the focus will be on:
here's the link to the official document: http://www.jobs-council.com/docs/JC_Ideas_FactSheet.pdf
And that pretty much sums up the ideas and "laser" focus that is going to pull us out. Personally I was HOPING for a new vision that was going to really super-charge CHANGE in America like:
President Obama has given the task of solving our economic woes by seeking the best minds in business. This IS THE BOX. If we want to think outside the box, he's done a great job of starting - because in order to think out of the box, you need to know what the box is. I think therein lies the problem. You don't ask corporate leaders to come up with new ideas. You go to the street and look for creativity through scrappy entrepreneurs, and super hungry engineers looking to invent the next best thing. Giant corporations end up buying or stifling these ideas in order to promote or protect their interests. If you want to change the corporation of America, then the key is to find those tiny, scrappy individuals who are thinking way outside the box. And now that our Jobs council has issued their collective ideas, we can really start to look beyond them. If anyone has comments or can suggest other super-unifying ideas that will push
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A close friend from Japan has a rental in Waikiki, and he was wondering about renovations. Timing, Styles, etc. I'm sure a lot of you may have some investment in Waikiki, so here's my thoughts on it! His questions were, is it a good time to renovate, and what styles work? Everyone has their opinion on this, but i do know that construction workers are at 50% unemployment in Hawaii, and the yen is strong. Most of the projects going on in town are to cater to the Japanese yen. new restaurants, and other japanese focused stores. the local shops who sell to Japanese are going gang-busters. so for now, the Japanese (and Koreans) rule waikiki, and everyone is hoping for the chinese visas and flights to open up. As an investment for a condo, it's probably best to update with lighter colors, and it is true that people love the nostalgia of "waikiki". I think the future trend will probably head more to that nostalgia from the early 20th century waikiki - with some touches of the 50's. Add in Polynesia, and here's why: the Bali style is living strong among designers for residential - mostly because they can get cheap goods from southeast asia, and it looks sort of tropical... but it clashes with the stereotype of "waikiki" that was branded years ago with the kodak hula show, and the like. it's still a powerful brand, and I don't think the state has any plans to influence or change that brand anytime soon, particularly since they are getting massive cuts this year and next over at the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. With the off-kalakaua ave hotels, the experimentation continues, but the best ideas i've seen or heard about are the moves toward a more miami, festive styling with a retro waikiki flavor. this will probably work because everyone wants to be out of this depression (so the trend will move to happier colors and flair), and it still fits the old "waikiki" brand. all the attention will shift to Disney in KoOlina, and when it reveals itself, waikiki will most likely follow suit. I expect designers will focus on "polynesia" after it's debut. Now Hawaii designers are getting a little more "akamai" about using southeast asian labor - so expect to see more decorative and carved "bali" styles, but using Hawaiian or Polynesian motifs. Same goes for fixtures, and accessories. Since we do very little manufacturing in the US, look to Asia, and Mexico for specialty products that are affordable. Also check into Vietnam - good quality at affordable pricing! Well, that's it for design in Waikiki, and I hope it starts to get your mind motors going!
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I visited China in February to participate in a feasibility study for the prospect of feeding Oahu. Problem: high food prices in Hawaii. Too many imports, and the shipping costs are driving prices too high. We anticipate that food prices for imports will go even higher as crude oil pushes to $150 per barrel, and the dollar continues to weaken.
