Organic, free-flowing architecture of Bart Prince
Architects Rule
May 1, 2002
An untenable situation for Bart Prince is that of a potential client wanting a house exactly like one he’s already designed. “I insist that it be individual to them and their site; I never want to repeat what I’ve done. Once they understand the thing about it that is attracting them—the essence—then it can be specific. That takes a certain willingness to evolve.”
Talk Money/Money Talks
Even for very large residences, clients can be surprisingly averse to discussing the parameters of their budget. Barbara Callas, stating a universal truth of her profession, says, “From day one, we aspire to the clearest communication. The nonlinear path is never good, but especially not when both sides are trying to arrive at the cost and affordability of architecture.” Finances should be central to the initial interview, she counsels. “One possible client we said good-bye to was just shopping price—he wanted architecture, but he wanted it for free. It was obvious to us, so, accordingly, we priced ourselves out of his market. We didn’t come up with a totally inflated figure; we simply went to the extreme end of our scale. That way, if he had come back and said yes, we could look at ourselves in the mirror. We’re no more expensive than anyone else, but we won’t take a client who thinks good design doesn’t cost something.”
To Hugh Jacobsen, there is wealth, and there is wealth. “Someone will say, ‘I have original oil paintings.’ You see them and they are the worst Miró ever done, the worst Picasso. You think, well, another label buyer. You feel,” he says wryly, “so very flattered to be the chosen architect.”
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