WE HAVE MOVED SITE!

We have moved web site to a self-hosted version at: http://www.MarkStephensArchitects.com

Day #1 for TY Student – Work Experience #Fallingwater

So, we have a new TY (Transition Year) student and the project I’ve given him is some research into a famous building, drawings of it and then a model. And what better building to cover than Fallingwater. Here’s what Aaron had to say for his first day where the architect & building were brand new…

First design charette with client! @bobborson mentioned (again)

Inspired by @bobborson (again) from THIS POST regarding directly schematic designing with the client. I decided to take a similar approach by directly working through ideas and challenges seated alongside the client. I suppose you could call this an architect-client Charette: Charette: may refer to any collaborative session in which a group of designers drafts…

So you think you’re a good architect; do you design these for your projects too? #FLW

I’ve been looking at planning a trip later in the year to Chicago as an ‘architectural tour’ of mostly work by Frank Lloyd Wright. Now we all know about his classic buildings: or: And we sort of knew about the furniture he designed for the houses: But what about the vent grilles on the house?:…

A cautionary tale of buying property in Ireland

Sometimes in this job you’re involved in a cracking tale. And this is such. I’ve got clearance from the person concerned for it’s go-ahead – names, counties and auctioneers omitted! • I’m approached via email enquiring on my interest on providing architectural services on the construction of a replacement dwelling where the existing house was…

Flooding – an architect’s viewpoint

As you’re seeing in the news flooding has hit Ireland (and the UK) hard this year; with vast areas submerged in water, homes destroyed and the cost running into billions. Everything is now pointing to climate change (here’s 5 Things to know about Flooding & Climate change) with the conclusion being: “…it’s pretty difficult to…

See the #fireworks I created by blogging on #WordPressDotCom. My 2015 annual report.

See the fireworks MARK STEPHENS ARCHITECTS created by blogging on WordPress.com. Check out their 2015 annual report. Source: See the #fireworks I created by blogging on #WordPressDotCom. My 2015 annual report.

Lego launches system for architects [Review by TY lad]

Continuing the blog posts by Fionn Stephens (the in house TY student) this concluding post (forming the trilogy) shows a new architectural specific modelling system by toy leaders Lego. [Read the previous post on the FoamWerks V-cutter HERE and the review of the Arckit system HERE Here’s what Fionn had to say: “I am a…

@Novedge interview @architectmark on #TheEdge “I wanted to design Tracy Island on Thunderbirds”…

Read the full article on my inspirations, Passivhaus, restoration, Vectorworks and Thunderbirds – on ‘The Edge’ the blog by Novedge HERE

Will 2015 be the year of design and making for me?

2014 was always about the cycling, maybe this year will be about designing and making… The eagle-eyed readers will have known about the shed currently under construction but it’s currently missing a vital component, a door. Rather than just go out and buy one (and taking a leaf from my mate Paul’s book who did…

MarkStephensArchitects.com 2014 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here's an excerpt: The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 110,000 times in 2014. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see…

My highlights of 2014: No.8 – We’ve survived

I met with a local builder recently and his advice was that we should pat ourselves on the back. We have survived. We survived possibly Irelands worse economic disaster in modern times. We survived still working in the worst hit profession in Ireland where others have had to leave the country or try and find…

My highlights of 2015: No.7 Being part of @BRegsBlog

It’s been a privilege & honour to be part of the @BregsBlog. I’ve never been part of a team that has been so hard working where the single goal is bringing a better Building Control System to Ireland. I only wish I was able to do more. Click HERE to access the new BRegsForum.com website…

If it doesn’t work out I can still go back to web ;-) #MySites

As the title says, one of the advantages of doing a heap of other stuff as well as architecture is that you’ve plenty to fall back on. Below is a list of the sites I’ve either set up or still running: Home http://teachpassiv.com About Home http://www.vectorworks.co.uk

iChart update – @appleforarch mentioned #AppleForArchitects #Vectorworks

I wrote THIS POST in 2011 upon the demise of Steve Jobs (RIP). The iChart shows how Apple hardware has weaved it’s way through my life. Well I’ve updated the chart below (click on image for enlarged view): The current desktop iMac and the original G4 (still in use for accounts and a bit of…