the findings? not good. still too expensive to raise food here in a profitable way - primarily because of food and land costs, and secondly because politically it would be unpopular with the current food distribution industry. Revolutionary change is never easy. An an architect, yours truly has to look at the larger situation of our state and country - which is why I'm always following global events - since they impact Hawaii in one way or another. The butterfly effect is happening in a major way across our globe this month. Printing a few dollars here leads to major upheaval in the Arab world. Since food and oil is traded in dollars - when we print a few more greenbacks, what happens to food prices? Through the roof. Which is why anyone would begin a riot in the streets. I don't care who you are.... if we can't feed our families and our children, then revolution is necessary. Why else would one take to the streets? Why would someone sacrifice their lives against helicopters and men with machine guns? Basic things like food and water... there is nothing left to fight for. But the real puzzle I am stewing over is how to feed us here at home? How can we be self-reliant instead of a welfare state? What? Us, Hawaii, a welfare state? If you don't produce more than you consume, you are in the negative - needing subsidies and handouts... you need welfare. Yup - that's what we are, and the sooner we admit it, the sooner we can do something about it. Food, energy - that's where the inflation will hit us. And when food and gas get too expensive, it will blacken the water like octopus ink. And we could have rioting in our streets. The solution is in our land. My understanding right now is that Hawaii has a whole bunch of unused agricultural lands that are slowly being sold off by the old plantation families. They have no idea what to do with it. Diversified agriculture doesn't seem to work for them because the model is foreign. So they keep the land up for sale - never giving a farmer a long lease hoping that they can sell it. And since there are no long leases, the farmers cannot make a living because there is no price stability in the rent model. With ultra-tight margins - no once can risk setting up a farm. Hence the dilemma. A catch-22. Can a new model or method or solution in agricultural land planning emerge that will solve our agricultural utilization? Is there a way to find a new model for growing and selling food to make use of the land matrix we currently have established? If anyone out there has any ideas, I'm all ears. Here's an interesting idea floating around the state capitol - as i understand it: that the state has the responsibility to feed our school children and our prisoners. Both of which are consuming imported food. Probably not the healthiest food either - although we are trying pretty hard to keep it very nutritional. But what if we grew our own food, and since it is not travelling on a boat for 7 days, maybe it would be fresher and more nutritious? And could it lead to less health problems? Which might help save the State of Hawaii some dollars by consuming local foods, and cutting on the health care expenses. Just maybe? Now what if we could have some of our prisoners, and students actually help work on the farms. Since the labor cost is the issue, maybe we need to go back to the days where the students did work the farms. (the reason why we have spring break and summer vacation to begin with was to have the kids help during the planting and harvest season) - is that going back in time? Maybe it's exactly what we need? Maybe, in our hubris, we thought that we were above farming? And where did thinking like that lead to? whatever is happening to us now is the direct result of our attitudes and decisions over these last 40-50 years.
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wonder wall and modern farm1/7/2011 here are some sketchup ideas of the "wonder wall" scheme. first drafts - client loves the clean and modern architectural styles. the idea with the wall is to create the strength of the wall, and leaning, penetrating and juxtaposing space through it to create the dynamics needed for the clients' personality types. lots of fun. client does not like the wood doors in such repetitive pattern - so i'll try to work on the elevations to tune up the window compositions. still under development! the other project i'm still working on is modern farm. this one is on a 1 acre lot outside of kaneohe. the scheme uses the quonset hut structure in a modern use. these prefabricated structures are affordable and have tons of historic references from roman barrel vaults to industrial uses from the WWII era ( a product of innovation out of depression-era necessity).
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Design - "Wonderwall"12/9/2010 working on a project that not only has the typical logistical component, but also a wonderful design component. the music to inspire the design is wonderwall a remake of the oasis hit by Ryan Adams. here are the adjectives that were generated from this song by my clients and what came to me:
soulful, clean, smooth. i get the impression of a light rain on a sunny day where the drips reflect the light as it drips from fresh leaves. light, and warm. encouraging, enclosing, haunting (in a good way), and continuing. the lyrics and words seem to imply strength, security, and a soft-strong spirit. something that is always there, always interesting, and always surrounding, engulfing and besides me to lean on. the song really matches my clients. really amazing. most of the song is smooth, clean and full of a refreshing spirit. but there is a hint of feisty-ness in the song... just a touch. and the architecture will have the same feeling. how to translate adjectives, feeling into brick and mortar? the literal solution for "wonderwall" would be to start with a wall scheme. the parti will have a wall in it. the music, the lyrics, and the site all point to this feeling of strength, solidity, security, and timelessness. the wall in most of my designs will show itself more as a solid "zone" where functions like stairs, closets, and other small tight parts of the home will be concentrated. carving holes and openings in the wall is the fun part, so it will most likely have some of this too! after all, the song wonderwall was inspired by a movie from the 60's about poking holes in a wall... i won't say why here. but let's just say it laid the groundwork for love and untiring interest and devotion. based on this, a language of architecture is beginning to show itself: stone walls, thin poles, warm woods, and all types of wall penetrations. my clients like clean lines, so we'll keep it looking more contemporary. a good connection to a well developed out door garden is really important to bring about the feelings evoked by "wonderwall". so we'll need to focus on that outdoor "room" which will be connected to the main living room. stone is a must: it holds spirit and soulfulness wood is a must: it brings warmth metals: will have some of this - not sure if stainless steel is what i'm feeling, though... maybe copper and bronze in accents will be more appropriate. glass: only in accents... unless the feng shui master clarence lau tells me to use more in certain areas. there will be alot of it as the architecture needs to connect to the outdoor context in a major way light: will bring this by lifting the roof off the stone walls where possible. should give a floating roof effect, and thin vertical members will help this. will post up the parti as soon as i can swing it!
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These last couple months have been extremely busy for yours truly, but I am compelled to write concerning an urgent matter: the inevitability of what will happen to us. As you know, some of my skills are in seeing things from a broad, long-term view. Architecture and planning are very suitable to this type of mentality.
The Normalcy bias makes us tend to think that nothing really dramatic will change for our lives, but take a look around at your friends and neighbors, and start talking to your contacts overseas and on the mainland - put the facts together. Forget about the propaganda we hear and watch on TV, or the distractions that UH sports and ESPN sports provide us from the looming black wave approaching us. This wave spreads over the entire horizon. Here are the facts: 1) China and Russia have agreed to trade without the US dollar 2) Global economic leaders have been discussing a world currency for a very long time. Instead of the US Dollar being the global reserve currency, it would be a bag of strong currencies. Which may or may not include the dollar. 3) A trend is developing that indicates the dollar to be undesired by foreign businesses. Check this fact with your friends or when you travel overseas. 4) The rest of the world buys gasoline at the pump for around $6 per gallon - here in the US it's more like $3 per gal Yes, this is all true, but it's not going to affect us in any really bad way... our lifestyles won't change very much, and if it does, it will take awhile. Or NOT! Let's think this out to a conclusion. Since World War II, the US Dollar has been the world reserve currency. This means that every other country in the world needs to produce things and sell them to make money. Except for US. All we do is borrow money, buy things, and then print more money to pay back the loan... This is totally against any law of economics that will have any lasting sustainability. The party cannot go on forever. Eventually it will catch up to us. How will it catch up to us? The rest of the world will finally decide that they don't want to use our money as the world's reserve currency. It's already happening.. the party is over. Currently our government is able to use our influence and power to break up the party slowly and carefully, but this will not last forever as the money runs out. Expect things to accelerate and get very, very messy. Here's how: When the rest of the world decides not to trade in dollars, we will most likely not be able to buy imports like oil at the prices we do. Say gas moves up to average the rest of the world at $6 dollars. Oil in that case will have doubled. let's say $150 dollars a barrel. When a society must pay double for its shipping and production, packaging, and other items it does one of two things.. People stop buying. At the same time, workers start crying for higher pay to pay for the inflation in goods and services. Labor rallys and other organizations begin to hold demonstrations. These may or may not turn into riots, but if the people are angry enough - they will. Government may try to stop the madness by putting caps on prices for goods like gas, food, and essentials. Store owners simply cannot sell products at a loss so they stop selling and close their businesses. The demand for items goes even higher, and people get more upset. People who are upset need to eat. With supplies low, prices high, and money supply non-existent, they can do nothing but steal to survive. Imagine the crime wave. Now imagine that there is no money in government because the tax base is eroded and we must release people from prisons to keep the budget down. We can no long afford police to keep up with this. (i.e. Oakland, CA) Now how does one reverse this? one of 2 ways.. add money to the system so people can buy these super expensive goods. But be careful how fast you release money into the system because hyperinflation will kill us. Or let it in very slowly, and let people be very, very angry as they try to save enough money to eat. Forget about consuming all other items - because they are all imported... and so our economy begins to shrink to the point where we are scraping for food instead of buying cars and furniture and hiring architects. The unemployment will be massive. the second way to reverse it is to introduce a new currency that can buy imported goods with a reliable price. it will be extremely hard at first, and people will be poor. Like pre-world war II, poor. Poor like communities that have to rebuild after losing a giant war. Do we look to our seniors for guidance? Only if they were adults in 1940. Which would put them somewhere in their 80's. They are the only ones who can remember how bad it can be. Unless you immigrated here from a war-torn nation like Yugoslavia in the 1990's. Yugoslavia and other nations like them were just like we were now. They experienced the exact same thing on a smaller scale. As a 60-year old American if they know what is going on? Of course not - they grew up in a country on the rise. Where the dollar ruled the world and the party was rolling. My children and I will live in a world where the dollar is declining and our great American culture of living large will end... badly. I'm sorry to say this but it will, and I can only tell you to begin to research getting your wealth out of dollars and into something else that will retain it's value. And for those of you holding notes and debt on others... don't expect to get paid... the banks aren't and they are getting bailed out. Private notes will go down in flames. 2 years ago, i wrote about moving to cash. Now i'm telling you to get out of US Dollars. When will this all occur - how fast will we fall? Bernanke and his wizards are trying very hard to make this landing as smooth as possible, but the one unknown is how angry the people will be. Our governments are preparing for massive civil unrest. We will become a police state at some point in this process. Way Outside the Box The logical conclusion this all leads to is global economic unification. The Fed WILL end, only to be replaced by a global counterpart. I was once told that China could never be capitalist like the US because it is too large. So the state-run capitalism they have is better for them since they have such a large population. For some reason the entire world is now getting an idea that the best way to run a world government is through socialism. Unfortunately we Americans and the other free-nations of the world have the most to lose. We will lose money and freedom as it get's "re-distributed" to the rest of the planet. Don't worry, though - we'll still have ESPN sports, and other simple hypnotizing pleasures, but so long to the housewives of Atlanta.... Viva the new Utopia!, comrade!
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Beginning and Ending10/7/2010 On September 15th, I parted ways with my long-time friend, mentor and colleague, Fabrizio Medosi with my leaving Pacific Atelier. It is a sad ending of an era for the firm, but a new beginning for my new firm and for PA. I for one believe that the universe is full of opportunity, and the moment I left, calls began to come in for work on many types of projects... its amazing how many people are deciding to buy and renovate, or buy and build, or just build. It's time to move money out of cash and into assets.
As for the architecture business, helping with projects leads to success. Chasing cash only leads to misery and an unfulfilled calling. Can one get rich practicing architecture? Most don't, but if one focuses on seeking the art, promoting and testing its creative power - clients love it, and wealth appears financially, spiritually, and in many other fulfilling ways. It's really a fun profession! I now work harder than ever and also pray more than ever. And the combination leads to lots of opportunity. Readers please be advised that my true passion is haute architecture - or high custom architecture - the pinnacle of creativity in my opinion. In order to promote this kind of high level design appreciation, i am opening a new blog to consumers of real estate in Hawaii north of $4 million. It should be a fun exercise to add some ideas to the sellers, brokers and consumers. wish me luck!
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Double Dip Economy8/31/2010 Well, things are getting to the point where everyone that walks into the office is talking about double-dip. People are depressed, and things are not so swell at all. Speaking with my friends at Morgan Stanley, they are the only optimists - saying that it won't go down, but just stay flat in the doldrums. Here are my observations:
1. Federal workers are paid much higher than their state and private counterparts 2. Federal grants are the only hope for building projects at this point it seems. 3. The super-strong yen is brining Japanese and other Asians to Hawaii in droves - keeping our local economy just above alive. 4. This is the beginning of the "government bubble" perhaps - predicted by Gerald Celente 2 years ago. 5. War is coming.... again. 6. Although I am focusing on high-end residential clients, I am also helping non-profits as they apply for massive government funding. Inouye's office is working very hard to help groups in Hawaii get grants and loans from Federal sources. 7. Meanwhile I am beginning to start a dialog with large Chinese interests who want to invest in Hawaii. Small limited investment to them is huge for us. And if things go well, who knows when the floodgates will burst... but they will. As real estate prices continue to drop, our Asian cousins will come once again, to hawaii to do business, and buy up the state at firesale prices. Get ready! Beware that the 2nd dip of the double dip in the early 30's resulted in an 80% loss of wealth... we are not even close to that kind of loss, yet. And our monetary regulators are doing their best to figure this out. My guess is that we could spiral down into a severe depression... and if it is going to happen, the cards will show themselves within the first 2 weeks after Labor Day - which any new yorker knows is the Wall Street end of summer, and back to business. My clients come in and ask - what is there left to invest in? My only answer now is silver, and land. good, top-grade agricultural land. Why? because silver is highly used and does not have reserves. And Agriculture because good agricultural land is very hard to come by - and it will be more in demand as we move toward depression and food shortages. Remember now, top-grade doesn't mean the land is located in a gentlemen's farm community. Top grade is the quality of soil on the property. Good nutrient-rich soil fed by a natural water-shed... wow - that will be an investment!
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Animals of the Zodiac - Tiger 20108/12/2010 Tiger is strong, powerful, and decisive. Naturally drawn to the stripes... the very thing that makes tiger interesting makes him invisible. The architecture is a reflection of that inspiration and also creating a strong, -cisive feeling in the experience.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Rat 20108/12/2010 Rat is enterprising, lucky, and optimist and will take risks. Qualities of a great entrepreneur. Feelings and thoughts came as a language of ribbons - strong, but pliable and flexible.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Ox 20108/12/2010 Ox is solid, steady, reliable, and responsible. I chose curves to emphasize Ox's reliability, but it may be too graceful. I think strength and solidity is more of an important impression so adjusting the architectural language to have more stone-like strength is in order.
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